Getting the winter blahs I guess. I've been wanting to do a road trip to Florida with the '57, and with my age and breathing issues, not sure how many more years I'll be able to do it. So, my wife said go for it!! My son that came up from Tampa last year has been bugging me to do it also. I have a sister there I haven't seen since '05 in Venice, my best friend from M***. high school days in Naples, a neighborhood girl I grew up with in Fort Meyers, and a close friend I had a crush on from 7th grade to forever, only lives 7 miles from my son. What got me thinking on it was the Goodguys show at the Texas Motor Speedway is, as of now, a go. At first I thought I couldn't do the show because it's an expensive weekend, if I was going to do the road trip, then I realized I have to go thru the Fort Worth area to get to Florida, so why not use it as a kick-off point. I've already made arrangements to stop and visit '57 forum members in Baton Rouge La., and Gulfport Ms. On the way back I'll go north to Birmingham to visit with another. These are all guys who helped me tons getting my car built and we've been forum friends for 10+ years. When I was a kid, my go-to guy for help with my cars was my brother-in-law mechanic. I'm really anxious to show him what I built. Not sure how long I'll be there........got lots of folks I want to spend quality time with, and my wife said take as much time as I want, which kinda worries me in itself, etc. Maybe 2 weeks there, another week going and returning. Hopefully run into some local car shows/cruise-ins while I'm there. My sister in Venice says they still have them there often not too far from their house. The Goodguys show, btw, is March 12-14. Hope the weather clears a little, lol. The speedway is only a few miles from where that 133 car pileup was a few days ago.
Do it with no regrets. In 2016 I was laid off, didn't have a lot of money and the wife was like "Lets go on the Hot Rod Power Tour long haul".... in our Factory Five roadster. We had all the time in the world, stayed at cheap places off out of the big cities and had a blast.
Thanks guys. I am going to do it, everything seems to be falling into place. Now with this abnormal winter we're all having, it's going to be a wait and see if the weather cooperates or if I have to wait, but it still will happen. I forgot to mention this trip will be somewhere in excess of 4,ooo miles depending on how many side trips I take when I'm there. I'm not sure if I would be doing this if I had to leave my wife home alone, but her cousin lives with us, so that's a non-issue.
I really want to see it!! I may only be there on Saturday, don't know for sure yet. I'm looking forward to seeing you, Joe.
Sounds like a great trip Rich! I have had opportunity to do a couple trips like that and they are by far some of the best memories I have in cars. Back in 2000, I was somewhat in between jobs since I had gone back to college and the Hot Rod Power Tour came through Elk City, Oklahoma. My wife and I ran out there to check it out and I made a comment to her about how I had always wanted to go on something like that. She asked me why I didn't just go...so I packed up the car and tagged along all the way to Florida. It was a blast and I met lots of great folks even sharing hotel rooms with some guys I just met from California so we could do it as cheap as possible. I think that is what helped me jump in my 56 back in 2014 with my 4 kids in tow and head to St. Louis for our Hot Rod Hundred up there. The car did so good that I decided to head over to southern Illinois to see some family that I hadn't seen in several years. I look forward to your detailed trip reports as you go on "Rich's Big Adventure" to Florida. By the way, my dad stays down in Naples in the winters as well if you end up needing anything while you are in that part of the state. He drove a 57 convertible back when he was in high school as another aside.
Thanks Jeff. This just keeps getting better...I found out yesterday that my goddaughter moved to Florida and lives less than 10 miles from my son. LOL. I'm trying to convince her mom and dad (from New Hampshire) that they've been ignoring her since she moved and need to go down there next month to visit her! It's been 18 years since I've seen her.
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