In 1990 I drove to Panama, took a cargo ship (ferry) to Brazil, drove all over Brazil for a few months. Then I made the trek to Tierra del Fuego just to say I'd done it, back up to Columbia, back through Brazil and on another boat to Florida, then back to Houston. I think the total trip was around 42,000km - or 26k miles. I did it in a 1967 Volkswagen bus - the early style. Not a hot rod, but still a vintage car that I built myself. Highlights of the trip: Driving into Brazilia, standing at the end of the road on an island very close to the southern tip of the Americas, and purchasing a new VW head at the corner quickie mart in Porto Alegre, eating fabulous grilled beef untill it came out my ears, and generally being exposed to aspects of the world that folks in the US aren't taught about.
a couple of years out of high school i had a chopped and channeled 32 pick-up , decided to go to speed week, then nor-cal pleasenton ect its 2,100 from mn to santa rosa , i think its about 5 something to LA , did that back and forth 3 or 4 times cant remember, so thats between 2-3000 miles , then going back i took the long way home about 3,500 miles, plus all the sight seeing i think was about 10,000 miles total in 2-3 weeks i did it by myself , broke down twice, once was fairly serious, and required the removal of a head to replace a valve that got sheared north of the keeper, luckly i had the n.s.r.a. fellow pages and a rodder rep had a garage he let me use in wyoming, and hooked me up with a machinist friend on a sunday no less, i was on the road in 6 hrs, the other was just a broken rocker i had to replace a 100 feet or so from the mexican boarder at 2 am(la migra wasa curious what i was doing, and hung out long enough to give me a scare....quote"90-95% of the illegles are good people , but some will slit your throught for a nickle... be careful" end quote...guess he figured i wasnt a coyote cause no-one would fit in the truck i was scared as hell when i left, but came back with many new friends and knowledge -i have had nothing but good experiences and respect for the n.s.r.a. types, found most to be extreemly nice and generous(those that are true car guys) - taking a 3.73 geared high 12-low 13 sec. chopped and channeled 32 p/u 10,000 miles is not the best idea , but you will come back with lots of storys and be deaf and crippled for a month later - be prepared in your budget for gas prices gettin lots higher than where your from (i slept almost a week in that truck cause of this and breaking down) breaking down and not knowing whats gonna happen its part of the fun!!!!!!its about the journy.........gave me a profound respect for covered wagon days and the whole grapes of wrath deal, i had paved roads (kinda) my trip from hell was nothing in comarision to what these people went through - im dumb enough to do it all over again if i ever get the chance it still wouldnt be the same as the first though
So far my longest has only been 500 miles or so (to the HAMB drags last summer)...Not very long and I'm still young and stupid enough to endure a really long (maybe slightly painfull..?!?!?) trip sometime in the near future. I do a lot of 2 hour one-way trips back n forth to college, but that doesn't really count... All you guys talking about cross country trips makes me wanna do one REALLY bad this summer. I have just one more semester of college left and I really need to work fulltime all summer so I can afford it....but I REALLY wanna do an extended road trip over the summer. Got any ideas how to make money on a road trip? haha
probably had the best holiday of my life, not long after I got the 5 window on the road. 2 months, 7000 miles, drove from the east coast here to the west coast here and back using my hot rod everyday, to spend time with family and great hot rod friends. Can never remember a time when I have been at most peace with the world than on those long stretches in the middle of Australia just me and my hot rod!. Of course since then the coupe has been all up and down the east coast here as well as nine 1800 mile trips to the salt ( but each of those is a story in itself) to push our race car, the last 3 or so with a lil teardrop in tow. Longest stint behind the wheel 22 hours. I am not one to stop and look at the sights. But me and the coupe have done it all, I think it is one of my best friends!
thirtytwo, that ain't dumb. That is just showing you enjoyed what you did. I did a similar trip to the west coast here a couple of years ago in my '55 F100 daily driver, hauled back a '29 coupe body. As you said nothing like doing a big trip in something you built, knowing that you can repair most stuff that might confront you. And another aspect is that you are letting people see and old vehicle that they may not have otherwise seen. We are all ambssadors for this car thing. Anyone can do it in a late model!!!
Windsor Ontario Canada to Tulsa Oklahoma Nationals 1973, in a T bucket pulling a trailer with camping equipment.
1991 Calgary to Prince Edward Island, back to B.C. before returning to Calgary Model A Roadster Occupied by my wife and myself along with our 4 year old son and 2 year old daughter. roughly 8000 miles round trip. Now less than 12 years later folks need DVD players to keep their kids entertained for a trip 'round the block. mike
I always knew there was some serious trippin' in here on the HAMB. Me and a few buds make the trip from Annapolis Md to, York PA NSRA, Charlotte NC Goodguys, Louiseville Ky NSRA, Bowling Green Ky NHRA, and Pigeon Forge Tenn. We do these at least every year, sometime add in Columbus or Indy, whatever one can afford. Plus a bunch of other close one day stuff.
The longest trip in my chopped 55 Olds was to the Leadsled Spectacular in Springfield, MO, from NJ. About 1800 miles, one way. Drove out for the weekend, and came back home, but took a longer route home, to do some sightseeing. About 4000 miles in 6 days.
Hmmm... let's see, I'd have to say either riding my old RD400 cafe racer from NC to Daytona, with clip-ons and rearsets, I was 18 and had to go see the races during bike week. The ride home sucked. or... circling the country in a early 70's purple dodge van with dingo balls and 2 out of 4 bandmates that I didn't like.... or babysitting the Flat Duo Jets for 4 months on the road, inumerable miles and headaches... These probably aren't the farthest I've driven but damn they seemed that way...
Took this ford from Gulf Port Mississippi to Detroit, over 3 days.. I have no idea how many miles.. 2000? Nice trip.. I can't believe I made it home. The very next morning, generator took a crap on me... TinyE
Well that was that awesome trip where we trailered the model A all the way to.........oops wrong post. LOL
I did Memphis to Orlando in 94, was about 2600 miles in a shit box rental Olds... Windshield wiper fell off when I turned it on as I left the rental lot! Took it back, and they replaced it, seems as I was dropping it off in Orlando, they didn't want to rent a 'decent' car! Was a trip tho, took in Graceland, Sun Studios, Tupelo (where Elvis was born). All the way to New Orleans, and then along the coast to Florida. Visited the air base where the Blue Angels are homed. Went to the Gartlits Museum in Ocala, as well as Daytona. Spent 3 days in Orlando & then flew back to the UK. I was over here for a month in total, the 1st two weeks I spent in CA, did over 3000 miles as well, so in all, it was the best part of 6000 miles. CA was fun, went to Pomona for the Drags, Petersen Museum (had just opened that summer) and the Otis Chandler museum in Oxnard, before he sold the cars & got into bikes. Dave
I put about 700 miles on the Buick last Labor Day weekend... from Houston to the folks' place in Mexia (proud hometown of Anna Nicole Smith! ), Mexia to Plano for Pistons-n-Paint'03, back to Mexia for the night, Mexia to Austin for Lake Travis debauchery, then back to Houston. Aside from that, too many weekends between Houston and Austin to count! In the summer of '94 my bro and I drove the Alaska Highway in a rental Mazda. He rented it in Austin and drove it up to Calgary... I flew into Calgary and we spent 11 days driving the highway before I flew out of Fairbanks. Afterwards, he drove up into the Artic Circle, took a snapshot or two, then turned around and headed back to Austin... 13,000 miles in a little less than 6 weeks, and the car was useless when he returned it.
Proabably summer 2000, 39 Chevy Sedan, Phoenix to San Berdo, CA to Panama City Beach, FL then back to Phoenix. Did not track total milage. I have drove across country at least once every year since 1980. See America First!
I used to drive my '59 Chev BelAir from San Francisco to Cincinnati on leave - had to trade it in after a straight through trip because the motor died. But I got a '61 Pontiac Ventura bubbletop for a new car and was VERY happy. Most of the trip was on the old Mother Road - the Interstate was being built then. Longest trip (not in a hot rod) was from 1995 to 1998 when I was touring the country - 88,000 miles in the motorhome with my roadster in tow. Mutt
I drive my '38 down to So Cal pretty regularly, 800-900 miles round trip. It's longest trip was from Santa Cruz, to B'ville, then on over to Colorado, down to Tucson, then back home. On the way out to Utah I was running with two other woodies, we cruised at around 80. We came up on an old hippie driving an early VW bus, bunper stickers all over it, must've been doing about 40. Two woodies blew by him in the fast lane, the other on the (fortunately, wide) shoulder. Pretty stupid, but the look on his face was worth it. fuckin' surfers
[ QUOTE ] Hey Carps, who was driving DRD's coupe in that picture? It kinda looks like Claude Raines . [/ QUOTE ] He do sit kinda low in da seat don't he?
[ QUOTE ] The very next morning, generator took a crap on me... [/ QUOTE ] Medical experts have advised that early morning is the best time to take a crap.
Longest trip to date is from Austin to Paso. Don't know the milage ( speedo dosen't work ) As far as problems on road trips ,everything except the body falling off the frame. I guess I haven't learned anything cause with my only car I heading off to Paso again this year. I hope no more problems
I don't check milage and driving a rod isn't an option, most of my life it's been my only car drove my 38 ford pu (289 ford powered) from Boise Idaho to chico for my sister in laws funeral with my son, took my brother and his daughter(two kids in the bed) from Chico to Ash Fork Arizona, then Back to L.A.Cal. then back to Idaho. averaged 22 MPG with a 44 Gal Tank in the bed.Only one stop for gas between L.A. and Boise because it was cheap in Reno The last trip in my Hemi powered 48 Ford. I left Portland went to the Oldies Drags at Sears Point. kept Heading south Tavern to Tavern drinking beer and shootin a little Pool stopping anywhere I wanted for as long as I felt like it drove to Paso, Bakersfield, L.A. El Mirage, Phoenix, Ash Fork, St George, thru Vegas (didn't stop in Vegas, last time I was in vegas I got married, I'll never go back again) Carson City, Winnamucka (sp.) Boise, Spokane, Seattle.back to Portland, stopped to get a cool one came out and my Transmission Fluid was all over the ground. Thats when I pulled it down and 11 years later its still in my shop. See you all at MOKAN in August Drove from Paso to Portland, 906 miles in 11 1/2 hours was cruising up to 130mph between redding and albany.just me and a bottle of whiskey (Medication for my bones)
My longest was 2002 Hot rod power tour. About 2700 miles by the time I got home in a week in a 34 chevy tub. no top and short windsheld.
drove my truck 1300 miles last year to Mokan (850 each way)with JYD who lives north of me by 350 miles so that would make about 2000 miles in 3 days DAN
On my maiden voyage Mcphail and I drove from kansas to detroit, met up w/ some deadbeats, (who of coarse had to hitch a ride w/us)and some other beatniksand drove through canada to niagra falls. Our voyage then took us to the Hot rod tattoo convention in NYC. This was in 2001 we left there on 9-11 at 3am. We woke up in philly, and saw the news. Man did we haul ass the rest of the way home, listenin to the news all the way. When we left kansas my car had maybe 100 miles on it, boy were those first 200 mile stressful. I drive that bitch as much as I can now and have no doubts in her making it anywhere I wanna go. See ya all in Paso
[ QUOTE ] Proabably summer 2000, 39 Chevy Sedan, Phoenix to San Berdo, CA to Panama City Beach, FL then back to Phoenix. See America First! [/ QUOTE ] Miles, did you realize we were on the same Power Tour?
in one stretch only 280 miles.....stopped for gas once (no gas gauge) that is what it takes to get from school to home. drove to the brickyard 400 last august....220 each way and did it all in one day. left at 3 am and got home at 1am. not bad for a 42 yearold bottom end and rear and tranny and drums. Nick
HRLC Did not know you then but I sure did. You stuck out a little with a sign on the door of your last car! I have been on five Power Tours and two long hauls. Doing the long haul this year again. I was hoping to stay up there for a week after and do BTT50's but it looks like that might not work now.
I've done 3 PT, twice doing the long haul. I won't be on it this year but my dad will in his two tone blue '56 Olds. He's doing the whole thing from TX to WI. If you see him please go up and introduce yourself. His drivetrain and suspension is a work of art. He'd love to show it to you.
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