1 Topic by firegremlin (edited by firegremlin 2013-05-14 01:06 PM)

  • From: Rockville, MD
  • Registered: 2010-12-15
  • Posts: 1,155

Topic: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Here's a map.

I have a one-way ticket from DC (BWI) to Seattle (SEA) that lands on Thursday, July 25th, at 7:50PM. My sister can pick me up, drive me home, and I'll head out from there around 9PM.

Afterwards, the plan is as follows:

Friday:
~10AM Mountain, Yellowstone National Park (walk around for an hour or so - need ideas for scenic locations)
~8PM Mountain, Crazy Horse, Mt Rushmore (stay around until they light up the lights, take pictures)
Saturday:
~2AM Central, Sioux Falls, keep driving.
~5AM Central, Omaha - take a break, maybe a shower. Head out at 8AM unless behind schedule.
~10AM Central, Des Moines.
~Noon Central, Iowa City.
~4PM Central, Chicago. Stay around for a bit.
~9PM Eastern, Lansing, MI.
~11PM Eastern, Flint, MI (highly optional).
~Midnight - Detroit, MI.
Sunday:
4AM Eastern, Toronto, ON
6AM Eastern, Niagara Falls ON/NY
8AM Eastern, Buffalo, NY
6PM Eastern, Rockville, MD - done.

Please tell me if this plan has any gaping holes that I missed. I think that other than driving out of Chicago, I'll miss all the traffic. Timing is tight, but doable if you speed like crazy, and there are some points that can be skipped (the whole Niagara falls section if shit goes REALLY bad, and Lansing/Flint loop is entirely expendable if I can't make it to Toronto before sunrise).

Also, if anyone sees any places where it'd be worthy to make a stop, even to snap a couple pictures of the K, please let me know. I'm looking for the following: either scenic locations, recognizable places in major cities on the way, or famous and/or historical points of interest. Particular preference to points of automotive history, especially that of Chrysler, and ESPECIALLY that of bailout, K-car, Lee, and so on.

I have an excellent tentative co-driver, but I need to figure out how to get him from OAK to SEA and then from, say, DCA or BWI back to OAK, since he's a broke-ass biophysics grad student who's busy pushing the boundaries of science instead of raking in money like the rest of us. If anyone knows of dirt-cheap ways to fly him in/out, let me know.

Finally, points of assistance.

- I'm well-covered in MD - if the car breaks down within 4 hours away from Rockville, I have people who can pick me up, and I can tow the car home overnight with my own rig.
- I have a friend in Buffalo who can keep the car if it dies within a couple hours' worth of driving distance.
- tSoG for NY/PA section.
- Cabinboy/Racin_G73 for Chicago area
- dculberson in Ohio if we decide to can the Niagara Falls section.
- TeamPettyCash in Seattle proper

I have a desert to cross, so to speak, between Seattle and Chicago.

Let's see some comments!

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  • jduffy
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

In Chicago if you can go out by the planetarium you should be able to get a picture with some of the Chicago skyline in the background

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& … h&z=17

https://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en& … 68,,0,-1.2

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  • From: Villa Park, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-12
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

There's also the Belvidere Assembly Plant on 90 outside Rockford. Lots of Chrysler products have come out of that plant including the new Dart.

Since you're hitting Chicago on a Saturday traffic will only suck rather than being freaking miserable. It would be cool to get a shot of the K-car outside Wrigley Field. Allow plenty of time if you're actually going into the city rather than bypassing it on 294.

If you need I can probably cover all of Illinois since it's a Saturday. Let us know when you're flying through town. I'd like to see the car again. Maybe we can meet up while you're here.

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  • From: Elburn, IL
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I was gonna say, the Belvidere Assembly Plant is right off of 90.

If you decide you don't want to brave the city of Chicago, there's some cool Route 66 stuff down near Joliet.  (Along I-80, as well, so not far off your route.)

If you were willing to spend a night in Chicago, you should take the K to a dirt track.  Sycamore Speedway, Fairbury Speedway, LaSalle Speedway... people would wonder what the hell it was.  (At Sycamore, they'd just think you were there to race 'spectator' on the wrong night.)  I might be able to get you out onto the track at Sycamore (or Fairbury) with the K... circling under the (not so) bright lights.  It would make for a helluva photo opportunity.  Also of note: some Zac Efron/Dennis Quaid movie was filmed at Sycamore.  So, yeah, you'd have that as part of your aura as well.  ("At Any Price" was the film.)

LaSalle is right along I-80, west of the city.  Sycamore is near me.  Fairbury is south on I-55 or Rt. 47 about an hour.  But it's one of the best race tracks in the midwest.

No idea what's going on at Route 66 drag races on a Saturday night, but the track there might be a photo opportunity.  You could try to get past the gate at Autobahn for a photo at the Country Club.  But good luck with that...

Test session at Black Hawk Farms?

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  • From: New Alexandria PA
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I have a trailer and tow rig AND a bed near Pittsburgh PA.

I will send you my contact info -just in case.

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  • From: Fort Wayne, IN
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I don't think any trip across I-90 can be complete without a picture of Bettie in front of Wall Drug Store in Wall, SD and The Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD.


You'll also need to slap a
http://ourvolvo.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/wall-drug-bumper-sticker.jpg
on Bettie's hindquarters.

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  • From: Rockville, MD
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Ok, I think I'll skip Omaha and go through La Crosse and Madison instead, so that it's easier for me to hit Belvidere. Should cut down the trip a bit, too, and I guess I'll see Omaha some other time.

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8 Reply by cabinboy (edited by cabinboy 2013-05-15 10:22 AM)

  • From: Villa Park, IL
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

firegremlin wrote:

Ok, I think I'll skip Omaha and go through La Crosse and Madison instead, so that it's easier for me to hit Belvidere. Should cut down the trip a bit, too, and I guess I'll see Omaha some other time.

In that case I'll cover southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for you.

And I agree that you must stop in Wall Drug. The ultimate tourist trap must be included on this epic journey.

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  • erich
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Having lived in Flint for a short time, I'd stay far away unless there is something exceptional you must see.

And I agree that you must stop in Wall Drug. The ultimate tourist trap must be included on this epic journey.

I thought the Dells in Wisconsin was the ultimate tourist trap?

10 Reply by NSF

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Hoon everything.  Get a camera to shoot a lower res photo every few minutes mounted.    Who knows you might end up with a series of great photographs or one image of a dragonfly smashed into your camera for 2000 miles.

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  • From: Alvin, TX
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

You said Hoon.

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12 Reply by NSF

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

FFF. I did.  It's over, Johnny.

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  • From: Orion Twp, MI
  • Registered: 2011-04-18
  • Posts: 776

Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

+1 on the "avoid Flint" advice. 

However, you really owe it to the K-car to get some photo opportunities at the Chrysler Word Headquarters Tower in Auburn Hills MI.  Sure, the tech center didn't officially open until the late 1980s, but it's still Chrysler and an easy exit (number 78) off I-75.

1000 Chrysler Dr
Auburn Hills, MI 48326

http://i.imgur.com/WwLcUaA.jpg

"Chrysler Drive" circles the campus and you are free to drive around to your hearts content.  The best bet would be to stop directly on Chrysler drive to the west of the main tower (green arrow) and take a photo of the K-car with the building in the background.  It will probably be dark by the time you drive though, but the building is (sometimes) lit up.  Traffic on Chrysler Drive will be non-existent on a Saturday evening.

Let me know if you need help or an escort.  I'm ten minutes from Chrysler HQ.

The Pentastar whisperer

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  • From: Elburn, IL
  • Registered: 2010-12-16
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

erich wrote:

Having lived in Flint for a short time, I'd stay far away unless there is something exceptional you must see.

And I agree that you must stop in Wall Drug. The ultimate tourist trap must be included on this epic journey.

I thought the Dells in Wisconsin was the ultimate tourist trap?

The Dells offers at least some modicum of 'attraction' - be it mini golf, water parks, indoor water parks, casino, wineries, what have you.

Wall Drug (which I fully intend to visit this summer on our RV trip), to my understanding, is just a store.

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  • From: Orion Twp, MI
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Also, make sure you have a TITLE (since the car isn't registered / street legal) for the K-car when going into Canada.  Since the title is likely not in your name, you will need a notarized letter from the owner saying it's OK for you to transport the car into Canada.  It's a hassle, but not that big of a deal once you have all the paperwork in order.

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16 Reply by NSF

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Bayley wrote:

Also, make sure you have a TITLE (since the car isn't registered / street legal) for the K-car when going into Canada.  Since the title is likely not in your name, you will need a notarized letter from the owner saying it's OK for you to transport the car into Canada.  It's a hassle, but not that big of a deal once you have all the paperwork in order.

Super K is tagged and insured.  100 percent street legal.

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  • From: oklahoma city
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

i couldn't find a copy of the insurance in the car (oklahoma requires that we carry proof of insurance in the car). i picked up coverage alongside my normal cars so i'd have that in hand.

i figured i could spin a yarn for why i had the car, but not having proof of insurance would be tough to talk my way out of.

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  • From: Orion Twp, MI
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

NSF wrote:

Super K is tagged and insured.  100 percent street legal.


...than what's all this trailer bullshit about? 

big_smile

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  • From: Houston, TX
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I believe he wanted to carry a small motorcycle with him just in case he breaks down and has to run for parts.

Escape Velocity Racing
  • From: Rockville, MD
  • Registered: 2010-12-15
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

The bike will be there only on the southern part of the trip. I have no easy way of getting a bike to Seattle.

The car is insured, registered, and I do have a title for it (but I don't think that's necessary).

If anyone wants proof of insurance, email me and I'll email you a PDF or something of that sort. Should be enough.

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  • From: Mini-so-ta
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

cabinboy wrote:
firegremlin wrote:

Ok, I think I'll skip Omaha and go through La Crosse and Madison instead, so that it's easier for me to hit Belvidere. Should cut down the trip a bit, too, and I guess I'll see Omaha some other time.

In that case I'll cover southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois for you.

I'm in southeast MN near I-90 if you need anything.

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

The Chrysler HQ idea is the best one in this thread.

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23 Reply by firegremlin (edited by firegremlin 2013-05-15 07:22 PM)

  • From: Rockville, MD
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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I've been going through the list of current Chrysler factories. They're all in the area, seems like, or at least a lot of them are. I'll have to try to coerce Chrysler into giving us a plant tour of one of them, or something. Anybody got some insider Chrysler contacts?

The Windsor assembly plant is high on the list, as it's still building the most important descendant of the K platform - the Caravan.

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

Where does Iacocca live now?

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25 Reply by NSF

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Re: K-car Zig-zag, part one: Seattle to DC

I double dog dare ya!

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