This week I went ahead and registered as a long hauler and spent the better part of Wednesday night booking all my hotels. Its a 12hr drive to the first venue for me, so I am planning to drive most of the way down on Friday and get within 2-4 hrs of Gonzales, Louisiana.
Now I just have to determine what upgrades I want to get done before the tour and which ones to do after.
I won't be going till 2017, The plan was to go this year, but wife wanted to go back to Hawaii for our 10 wedding anv. So.. that ate vaca time, and the funds for the truck.. my health didn't help the cause.. And when I do, it'll be in my 71 c-10.. and no hotels.. camping/ruff'n it.. I'm hoping to talk my dad into going with me.. and a few things stop me from taking the INDY. 1) no overdrive, and high rpm and small fuel tank 2)seats and long drives, I'd have no problem, same can't be said for dad.. 3) no space to put much.. and the cost to have hotels all 8-9 nights cost to much.. as they tend to start and stop far from here.. it be most likely 9 days, so most likely a hotel on night 1-4-9.. 4) the truck can tow the pop up camper.. tho. I don't trust the camper axle and tiny tires for that length travel.. I'd most likely stuff a small truck (s-10/ranger/) or mini van dumby axle under it for better bearings and tires..
[This message has been edited by E.Furgal (edited 05-30-2016).]
I have done the Power Tour 05, 07, 09,10,11 and 15. The first five in my 87 GT or 88 GT. The 2015 I drove my Hyundai Tucson.
Lots of driving. I'd have to think long and hard for 2015. It would be a two day drive for me to get to the first stop, but that many days in a Fiero, at my age, gets rather cramped. I have wanted to stop in at Gas Monkey Garage in Dallas and I have an old friend in Kansas City. You need some deep pockets figuring $100+/day minimum for hotels, food and fuel.
This is why I'm hoping dad will want to go,, 2 drivers, one can take photo's video, etc.. and split the cost.. Only way it happens next year is if, my health gets better.. and I (we) ruff it camping most nights.. as no way I can swing 8-9 nights of hotels.. (Start and stop tend to be far away) If I was to go in my INDY (not going to happen) I'd put 3rd or 4th gen trans am seats in. as they are 1000x better for long drives.
For those that might get to the start early, the vets love this it seems Veterans Home Car Show
We are scheduled to appear at the SW Louisiana Veterans Retirement Home located in Reserve Louisiana on Friday June 10th from 2:PM to 4:30 PM. This location is about 30 miles east of Gonzales. The retirement home can house up to 158 vets and as of Monday there were 146 currently living on location. I spoke with Ms Hebert, activities director. and they are delighted to have us come. There is plenty of parking area around this location and indicated to her that she could expect 30 cars +/-. I'm hoping for a really big turn out.
Originally posted by cstmwgn View Post
Thanks Dave! For those putting together info here is what I believe the address to be: 4080 W Airline Hwy, Reserve, LA 70084
I will be in Gonzales on Saturday, and Baytown on Sunday.... WITHOUT MY CAR... then flying home
Riding worth some friends from Canada in a White VW Rabbit and blue Cobalt SS.
We will be on Burbon Street Friday night
HELL YEAH SCOTT!!!
Me and Tom will be in the French Quarter on Thurs/Fri... Driving to Gonzales on Saturday to pick up badges and attend drivers meeting.
We must meet up. Glad to hear mayonnaise is making it too...
------------------ <---- did you buy Cliff a beer? ............... @NorthTexasFiero , friend us on FB: North Texas Fieros , www.northtexasfieroclub.org
[This message has been edited by blakeinspace (edited 06-01-2016).]
It is OFFICIAL for me now but I can only do a one day at Gonzales for the kick off. That location is about a 2 hour drive from my house. Going to leave early Saturday morning to make registration.
This will be my first "long drive" with my 88 GT since I got it in 2012 and started to restore it. I've spent hours in traffic and driven 60+ miles around to local shows but no extended highway spends of 70 mph for more than 15-20 minutes. I have a nervous confidence...
Glad to see you will be making the Gonzales stop. If you recall we met about 2 years ago at Crusin the Coast in Gulfport. Hope to see you in Gonzales. Oh, by the way I will be making Crusin the Coast again in October.
Yes sir I remember. You had the Fiero with some tricked out electronic accessories.
You also told me about "Plasti-Aid" I believe. I ordered some recently to fix/reinforce my center console skeleton but haven't started yet. Maybe I'll get on that after my battery relocate.
Where was everybody at? Only saw one Fiero and it was a white one with Texas plates. I had to leave the venue about 3:30 due the fact my brother was called back to work.
I would like to meet up with the group at Duson on Hwy 90. Just let me know what time you guys will be rolling through.
Today 4 Fieros were able to caravan most of the way from Gonzales, LA to Baytown, TX. Here are a few pics I snapped while my cell phone was in its GPS holder:
By the time we got to Baytown, there had been heavy rain for a while and everyone was packing up and trying to leave. It was a mad house, but we got our long hauler cards time stamped and then spent an hour or so just hanging out under the grandstands staying dry while waiting for the traffic jam to clear.
today was unfreaking believable to say the least. Big thanks goes to fieroguru for getting me back on the road when my car overheated and nail in the tire.
Had one more problem when my strut decided to come thru the decklid side crates. Will have to deal with that problem tomorrow.
[This message has been edited by Tom Slick (edited 06-13-2016).]
Today we were at Circuit of the Americas. Considering some of the events from previous days, today was rather uneventful. We left about on time, met up with a few more fieros:
Stopped for lunch:
Parked together at the venue:
Drove on the track:
And met up with 3.4turbo and his LS4 swapped Fiero as we staged for the track lap. He allowed us to sneak into line ahead of him, so there were 5 fieros driving the track together and 3 of them were LS4 Fieros!
[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 06-14-2016).]
The 2016 HRPT is sadly over... It stared with a lot of rain and ended with a lot of heat (100 degrees in KC).
5 Fieros set out to be long haulers and all 5 made it to the finish!
It was great fun long hauling with blakeinspace, Tom Slick, Cajun, and gtoformula. While there were a few car issues and some early delays, they all were relatively minor and didn't require any of us to join the Plan B or Plan C clubs like this person:
Let's try to get a few more Long Haul Fieros next year!
[This message has been edited by fieroguru (edited 06-18-2016).]
Excellent pics and trip report Paul! I am very glad to have spent a week in your company and running with Mr Cajun Mike too. A lot of great memories, events, and meals shared. Travel safe home friend.
today was unfreaking believable to say the least. Big thanks goes to fieroguru for getting me back on the road when my car overheated and nail in the tire.
Had one more problem when my strut decided to come thru the decklid side crates. Will have to deal with that problem tomorrow.
That's what life is all about, helping each other out. Kudo's to Paul for assisting another fellow enthusiast. On another note: I wish to get to the next HRPT event. Until then, I have to live through your eyes.
As Paul stated 'sadly it's over'. I had a great time meeting you guys and running with you'll. It was great to finally people on the forum and spend some time with them.
My thanks to Blake for keeping me pointed in the right directions when it came to hotel locations.
Hope all have a safe trip home Blake, Tom, Paul. I for one truly enjoyed the experience.
Mike
[This message has been edited by Cajun (edited 06-18-2016).]
Great bonding experience, I enjoy trials and tribulations of traveling with Fieros in numbers. Blake thanks for handling all the hotel accommodations, Mike glad to see you again hope see you at some Fiero events, and last but not least. Paul a big thank you goes out to you for getting my Fiero back on the road. Otherwise I still be in Louisiana waiting for a tow truck. I still want to buy dinner next time we're together, just make sure you don't order anything off the $1 menu. Lol!
I would love to be in the long haul club some year. Still have to figure out the logistics of that with 3 kids under 5 years old, lol. I think my wife might kill me if I was gone for a week. Looks like everyone had a good time.
<---- did you buy Cliff a beer? ...............
