Lotus Elan and Lotus Elan Plus 2 Forums

Well, Thursday morning I begin my adventure to LOG 32 in my Elan S2. Since I am not on Farcebook, I thought those who are interested might be reached here. If you do not have an interest in my cross-country journey Eight Days across the Prairie, Gulf Coast and Panhandle in an old Lotus hit your back arrow now. If you dohave an interest...read on.

Littleton, CO 80123 Depart from home about 8:00 MDT for a long day to Dalhart ,TX via CO 105, I 25 and US 87. Though a long day at about 340 miles, it is still only about 7 hours on the road, plus an hour lost to central time and gets me through the ?boring? stuff in one big day.
http://goo.gl/maps/OVtGm

Dalhart, TX Depart about 8:00 CDT for a relatively short 200 mile 4 hour road day to Lubbock, TX where I will have time to visit the Buddy Holly Museum at 1801 Crickets Avenue Lubbock, TX 79401 and my college roommate David Midkiff for some good Texas hospitality.
http://goo.gl/maps/BPrp1

Lubbock, TX 79413 Depart about 8:00 CDT for a very long day of 390 miles and 7 ? hours to Austin TX where I will stay near the airport to get an early start to the Circuit of the Americas Formula One track the next morning.
http://goo.gl/maps/jGPB0

Austin, TX 78741 After an early departure to the F1 track it will be an easy day of about 200 miles and about 4 hours. This will allow me some time at the track as well as an early arrival to Galveston where I can check out the seafront and get some good fresh fish for dinner.
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Galveston, TX 77551 An early 8 AM ferry ride across Galveston Bay is the start of a medium long day of 285 miles and 6 ? hours. With a possible stop in New Iberia and some Cajun food, I should be in Morgan City for an early evening and a good rest up for what?s coming.
http://goo.gl/maps/02W3t

Morgan City, LA 7038 With a 265 mile 5 ? hour day I plan to spend a fair amount of time in the vicinity of the French Quarter for a good lunch in the ?Big Easy? by avoiding morning rush hour traffic on the only way through the city?Interstate 10. Then traverse the gulf coast and cross Mobile Bay via a ferry to the eastern edge of Alabama for the night.
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Orange Beach, AL 36561 Today, after an early start, there is another 265 mile 5 ? hour day along the Gulf Islands National Seashore to the Panhandle and steamy central Florida. When I enter Florida I lose another hour as we change to Eastern Daylight Time. The towns of Pensacola, Ft. Walton Beach and Destin are known for their beach scene. Maybe some babe watching is in store!
http://goo.gl/maps/6TKj9

Perry, FL For the last day on the road I get to sleep in a bit and leave at a reasonable hour as there is only about 205 miles and 4 ? hours on the road. This should allow me a reasonable arrival at the Orlando Hilton and a good spot at the bar. Mission accomplished! Now I have to go to the Orlando Airport to pick up my better half who would rather fly than spend 8 days in an Elan. Imagine!
http://goo.gl/maps/yuwQn

6001 Destination Parkway, Orlando, FL 32819 We will leave Monday morning early for a 90 mile 2 hour drive to Sebring International Raceway and our Lotus Track Day. After a full day in the sun we will return to Orlando to put Ann on a plane back to Denver while I find the easiest shortest non Interstate way home to Littleton.
http://goo.gl/maps/vSJlp

Wow, that's impressive. I look forward to meeting you again there (we met at Lime Rock) - I guess the Eclat made it back to CO!

I'm flying, but paid by my company because, fortuitously, I have to be in Orlando next week for a Gartner conference. So it's just a matter of staying over for the weekend.

Has anybody seen a full agenda? The best I can find is: http://lotuscarclub.org/htmlx/file/LOG% ... _08_09.pdf

It shows a Tech Session 3:00-4:00 on Friday, but the topic is TBD, as is the location of the opening reception! So it's hard to know when to goof off work and show up....

Nick

Ross,

Best wishes to you and safe travels. Sounds like a wonderful trip with some fine gastronomical pauses along the way. The BBQ flavors evolve as you head east!

Wave as you pass through Panama City. My folks made their first home there and I mis-spent the first few years of my childhood.

Regards,
Dan

See you in Orlando!

Greg Z

I'm one of the few who has to drive north to Orlando! See you there!

Gary
'71 Sprint FHC
Miami, Florida

Ross,
Best of luck on the trip!
Don't sty too long in Dalhart as the feed lots will get to you.
Been there and done that many times as my wife's family is there.

Other than that stop you should have a great trip.
Carry on mate.

Mark

Dalhart, Texas...... The only place with steak house I have ever been in that limits you to 2 glasses of wine or 2 beers, with the admonition that they are not a bar....... Big disclaimer right square in the middle of the menu. But the do have a great tire store, put 2 new tires on my trailer and had me on the road in less than 25 minutes from the time I pulled into the store. Oh, and after limping my trailer in to the town, from 40 miles out, I really needed more than 2 drinks.......

Rob Walker
26-4889

Thanks to all of you well wishers, I know I will have a safe and uneventful journey. Nick, Greg and Gary -I'll see you at the bar on Friday night and give you the story verbally. And Mark, I think that part about "...sty too long in Dalhart" was a Freudian slip, eh? Rob, I will find the steak house and have a beer before I go just to outsmart them

Full report upon return. Thanks guys.

Best wishes, Ross, and hoping you don't become a hood ornament on some 22 wheeler. No falling asleep! (Besides, you'd miss the scenery )

Ross,

Sure hope you have a good trip down and back. I won't be able to make the LOG or track day, but I hope to be in Florida soon after. So, if you are still in state for a couple of days after the LOG, please stop. I think you already have my SARL.. email as a way of contact. Our winter home is just north of Daytona.

Roger Sieling Lotus 20/22 FJ and Elans

All the best on the trip Ross.

I will be leaving Saturday taking the 'Northern Route' thru Montana or Dakota, and south thru Kansas City or St Louis. Trip itinerary a bit open right now, but hope to get a few posts as we go. My brother is lending support and coming along. Save a seat at the bar!

Just a quick update before I depart Lubbock in a few minutes.

Rob: I found the Bar H Steakhouse and they still limit one to just two beers although they did have Blue Moon on tap, with the "justification" that they are trying to balance a good time with a responsible hosting stance. In other words we don't want any liability for how much you drink, good sir!

The Buddy Holly story is most impressive and it is a fine little museum but the bonus was the other two museums Dave and I went to, the Silent Wings which depicted the glider transports from WW2 as this was their training base, and the Windmill museum which had over a hundred different windmills and their engineering logic. Both were fascinating, plus it gave me lots of time with Dave.

The car is running great, I can cruise at about 72 mph with my new 3.54 diff and I'm getting about 33mpg and quite sunburned despite the sunblock. Or maybe it is windburn as the wind is relentless here in west Texas, hence the windmills.

That's All Folks. Ha-ha,ha ha.

Ross, Good to read your trip is going well. Hope the weather will be good. I will be interested to see your updates.

Bob

Great to hear, Ross. Do you have any of Keith's hypojets or any other of his 'stuff' in your carbs now?

Greg Z