Ok check out the map I attached, its just a sample to give an idea what I mean.

It seems like everyone wants there caravan groups to meet up along the way so I though if we made one big map with a few main routes to the site it would help. Along each of the routes there would be "Rally Points" Marked in blue, where people would all meet between a certain time. Then smaller groups could meet together and merge up with the big groups at what ever Rally Point is closest to them.

Then theoreticaly there would be like 3 or 4 HUGE caravans of Third Gens all converging on the Camp Site (yellow star) at one time.

Now while this could be a cool affect for a ton of us to show up all at once, it could also cause a serious mess????

Anyways Just an idea that maybe some of the people planning the caravans could work on together???

 

I strongly suggest, EVERYONE make a printout of the directions, and if you're using a caravan, stick a person up front and back that have cell phones, just in case.

 

yeah, as time gets closer to the meet, i'll post my cell phone number for the ohio people. i'll also pass it on to the pa guys, and i'll expect to have their number as well.

the photo below is how the ohio crew will be coming in. look at the dot and the word "youngstown" . we're taking I-76 over to 83 south, and we will be meeting up with the penn guys there.

 

yeah like I said that map was just an example.

If the people that are heading up the bigger caravans could post their routes then I could put them all together so it makes sense not like the gibberish I put on the sample one. It would help to know what time the groups plan on leaving so that the different groups could meet up ??

A map like that might be nice to have up on a web page if possible ??

 

edit.... scrap that. the site is up and running.

i'd like each caravan organizer to email me once you have your routes plotted.

or catch me on aim. rcguthrie8201

or yahoo messenger. hazardxfly

 

ponykiller,
robert had a good point in the ohio thread about meeting somewhere thurs night, and then starting from, say youngstown/ warren or even pittsburgh fri. morn.
since you guys from ill/wis/minn are close to I-80/ I-90 you could choose that route.

for me, it is longer to go north to youngstown or where ever (since im in cols, im right off I-70), but no one has stated interest from indy, cinci, and other areas that run through columbus, id rather stick with a larger caravan

 

LeftTurn1LE is coming from Indiana. he's gonna swing out a few days before, and hang out before the meet.

some of you guys have a 11 or 12 hour drive. i think we should offer the guys coming farther west the option of stopping somewhere and resting.

but i also agree that it's gonna be tricky to organize, especially with the distance. we'll sort things out

 

I just mapped our route on yahoo and the one it gives as the best route goes right through youngstown, so with that said, let me know when you guys pic an exact time and place so we can kinda plan on our end to be there. On that note, Im sure anyone coming from Michgan would being going the same route and would beable to meet up there too.

edit: youngstown also looks to be the halfway point for us so that would work well as a place to rest for a night on thursday and then take off with you guys on friday morning.

 

Pony:

If you guys end up stopping in the area to rest, would you guys be doing the hotel thing?

Keep me posted, so I can look into getting some rates for you guys.

 

i'm almost positive i can get a discount on super 8
my dad traveled a lot with his old job, and he has a discount card

 

this is crazy!!!! this is going to turn into something awsome!!!!
just driving down the road and seeing 10, 15, 20 third gens.
part of me is glad I am decently close (under 200 miles) another part wouldn't mind doing the long road trip. I can imagine peoples places at a gas station of BKwhen all those car stop at the same time
also here is a idea.
getting one of those $20 walkie talkies at radio shack can be a big help for everyone.
biker

 

that is a very good idea, it was a pain, tryin to keep track of 4-5 guys behind me goin thru stoplights, the walkies would help out a lot.

 

I've done caravans before with both city and highway driving. Highway is pretty easy, just make sure a large enough % of the drivers know where they are going, or have cellphones and the cell #s of the people who do know. Once you get into the city portion, make sure that at minimum every 5 drivers in line know where they have to go, that way it isn't a big deal when (not if) the larger group gets split up.

Having a way to signal the group to stop for both emergancys (need gas now, or flat tire), or planned stops makes it less likely to split up the caravan. Generally the people who have the easiest to spot cars are the best for group leaders.

 

No.... i'm not painting my car bright yellow, green, orange, or pink.

lol

i'm not sure i'm keen on the walkie talkies. they only have a 2 mile range max. i think cell phones would work out better. that's just me, though.

 

they would just help on the caravans and stuff. I do Bike caravans all the time, mind you those are easier but its the same idea. you don't need everyone to have them. Idea for gas would be to hold your supersized cup from MCd's out the window and shake it.....lol or just call the lead car on the cell...that could work too....
biker

 

robert,

not sure about the hotel thing, depends on the $$$ situation at the time and if the GFs come or not. Me and the 3 guys that are coming would probably just set up tents, or sleep in the cars or something like that, but the GFs are totaly against anything like that, lol.


As far as the radios go, I know all the cars in my little group will have a CB radio, we usualy just stick on chanel 19 or like 33 depending on radio traffic. He all have cell phones to but its kinda nice being able to just talk on the CB.

Anyone think about maybe getting some kinda little flags to put on the cars so we know who is all in the group. Kinda like they put on cars in funnerals ???

 

"third gen nats or bust" right?
BTW do you have any pics of the CB radio in the car, to include the antenna? I would want to put one on but I don't want a billy bob truck antenna on the car.
thanks
biker

 

So what do you guys think of that? lol Maybe if it was a little more refined :lala:

If you look close you can see my antena in that pic, its a "cellular style" No holes to drill, it has a peice that sticks to the inside of the window and the antena sticks to the outside of the window, sends the signal through the glass. It looks pretty decent if you ask me. Range kinda sucks, maybe 3 or 4 miles at best. I think I paid like $30 for it at Radio Shack. I have to figure out how Im gonna make it work when I put the louvers on the back window though ??? As far as the radio itself I have a "custom" mount, when I removed the heater from my car I took out the 2 vents that hang down from the dash pad and the CB fits in there perfectly.

My truck on the other hand is billy bob setup all the way, got the 5' fiberglass whip coming off the bed.

 

:sillylol: at the waving mcdonald's cup.

i'm planning on putting a cb radio in my car. and i can carry one of the handheld radios. i'm flexible. so pick something, and we'll go with it.

edit-- silly me, forgot to note anything bout the hotel reply. i'm not sure how sleeping in cars would go over with businesses

my place is way out of the way, and i can't have a large amount of people over. i'm sure i can figure something out.

 

I used to sleep in rest stops all the time...never had any problems.
you have a bathroom within walking distance and a soda, chip machine too.
biker

 

not a bad idea at all

i'll look around and see what i can find.

there's also truck stops in the area.

another possibility

 

I would drive till like 11-12 at night and I couldn't see myself spending $40 for a room for like 6 hours. If you have the two F's
"family and females" with you then yea they will want a room.
when I do x-country drives I would do 17-18 hr days. of course I would stop at just about every harley shop along the way and get a shirt.
biker
I've also done 9 hr bike rides on a sportser
and double, sometimes triple 18 hr days in a HUMVEE while in Bosnia. (that is not fun)
later
biker

 

yeah like I said its still a toss up depending on if the GF's come or not. If they don't come me and the guys drive non stop till someone needs gas.

Biker I know what you mean about the long rides in the HUMVEE, but thats nothing compaired to the POS duce and a half that I always get stuck driving. It sucks only being a SPC get stuck with all the crap.

 

amen to that, what you do while you where in?
biker
PS duece 1/2 sucks, I am glad I never had to deal with one of those in a long distance drive....

 

im am seriously considering going to this.. the only thing stopping me would be if i get my ins money in time.. i havent been on a x-country drive in a couple years (drove to school in vermont from cali.. everyone thought i was crazy, but it was cheaper than a plane ticket from fresno, ca to burlington, vt).. i will know for sure if im goin by feb at the latest..

-mike (loomdog)

 

Biker,

Im actualy still in, finishing up 6 of 8 years in the National Guard. Im artillery maintence / recovery Used to drive the M88 retriver, but Im in a different unit now where its more support so I drive the POS duece tool truck. I guess its not to bad I "tweeked" it a little so its faster than most, played with the governor spring and the turbo so no I top out at a whooping 62 MPH instead of 53, lol pretty sad aint it. lol

Loom,

you could always take out a loan or charge it till you get the cash, just thing when will this opertunity come up again, lol

 

2004 if all goes well, but still no excuse to wait

 

i've always found hand held CB radio's pretty good when going places with lots of people..
they only have a 2-5 mile range (5 on a really good day)... but they'd be adequate untill the group gets split up pretty badly..
then the cell phones kick in and the drivers who know what the **** they are doing.

edit: btw, anybody from Minnesota going?
make the ride feel 'that' much shorter..

 

i like the flag idea, i'm sure we can come up with some sort of a way to mark the cars so we know who is who.

i'm looking around still for a meeting point. i talked to my parents about the possibility of some people hanging out here (i live on 20 acres of farmland a mile from the ohio/pennsylvania border)

there's several restaurants in the area, my parents suggested we have some kind of cruise here. i'm thinking more along the lines of on the way back from the meet.

right now, i'm leaning towards meeting gathering everyone near the ohio turnpike. (those of you coming alternate routes, i can provide directions, that will happen in due time)

once we have an established date and location for the meet, i'll start pushing more for a meeting place, and approximate timeframe. if we have the meet at the park near baltimore (patipasco i think?) it'll cut about an hour off of our driving time.

 

Hey, I think it was you i met this past summer. I had the Maroon GTA. It was at Polo Park if you remember. If you are serious about going on this thing i might wanna go too. And im sure a few others from our F-body Generations group with 3rd gens would be willing to go.