Found in the Forums: A pending trip across the country needs your help

Jeff Glucker

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fof roadtrip

Back from the dead, it’s time for another Found in the Forums post! This time around it’s a post by reader Marto that caught my eyes. Marto explains that he is quitting his job, leaving his house, and venturing out on a mega roadtrip. The destination? Pretty much anywhere in the United States and Canada.

Marto is looking for advice as to what and where he should go see. Also, he needs advice on what type of car to get for the trip. Head on in to the forums to lend your thoughtful thoughts, and get Marto set off on the right foot.

About

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker

Jeff Glucker is the co-founder and Executive Editor of Hooniverse.com. He’s often seen getting passed as he hustles a 1991 Mitsubishi Montero up the 405 Freeway. IG: @HooniverseJeff

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46 responses to “Found in the Forums: A pending trip across the country needs your help”

  1. muthalovin Avatar
    muthalovin

    Marto, you could be like Dennis Matson and take a Panigale.
    <img src="http://farm9.static.flickr.com/8475/8413885521_61630ce28a.jpg"&gt;
    http://hellforleathermagazine.com/2013/02/coast-t…

    Reply
    1. Marto Avatar
      Marto

      Well, I know I can ride a bicycle. Can't be much harder than that, surely.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        Dude, you don't even have to pedal. I'm pretty sure it's easier.

        Reply
  2. needthatcar Avatar
    needthatcar

    Wells Fun Run, July 26-28, Wells Nevada. It's like Mardi Gras for gearheads.
    in August, Bonneville Speed Week is a can't miss and is in the same neighborhood.

    Reply
    1. Jeff Glucker Avatar
      Jeff Glucker

      I've got to try and get to Bonneville this year…

      Reply
      1. vwminispeedster Avatar
        vwminispeedster

        Bonneville is awesome. We went last year and I will go back again some day. Just need to figure out what I want to race.

        Reply
      2. Hatchtopia Avatar
        Hatchtopia

        Make it happen. I'm guessing I could even convince Scott to buy you a beer.

        Reply
    2. Marto Avatar
      Marto

      Wells Fun Run you say… sounds alright. And Bonneville Speed Week. Another thing to look up.

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        You should definitely do that one. I've never made it, but it is a holy place of American Hoonitarians, and a pilgrimage there is a requirement.

        Reply
        1. Kris_01 Avatar
          Kris_01

          Ever since I saw "The World's Fastest Indian" I've wanted to go there.

          Reply
  3. Alff Avatar
    Alff

    Do it American style…
    <img src="http://static.cargurus.com/images/site/2008/06/16/20/16/1972_cadillac_eldorado-pic-50697.jpeg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. dukeisduke Avatar
      dukeisduke

      Nope, he's quitting his job. He buys that, he'll need two jobs, to pay for gas.

      Reply
      1. Alff Avatar
        Alff

        Thought about that. Sounds like he's coming from Europe, so he'll probably be amazed that he can run this bit of American luxury for the same cost as some diesel-powered pea shooter.

        Reply
        1. Marto Avatar
          Marto

          Ha ha, nope. I'm coming from Australia.
          Also, I won't be working as I travel, just living off savings and doing everything on the cheap. Basically, when I want to keep travelling until I am broke. I could blow the lot on a few months of 5-star living. Or, by being mean, maybe I stretch out to a year.
          So, hopefully, I can join people on *their* roadtrips and pay my share of gas money. It'll be like couchsurfing on the road: roadsurfing!
          <img src="http://videos.crocofun.com/funny-videos/19-12-07/cookie_sheet_road_skiing.jpg"&gt;

          Reply
  4. Marto Avatar
    Marto

    I'll be starting in Vancouver where I have a friend. I also have to stop to visit friends in LA and New Orleans. And apparently I just have to see New York.

    Reply
    1. MVEilenstein Avatar
      MVEilenstein

      Make sure you take some time to see the countryside. There's plenty of it.

      Reply
    2. Alff Avatar
      Alff

      You are starting in arguably the most beautiful city in North America. Before heading south, I encourage you to explore BC and perhaps Banff. The rest of Canada you can forget, it's all slovenly IT workers and French speakers, except for Quetico.

      Reply
      1. racer139 Avatar
        racer139

        Us eastcoast folk arent all ITyyy. we have some other qualitys too.

        Reply
  5. vwminispeedster Avatar
    vwminispeedster

    As jeep_jeff posted in the forum you are more than welcome to stop by my Dad's shop in Oakland, CA (Hanzel Auto Body Works) especially on the morning of the second Saturday of the month for our little get together. http://hanzelautobodyworks.weebly.com/seconds-sat… Just ask for Chris and we will feed you with delicious bacon scones or if you are around April or May empanadas from a Citroen H van. Safe Travels!!

    Reply
  6. chrystlubitshi Avatar
    chrystlubitshi

    Marto- If you come through Indiana(polis) I've got a futon for you.
    also, if you time it right, we are coming up to practice/fun run time at the speedway.

    Reply
  7. Jeff Glucker Avatar
    Jeff Glucker

    Try to make it to Pikes Peak at the end of June…

    Reply
    1. jibduh Avatar
      jibduh

      A reminder of something I need to plan for myself, since Louisville isn't THAT far away.

      Reply
    2. Marto Avatar
      Marto

      OH heck yes, but only if Ari Vatanen is there in a Peugeot … or Monster Tajima turns up with a Suzuki Imperial Star Destroyer or something.
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TKgeCQGu_ug

      Reply
  8. wisc47 Avatar
    wisc47

    If you end up in Wisconsin for a weekend, this is the place to be if you're a gear head. http://www.roadamerica.com
    As for the car, I've always had this fantasy of a cross America road trip in either this…
    <img src="http://www.motorstown.com/images/volvo-p1800-es-07.jpg&quot; width="600">
    Or this…
    <img src="http://www.squarebirds.org/users/tarps3/64galaxie/images/front1.jpg"&gt;

    Reply
    1. Marto Avatar
      Marto

      Big convertibles are practically unknown in Australia, so the Great Red Shark is tempting…

      Reply
      1. wisc47 Avatar
        wisc47

        Yeah, the Ford Galaxie is my favorite big American boat, but really any old american car from the 50's, 60's and 70's will do for a nice highway cruiser.
        Anyways, I'll just leave this here, too… http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/1-only-6900-Galaxi…

        Reply
        1. Marto Avatar
          Marto

          I do plan to be somewhere around Barstow – on the edge of the desert – at some time. I already have my bat repellent.

          Reply
    2. Will Avatar
      Will

      What is that gold shooting brake? Marto, keep in mind the the DC museums are free, as is the awesome National Museum of the US Air Force in Dayton, Ohio http://www.nationalmuseum.af.mil/ Also worth a visit is the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, billed as America's Greatest History Attraction. Millions of artifacts. Dozens of historical buildings. A museum, village, factory tour and more. http://www.thehenryford.org/ Also consider the Woodward Dream Cruise in metro Detroit this summer for rolling classic cars http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/

      Reply
      1. wisc47 Avatar
        wisc47

        That is a Volvo P1800es.

        Reply
        1. mdharrell Avatar
          mdharrell

          No, it's a Volvo 1800ES. The 1800 series includes the P1800, the 1800S, the 1800E, and the 1800ES. There is no P1800ES.

          Reply
          1. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
            Scandinavian Flick

            Those number designations make them so damn hard to find in the Classifieds. Only about half of the owners know the difference, and many search sites make wild card searches impossible, which requires searching for every possible alphanumeric combination… Even ones that don't technically exist…

          2. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            Another excellent reason to get a P1900.

          3. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
            Scandinavian Flick

            Yeah, because those are easy to find!

          4. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            Not so much difficult as pricey, I suspect.

          5. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
            Scandinavian Flick

            Pricey, ehh… Not particularly collectible, considering its rarity, and nobody has a clue what it is. But only 68 were produced.
            That said, I know where one is…

          6. mdharrell Avatar
            mdharrell

            You do? Is it pricey or just difficult?

          7. Scandinavian Flick Avatar
            Scandinavian Flick

            An older gentleman with a fairly thick Swedish accent brings one to the local Volvo gatherings. There was a long, difficult restoration process over a number of years. The owner is really friendly and happy to talk about the car. Maybe sometime I will find the motivation to ask him some questions and do a write-up for Submission Thursdays…
            So I guess the answer to the second question is "yes."

          8. jeepjeff Avatar
            jeepjeff

            Careful arguing with a man who's slogan is "Effortless parts availability is a sucker's game."

  9. facelvega Avatar
    facelvega

    Assuming you hit the east coast, may I suggest you visit Watkins Glen, ideally on a classics race day. The classic grand prix will be there in September. One of the storied and beautiful road tracks of the US, and for most events you can bring a tent and camp right at the track. Good country roads and middling vineyards all around the finger lakes as well, it makes for a nice car-oriented trip.

    Reply
  10. Marto Avatar
    Marto

    Also, I have to say thanks Hooniverse for showcasing my little trip. And thanks everyone for the ideas. Now to reply to everyone here and on the forum …

    Reply
    1. neffo Avatar
      neffo

      As an Aussie who did a road trip like this a couple of years ago (slightly differently, as I had a job to go back to), I can tell you that you will have a blast.
      Couple of things:
      – you can buy and own a car – its easy, you need to get insurance (what we'd call third party property, its legally required in almost all states that matter) which will probably hurt your pocket a touch, but places will insure you even as a tourist on a foreign drivers license
      – you can get a longer stay visa than 90 days (ETSA is soooo much easier though), the requirements are a bit steeper
      – driving on the wrong side feels natural in a matter of hours, its also a great opportunity to even up your truckers tan (if you have one)
      – don't hate on museums, the US has some seriously awesome ones. especially in washington DC, but honourable mentions to the military museums, air and space museums dotted all around the place
      – GRAND CANYON – holy shit
      – if (when) you get pulled over, don't get out of the car. your accent will either help or hurt when it comes to getting out of a ticket.
      – border patrol are arseholes if you go through the border states, even if you don't look the slightest bit mexican.
      – have a plan, but be flexible about it (especially if you have a time limit)

      Reply
      1. danleym Avatar
        danleym

        "GRAND CANYON – holy shit"
        Yeah, that about sums up this American's thoughts when I first saw it, too. You should see it, pictures don't even start to do it justice.

        Reply
      2. mdharrell Avatar
        mdharrell

        "if (when) you get pulled over, don't get out of the car."
        True, unless of course the cop specifically orders you to do so. A few years ago some friends of mine from India were driving in Oregon on a vacation when they saw flashing lights behind them. They weren't sure what this meant, so they kept driving, assuming the police car eventually would pass them and be on its way. After discussing the matter for a while, they decided to pull off to the shoulder to let it by. When the cop also stopped behind them, the driver got out and started walking back to see what he wanted. As they told me later, the cop was not at all amused by this behavior.

        Reply
        1. pj134 Avatar
          pj134

          Yeah, this is especially valid in large cities where standard procedure is 2+ cars for any traffic stop. There are lots of people who like to play that timeless classic "lets shoot cops for no reason" and they become very edgy in major cities.

          Reply
        2. mr. mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
          mr. mzs zsm msz esq

          My father was pulled over, in Poland the police pull in front of you when pulling you over, so he was thinking the same things like why they will not pass finally. So he pulled over to let them pass. Then the police walked over shining bright lights yelling, to no effect cause my parents spoke no English, neither did I. It was odd. It all boiled down to a burnt-out license plate bulb.

          Reply
    2. mr. mzs zsm msz esq Avatar
      mr. mzs zsm msz esq

      I'm helping with a fledgling lemons team, if you show-up near Batavia IL let me know. There's races in Joliet and Road America we are shooting for. Fairbury and Sycamore Speedways are pretty neat too, circle dirt tracks, same people do that too. Blackhawk Farms does serious races with older cars. The world's biggest truck stop in Iowa has a great truck museum. Jalopy Fest should be again this year in Sept. Other than that try and eat unique food where ever you are. Good road!

      Reply