Having just returned from Minnesota in my Yukon XL I got to thinging about long drives in our Muscle cars. Where have you driven? Did you to any long journeys in your cars when they were new? In 1973 I drove My Duster 340 1800 miles From St John's Nfld to Toronto. In 1976 I drove a 73 Delta 88 Convert Frpm St. John's to Vancouver-4700 miles in 7 days. In 1986 I drove a 1971 442 to the Olds Nats in California from Vancouver. 1100 miles each way. I have calculated that I have driven nearly 800,000 miles in 34 years. Any other stories of long drives in a muscle car?
About 12 tears ago I drove my first 70 Road Runner with a 440,singleplane, headers,11.5CR and 3.91 gears from Ohio to Ga to Alabama back to Ga then SC, then back to Ohio in about 5 days:beer Got an average of 13MPG:eek2:
Honeymoon to New Orleans We drove the Ramrod from Lansing to New Orleans to St. Louis, Mo, then back to Lansing on our honeymoon. $.25 per gallon for premium leaded sure helped us afford the never empty case of Budweiser in the back seat. Had tyhe original 3.91 rear in it then. 70 MPH= 3500 RPM. Car loved it. :bglasses:
A never-empty case of Bud in the backseat for your honeymoon? I didn't know you were from Arkansas, Dave. :Brow: My long-distance trip was Michigan-to-New Orleans and back as well. It was spring break, sophomore year of college. I went to visit a friend who lived in New Orleans. About 1200 miles each way. I drove straight through both directions. The only way I could stay awake was to drive as fast a possible. Adrenaline is a wonderful thing. I spent much of the time above 90 mph; this was back when the speed limits were 55. The car was a '72 Cutlass S Post Coupe with a 2-bbl 350. Great car. It was a beater (college, remember?) with 140,000 miles on the clock at the time. Got 20 mpg when I kept it under 60, but it would burn rubber for as long as I kept my foot in it.
My trip... Went from Fort Walton Beach, FL to Denver, CO in a '68 Dodge Polara with a hefty 383. Took about 18 hours drive time. Went thru Nokomis IL to see a friend. Averaged 12 mpg. Not too bad, but it did have a 2.50 series gear, so rpm's were way down. Turned around and drove it back to FL, then 6 mo later drove it back to NE when I PCS'd to Alaska. With those 2.50 gears, this thing hads a top end like no other vehicle I have driven. Found the speedo in the glove compartment on the trip to NE. Towing a Nissan Sentra on a tow dolly at >120 mph. Yeah, i 'used' to be stoooopid. o No: ou:
In 1992 I drove my 70 Skylark Convert from Seattle to Wichita via Las Vegas, then back up through Mt. Rushmore and across. My longest drive was in 1998 from Melbourne Florida to Seattle in a C5 Vette (in 5 days). Those seats left quite an impression... :eek2:
When I bought my car near Seattle 3 years ago, I drove it home 1400 miles, but I had plenty of info and documentation of work done, to legitimately believe it would not be a high-risk trip. And I was prepared to walk away from it if it didn't meet expectations once I checked it out in person. Last month I made a 2000+ mile round trip to Salem OH for the inaugural BPG nats. In 1984 I drove my first car, a 73 Nova SS 350, from ND to CA and back, just for fun... :3gears:
Drove to the pure stocks In 1996 and 97' my wife and I drove to the pure stocks in an unrestored 68 Hurst/Olds. In 1996, I contacted what was then Union 76 and they had racing fuel in Shelbyville, MI - a little pump with an above ground tank next to a convenience store. They were right across from the lake so maybe the fuel was for boats and cars. In 1997 I had 2 tightly sealed 5 gal fuel jugs loaded with 110 octane leaded IN THE TRUNK. Both times, we put about 750 miles on the car in a weekend, I raced about 12 times both weekends, and the car GOT US HOME! :Brow: :TU: Needless to say, my fuel costs were between $200 and $300 dollars! :eek2: :jd: In 2002 we trailered.
That was back before it was embarassing to admit you were from Arkansas. (Pre Clinton). Actually, right across the Mississippi is Western Ky which is where I spent many "formative" years. About 20 miles up the Tennessee River from Paducah in a little town called Calvert City. (just downstream of the dam). Loved that place.
In 1996, I drove my car from Boulder, CO into WY, NE, and IA, hung a Louie up into MN, then continued on into WI, IL, and IN, stopped by the PSMDR, then continued on into OH, PA, and home in NJ.
Lets see here: Abilene, Kansas to Lansing, MI 1997 Approx 2000 miles round trip. Olathe, Ks to Dallas, Tx 1999 approx 1100 miles round trip Lees Summit, Mo to Denver, CO 2001 approx 1200 miles round trip Thurs- Lees Summit, Mo to Stanton, Mi approx 1600 miles round trip! :3gears: Lets go racing! :grin:
I must readily admit ....... Rusty has some hardened chones to put all those miles on 'da Hurst ! :TU: The best part is .... he races the snot out of it, and the thing runs strong !!!!! :3gears: :TU:
