Hmmmm...

The LA Lit and Toy Show, March 7th?
The SoCal All Porsche Swap and Car Show March 8th?
Amelia Island March 13th in Jacksonville, FL?

It seems to me that (with a slight detour to Las Vegas) the cities of Albuquerque, Dallas and Mobile might make up a nice romp across the country.

Thoughts? Ideas? I think it would be cool to drive a 914 from coast to coast. Especially being a featured mark at Amelia. It would be nice to document it. GoPro, Instagram, Blog??? Maybe a few gear head get togethers along the way?

Still thinking about it but... It's beyond intriguing for sure.



*******************UPDATE******************

The trip is now in stone. I'll be traveling across the country to meet 914 owners and document their "914 Experience" for a mini-documentary/film. So, don't be camera shy!

Here's the current schedule. Feel free to offer suggestions along the way:

March 7th - 8:00AM - LA Lit and Toy Show - LAX Hilton
March 7th - 5:00PM - Beach Party Send Off - Big Corona Beach, Corona Del Mar, CA
March 8th - 8:00AM - 2:00PM - SoCal All Porsche Swap and Car Show - Anaheim, CA
March 8th - 7:00PM - Hoffbrahaus, Las Vegas, NV - Dinner
March 9th - 12:00 Noon - Wildflower Baking Company, Flagstaff, AZ - Lunch
March 9th - 7:00PM - Turtle Mountain Brewery, Albuquerque, NM - Dinner
March 10th - 12:00 Noon - Big Texan, Amarillo, TX - Lunch
March 10th - 7:00PM - Gas Monkey Grill, Dallas, TX - Dinner
March 11th - 12:00 Noon - Herby K's, Shreveport, LA - Lunch
March 11th - 7:00PM - Conchon, New Orleans, LA - Dinner
March 12th - 12:00 Noon - Felix's, Mobile, AL - Lunch
March 12th - Live Oak, FL - Personal
March 13th - 12:00 Noon - Jacksonville, FL - Lunch
March 14th - 5:00PM Beach Party

Sign up... the world wants to hear what 914 ownership is all about.

Have camera will travel.....

This sounds like a great idea. I drove my E30 from where you're at (I work out at Camp Williams a lot) back home to Houston and it was a lot of fun. I can only imagine driving a 914 being even more fun!

I don't know what it is, but there's something very beautiful about New Mexico every time I pass through... I stayed in Albuquerque one night on the way back from Utah and it was pretty chill hanging around downtown.

After a few drives throughout the country (Ft. Bragg to Houston, Ft. Lewis to Houston, LA to Houston), I have come to really enjoy those kinds of trips. I dread flying nowadays...

I highly recommend Austin while you're passing through Texas. I lived there for four years during college. In my opinion, it's the best city to visit in Texas.

Hmmm... maybe next year after the build is roadworthy and vetted...

Yes You Should! Do it. I mean really. Do it.

I'll meet you at this end.

I did a cross country drive in a '70 Cuda. New York to Los Angeles. Worth doing. Bring tools.

Cannonball?!?

Do it.... I think about it regularly. I went back and forth to school in late 60's..

58 Chevy Impala(I think), A couple of friend's totally unmemorabke sedans, two round trips in my XK-140, and one RT in a 914.

The 914 made it from NYC to Cedar Rapids IA in one day. First stop for gas just into Ohio. That trip was in 72.

Every few months I approach an off-ramp in CT and say.... I don't have to get off... There's no tracking device in the 914..... I could leave my cell phone and EZ-Pass in my office....

See Ya!

Talk to Shoe. He's crossed the country in his tenners a few times.

Throw off the bowlines.

My wife and I have considered this a couple times. You know . . . bucket list . . . drive cross country in a 914. We always come to the same conclusion: The drive one way would be fun. But, we wouldn't want to drive all the way back once we got there. So maybe ship the car back and fly? It seems like I remember reading somewhere that Rick drove his car one way, left it for a few months, and then went and drove it home.

I have made a few long trips, looking forward to doing more as I continually get my teener sorted out. I envy you having the option to go anywhere in March or April, just not possible where I live if you want to keep your car out of the salt. I hope you do the trip and share like that guy who shipped his 911 to Europe and spent a lot of time posting his trip, I enjoyed following that. I have been invited to visit a friend in Yuma Arizona and am thinking about doing the trip in the teener, worried about the heat though, not for the 914 but for me, I think would be hospitalized in 100 degree temps!

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

I drove almost there and back in 2013, left Sacramento area, drove to Vegas and spent the night, then to Albuquerque, from there through Dallas to Atlanta TX, then back to Albuquerque, up to Durango for RRC, then to SLC (following Mr Shea) then through Reno and home.......12 days 4600 miles. Had a great time, despite some problems....can't wait to do it again.

Do you remember who that was? My mechanic told me of a guy in Atlanta who did that. Wonder if it was the same guy. Last name cohen?

Talk with Mark (aka Bartlett 914) he drove his 914 all over the USA using it as his work car for his business.

I think it would be fun, just bring tools and some spare parts (cultch cable......)

That guy was one of us. He posted here, on the World. I think the car was an RS America?


Eric's trip sounds like the old Yoder-Milo Roundyround of a decade+ ago. Joe Yoder from the DFW area (anyone hear from Yoder?) decided to take an epic road trip, and Steve Milo volunteered to go along with him. They went from TX out to here and stopped in MI (?) where the Parade was being held. I don't remember if they got to the east coast or not. The trip was several weeks at least.

They had a good time, from what I read.

--DD

Can't remember his name, maybe the story was in Panarama magazine, I think I read about here though, maybe somebody did a link you could click on. Anyway it was a real great read and lots of interesting pictures, what he found interesting I did as well. I spent 4 years in Germany and travelled around a good bit, so his trip was a bit of a ride down memory lane for me.

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

I did it in my 914 in 1984. It was 10yrs old and had about 110k miles on it. No issues..me and my dog. Got a little hot crossing the nevada desert at 90mph. My wife followed me in her saab 900 turbo.

My longest was the drive from Oakland, CA to Little Rock, AR which is about 2,000 miles one way.
Surprisingly uneventful and easy if you go prepared.

You can do it!

I already did Monterey and back without an incident. About 21mpg. Everything is new and I have that as a basic shakedown cruise under my belt. My scavenge line was a little loose and I had some fuel delivery issues that we've addressed so, I think it's ready...

Here's one option:

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Here's another...

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I say go for it....It'll be inspirational for those that cannot do something like that...at least we can read about and say "I know that guy!"

Getting there... looking for 600ish mile days so I can enjoy the drive and stop at some out of the way places.

Anybody have any "Out of the Way" places suggestions along either of those routes? (wait... is that an oxymoron? Out of the way, along the route?)

Absolutely!

I think a lot of people share this dream. How about taking pictures along the way, and let's do a story in the magazine. What do you think?

The member's name is DonTraver
He did a number of threads for his journeys...he went twice...but the link above gets you started.

Maybe on your route, Route 66 and Joshua Tree National Forest. Skull Rock

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Probably not on your way. Goblin Valley

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Go the northern Texas route...then at Alexandra LA cut down to Baton Rouge to New Orleans. Easy drive. New Orleans is worth a stop too. Then over to Mobile.

ElPaso route is 800 miles of straight barren wilderness IMHO

Fun trip!

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An improved a new version of Charles Kuralt. If you go the El Paso route be sure to hit Cattleman's Steak House. It will be the best steak you'll ever taste. I've eaten there 3 times w/ large groups and everyone always says the steak was cooked to perfection (as they ordered it) and the best they can remember. IIRC, they're closed on Tuesdays!

I've done a few of these,http://www.ironbutt.com/ridecerts/ I imagine it wouldnt be too much different in a 914. HIGHLY recommend a partner, either in a second car, or as passenger.

I say do it! Once I get my car sorted and reliable, I plan a 4 corners Trip of the US.



Also, I've used this site for cycle routes as amazing motorcycle routes, would be great in a 914 as well (all paved) Clock on the map and will give all kinds of routes all OFF super slab. http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and...ve-network-map/

Here is the southern tier route - http://www.adventurecycling.org/routes-and.../southern-tier/ MAN now you have me motivated!

Sounds like a fun trip. Wife and I drove from Oregon to NY in 2008 and it was great fun. One thought though; we had planned long driving days as well but found that we tended to cover many fewer miles than we originally thought we would. I think that we might have averaged somewhere around five hundred miles a day, give or take. Mind you this was in our A4, a car that is considerably more comfortable than our 914. But then, our age (in our senior years) might have had an impact too. If you can do it, go for it. It will be a trip you will remember for the rest of your lives. And don't worry about mechanical issues either. I mean, what's more reliable than a Volkswagen!?

Did this back in 1976 Pensacola Fl to San Diego in a 74 2.0. Back again San Diego to Pittsburgh in a 70 914 -6. Both times with the wife.....do I get an award for that??

The 74 2.0 trip was liesurely and "pleasant", lots of stops on a loose time frame.

The way home in the six was leave Saturday morning, starting out pleasant evolving into GET ME THE F... OUTTA HERE!!!! by Saturday afternoon. Iron manned it from there and got home to watch the Steelers on Monday Night Football.

The 3000 RPM resonance drone can kill you!!!!!

I've done a number of long-distance one way trips in our 914 (CO to MN, MN to FL, FL to AZ, AZ to WA, WA to VA, VA to WA, WA to VA, VA to CO, CO to VA). Some were solo, some were with my wife. All were associated with military transfers (too bad I couldn't take it overseas with me).

It's been a while since the last one (1993), but I now have a route planned that goes through all of the lower 48 states plus a couple of Canadian provinces. Wife thinks I'm crazy, but it's something I would really like to do. We'll see. Maybe when the car turns 50 . . .

If you make it to the east coast you might just as well come up this way (VA). I volunteer at a great museum (http://www.militaryaviationmuseum.org/) and would be glad to show you around. Even better, Scotty's shop is just up the road.

Steve A-

YES!

And take a little detour in in AL to Foley for lunch or dinner at Lambert's Cafe - "Home of the Throwed Rolls"!! Go hungry!

http://www.throwedrolls.com/shopcontent.asp?type=Foley

Cheers!
Tom
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You need a copilot?

Sure.

A couple of things:
- Bring earplugs. They make the trip a whole lot more endurable. You're likely going to be driving with the windows down, and of course with that motor, you're going to very fatigued by all the noise. Earbud earphones can work for keeping the noise out as well.
- Bring a cooler with ice in it and a washcloth can be a lifesaver. The ice will melt, the washcloth will soak up the cold water, and you can drape the cloth around your neck to keep your head cool. Having a half-dozen bottles of water in the cooler is also a requirement.

Hopefully your route won't be as gaddawful hot as the trip from the SF Bay to SLC was, but if it is you should be prepared.

--DD

I did this one and continued up the coast to Philly. Great drive...

I agree. When I did the cross-country trip in the Cuda, I kept overheating in the desert from Utah to CA. It was 118 degrees, and I had to turn on the heater and fan full blast to try and dump heat. Roasted my feet from the heater. (Of course, that just might not be very effective in a 914.)

Thanks guys.

That's the plan Mike. If I end up doing this, I'll probably keep the car at my brothers house in live oak and fly back there to drive it up to Hershey. Then... From Hershey?

After Hershey you may as well come to Canada! I will take you for a lobster and a beer if you make it to Moncton! Hershey time could still see snow storms and salt on the road though, that is the big issue for us. I will follow your progress if you post your trip! Now I gotta go snow low my driveway so I can get the cars out so the wife and I can go to work!

Ian Stott
Moncton
Canada

The planning of this trip reminds me we should resurrect the "914 help line". I know it existed many years ago but should be updated.

Eric - I think the admins had access to it if it still exists.

Eric, I might be available for a few days after Hershey for a side trip. There is a fabulous car museum in Philly, http://www.simeonemuseum.org/the-collection . They have a 917 and cheesesteaks!

We could go as a flight of two.

Awesome plans. My sons and I have been dreaming of such a trip, but the real world keeps interfering...

Two suggestions for the Texas crossing:

Toothpicks to prop your eyes open as you doze off

Hand throttle or brick on the accelerator for a makeshift cruise control

I have rooms booked in the following cities:

Long Beach
Las Vegas
Albuquerque
Dallas
New Orleans
Live Oak - Family
Kingsland, GA

Plan is to fly out of Jacksonville on 3/16 and fly back 4/15 then,

Drive to Richmond
Drive to Hershey

Head back to SLC via 70 and Denver (no more Wyoming, especially this time of the year!!)

My version of an "Ironbutt" ride.

Post #30 - THE BIG TEXAN STEAKHOUSE - Amarillo, Texas on I-40.
Free 72 Oz. Steak if you can eat it in 30 minutes!

Went to College in Canyon, 27 miles south of "Amarillo by Morning"...George Strait!!

That is the Wild West!!!

Eric if you are going to Amelia Island, may have to drive my 914 up!

Vysoc

Take 17 up the coast and stay off 95 as much as possible. Lots of cool places to see along the way like Savanna and Harper's Ferry. Wilmington NC has some cool civil war sites.

I was driving my fully loaded Chevy ZR1 and had 4 days to get from Jacksonville FL to Wilmington. I took the long way...

X2 on the Northern route through Texas....

If you can.... side route up through the enchanted forest through Taos...

Drive across the Gorge Bridge and take lots of pictures along the way.

See ya in Cali.