The GREAT SPRING DRIVE--OFFICIAL THREAD-PLEASE READ!!!!

Time to clean up the cars and get ready for the GREAT SPRING DRIVE. If you don't like driving...this one is not for you. We are talking about 5 hours and 130+ miles of driving on some of the most beautiful country roads the region has to offer. Rcraig, our master navigator, and his brilliant son Josh have gone to great pains to sort out a route that avoids traffic lights and congestion. The roads are VERY lightly travelled and are devoid of long straights. I have done the complete drive twice now, and it is just incredible. My special thanks to Steve T, and Jon W. for their help as well.

SO WHY THE NEW THREAD?

Since the original thread is now over 12 pages long, lots of information has been buried in the over 300 posts, I decided to start a new thread with all the critical data up front.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW?

Event date:
The event date is April 10th, with a rain date of April 11th.

Who can attend?

The event is open to all f-chatters and their friends and families.

Where are we meeting and when are we leaving?

We will meet in Elkton Maryland at the restaurant formerly known as the Iron skillet (it now is called the travel plaza restaurant and there is a big red tarp on the front of the building advertising "BREAKFAST BUFFET $5.00, 6am-11am". The exact address is I-95 & MD 279 (Exit 109 A), Elkton, MD 21921. There is a Shell gas station in the same plaza.

Where are we going?

The drive itself is over 120 miles and goes through Delaware and up through Lancaster, Pa. We will be stopping about 40 miles from our final destination at a park where we can relax, use the restrooms, take some photos and just B.S. We will then drive some more and end at a restaurant a few miles from the starting point and a VERY short distance from I-95 and Route 1.

What about food?

We will be ending our run with a late lunch/early dinner at around 2:30pm. The restaurant has graciously offered to provide us with a reasonable pre-fix menu, so everyone who wants dinner will just contribute the same reasonable amount (likely less than $20.00). There is also a bar for those who want to stay longer. The restaurant is opening up a back room for us with views of the property, so the worry warts among us---like me---can keep an eye on their car

What is the purpose?

The drive itself is being organized for charity, the Boys and Girls Club of Delaware. Accordingly, I am asking that all participants make a small donation, whatever they are comfortable with. My law firm will contribute up to $500.00 towards the cause in matching funds.

Ya, but what's in it for me?
Bufferbarry has agreed to donate a complete detail to the person who donates the most money! Specifically, he will offer a full paint correction with a complete interior and exterior detail. The services will be provided at his Location. He will also throw in a free company polo shirt.

Djblue will be providing the t-shirts!--I don't know cost yet.

Whose going?

As it stands right now, we have approximately 30 cars (some signed up, some who have contacted me privately). We will break up into groups of 5 or so. All team leaders will be provided with a point by point map in advance. EVERYBODY will be given point by point written directions on the day of the event.

Now let's be good

This is not a rally or a race--NO SPEEDING!!!! It is a CASUAL, scenic drive that everyone can enjoy, including those who are bringing their families. We will be traveling in amish country and through farmland. Let's be respectful of everyone. Drive responsibly.


Here is the official list so far:

1. JoeZaff
2. Joe Macchione
3. autowerks9
4. Sean-Michael (djblu)
5. Barry Theal Bufferbarry
6. Jon Walton
7. Steve Tedeschi
8. Bob Craig
9. VGM911
10. jimangle
11. Out
12. captglen
13. Jay Goodman
14. AgentF1
15. Ducati998S
16. Jay Holmstrom
17. MyPhillyLawyer
18. SpykerBAS
19. Cobraownr
20. DLButler
21. Nick Oakes
22. Dave W.
23 Jeremy@fabspeed
24. G4titan
25. DuanJuan348
26. Ztarum

 

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

The design you made was so cool!

 

I have horrible news. Today I got home from the shore early. As soon as we got in the house I announced to my wife and daughter that we were taking the Mondial to get ice cream.

After eating, we got back in the car and began to back out. At that moment, I saw a woman in a SUV coming around the bend. I stopped and waited for her to pass. Only, she was so freakin preoccupied that instead of passing, she clipped the back of the Mondial.

That's right, she clipped the back of my Mondial.


One more time, as I slowly go insane...she clipped the back of my Mondial.

She clipped the back of my mondial


she clipped the back of my #$%@#E!QWE!@#$R@#$%@#$R#$%@#$%@#$%@#$%






Thankfully, the impact was almost nonexistent. I was able to give Mike at Karosserie a call and the damage is limited to a bit of rolled metal and a scuffed bumper, which he believes can be easily fixed.

Unfortunately, this also means the Mondial will be heading to Karosserie Monday morning and will be missing the Rally.

I know everyone is counting on me for this event, so I will be coming in the little Mercedes


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Thanks for the generous offer. I really appreciate it. I'll give you a call tomorrow.

As embarrassing as it may be to admit, no joke, I am seriously devastated. If one more person tells me "it is just a car," they are going to become a statistic. I am not a moron, I know that it is not the same thing as something happening to a person.

I don't care that the damage is cosmetic, I don't care that it is minor. I just can't f&cking believe it happened, and I can't believe I won't have the pleasure of her company for quite a while.

Thankfully, my wife knows she married a complete neurotic and has been surprisingly supportive. My daughter even wrote me a song about the Ferrari getting fixed!

 

Arrive between 9 and 10, firm departure of 10:30

 

Mike at karosserie offered to give me the car back for the drive, but honestly, I can't even look at her right now. I just want to bring her in and get her back when she is all better.

As for my reaction at the scene, my wife said it was Epic, and that we are going to have a talk when the wound is not so fresh. Apparently, she is under some misimpression that wailing in the streets with the intensity of an extra from Beaches/mixed with a full on Louis Black style tirade, is an inappropriate reaction to minor accident. We will have to agree to disagree.

Of course, whatever I said clearly did not bother the other driver, as neither she, nor anyone in her car, spoke a single word of English. In fact, the police had to call a spanish translator just to speak to her.