Terry Goes To Bimmerfest

[Terry Kennedy]

Ok, I'm starting a new thread on my drive to Bimmerfest and back (from New York!). Refer to the attached map images for more info...

I'll be driving out to Bimmerfest in pretty much of a straight line (see the black line on the map images), only stopping off in Illinois to see Amanda. I expect I'll be leaving on the 21st or the 22nd. I'm booked at the Ramada, arriving on the 29th, departing on the 2nd.

After the 'fest, I'm heading up to Vasquez Rocks to photograph the car there, then on to Death Valley (on the blue line) and following Emission's Death Valley trip. After that, I head over to Las Vegas for some more photography, then down to Lake Havasu City, Arizona to visit a friend of the family. After that, I'm heading up to Vail, Colorado where I will retrace the path of the 2003 Colorado Grand (http://www.coloradogrand.com/) in its entirety (the red line). After that, plans are up in the air, but I'll probably be heading back to Amanda's and then heading down toward New Orleans.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2658-l.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2658-crop.jpg

The "WP" on the maps are waypoints I'll program into the NAV computer to keep it from giving me routes in directions I don't want to go.

[Terry Kennedy]

... I'm heading up to Vail, Colorado where I will retrace the path of the 2003 Colorado Grand (http://www.coloradogrand.com/) in its entirety (the red line).Does anyone have any ideas of what I can expect my car to be doing at elevations of 10,000 feet or above? Given that the Grand used classic cars in various conditions, I'd hope I wouldn't have any problems, but... :dunno:

[Desertnate]

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can expect my car to be doing at elevations of 10,000 feet or above? Given that the Grand used classic cars in various conditions, I'd hope I wouldn't have any problems, but... :dunno:

My folks live in the Denver area so I have driven in the Rockies a couple of times with my car.

I don't think you will have any problems at all. However you will notice a drop in HP the higher you go. I don't remember what the formula is off hand (though I am sure someone here does :p ), but it is notice able. I made one trip with my wife, mom, oldest daughter and myself, and really had no problems. BMW's cool themselves very well, so you shouldn't even need to worry about the car temps climbing due to you working the car harder.

I am sure you already know this, but as you come out of the Rockies headed east or west, engine braking is your friend :thumbup:

The weather should be perfect and hopefully you will get out before all the Texans in their motorhomes start to plague the mountians.

[Kaz]

I think it was something like 5bhp/1000ft elevation.

At the last DV trip, we were wondering how much HP gain we got when we were driving below sea level. :D

[Desertnate]

I think it was something like 5bhp/1000ft elevation.



Ouch!...that means you go over a 10K ft pass you loose 50bhp. I feel sorry for those folks who live in Denver, Colorado Springs, Santa Fe and such. Both those places have an elevation between 5K and 7K ft. Daily there is 25~35bhp they will never enjoy unless they head for sea level.

[BoostedE21]

Wow, I still cant beleive you are coming from NY to Cali. Hope to meet there. Have a safe drive. :thumbup:

[RKT BMR]

Terry -- by "waypoints" do you mean you just programmed those destinations in to the address book, and plan to establish the next "waypoint" as your new destination (i.e., terminate guidance, select next "waypoint" as new destination, establish guidance with the "Directions" menu item) when you arrive at each "waypoint"?

Or do you have some slick WP feature in your NAV that I haven't been able to find?

[Terry Kennedy]

Terry -- by "waypoints" do you mean you just programmed those destinations in to the address book, and plan to establish the next "waypoint" as your new destination (i.e., terminate guidance, select next "waypoint" as new destination, establish guidance with the "Directions" menu item) when you arrive at each "waypoint"?Right.
Or do you have some slick WP feature in your NAV that I haven't been able to find?Nope :mad:

[LDV330i]

You are doing all this without a co-pilot?:dunno: I know that with NAV you do not need someone to be checking the maps for you but that is a heck of a long drive. :yikes:

[Keith]

See ya at the Ramada Terry! :thumbup:

It will be time to wash the car, BIG TIME! :D
Drive safe.

Check your PM.

[Terry Kennedy]

You are doing all this without a co-pilot?:dunno: I know that with NAV you do not need someone to be checking the maps for you but that is a heck of a long drive. :yikes:Well, I regularly (every month or so) drive out to Amanda's and back (850 miles one way). I'm taking it easy, leaving on the 22nd to arrive on the 29th, so it shouldn't be that bad.

I hope to "borrow" a navigator in Albuquerque for the part of the trip that includes retracing the Colorado Grand route, since that has many turns.

[Jon S.]

Wow, I still cant beleive you are coming from NY to Cali. Hope to meet there. Have a safe drive.

We need to come up with a special prize for Terry... :)

[Jon S.]

How about some free therapy sessions once you open your practice?

He must have some serious issues given the feat he's attempting. :rofl: :p (just kidding Terry!) :angel:

All he will need is a nice foamy brewski when he gets here! :yumyum:

[EdCT]

Does anyone have any ideas of what I can expect my car to be doing at elevations of 10,000 feet or above? Given that the Grand used classic cars in various conditions, I'd hope I wouldn't have any problems, but... :dunno:

I drove across the continental divide back in 1985 in my '83 accord. It had a 70 hp four (silky smooth) fed by a carburetor. At ten thousand feet, it was eerily quiet, but the car lost quite a bit of power.

I also hit a blizzard up there. To paraphrase William Least Heat Moon in "Blue Highways":"...a mountain is a place with its own weather".

Ed

[RKT BMR]

All he will need is a nice foamy brewski when he gets here! :yumyum:Standard tool in the psychologist's doctor's bag? :p :D

[Terry Kennedy]

I've washed, Zaino'd, and detailed the car to perfection. Of course, it will get rained on, bugged at, and so forth on the way, but it should be a relatively easy cleanup once I get there.

Each picture is clickable for a larger version:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2659-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2659-l.jpg) http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2660-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2660-l.jpg)

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2664-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2664-l.jpg)

The nose mask is new for this trip. I figure I'll spare the car another 8000 miles of rock chips...

[Keith]

I've washed, Zaino'd, and detailed the car to perfection. Of course, it will get rained on, bugged at, and so forth on the way, but it should be a relatively easy cleanup once I get there.

Each picture is clickable for a larger version:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2659-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2659-l.jpg) http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2660-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2660-l.jpg)

http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2664-s.jpg (http://www.tmk.com/transient/6F5S2664-l.jpg)

The nose mask is new for this trip. I figure I'll spare the car another 8000 miles of rock chips...

Holy sh** Terry, stop using that Zaino stuff, wasn't that car black before?? :rofl:
Looks good Buuuuudy and we'll see in a couple weeks, bugs, grime & all. :thumbup:
Hey, how 'bout some pictures along the way??

[Terry Kennedy]

Holy sh** Terry, stop using that Zaino stuff, wasn't that car black before?? :rofl::nyuknyuknyuk:
Looks good Buuuuudy and we'll see in a couple weeks, bugs, grime & all. :thumbup:
Hey, how 'bout some pictures along the way??I can probably arrange that. Stay tuned.

[Keith]

:nyuknyuknyuk:
I can probably arrange that. Stay tuned.

:thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

:thumbup:Well, I'm leaving NY in an hour or so. Hopefully my wireless Internet access will work in most of the country, but I'm not going to have my usual hours a day to peruse the 'fest. If anyone posts something they think I should see, it'd be good to email me at terry@tmk.com and say "hey, take a look at this" to make sure I see it when I stop for the night.

[Ty Vil]

Terry you are my hero. This is true dedication here.

[Raffi]

See you soon Terry, be safe and have fun on the way to the fest. :thumbup:

[beewang]

Well, I'm leaving NY in an hour or so. Hopefully my wireless Internet access will work in most of the country, but I'm not going to have my usual hours a day to peruse the 'fest. If anyone posts something they think I should see, it'd be good to email me at terry@tmk.com and say "hey, take a look at this" to make sure I see it when I stop for the night.

CHeck your email Terry. :)

I guess now I've gotta go ;) Hadn't planned on attending this year, but I'll look forward to meet you and others at the Fest next week.

Drive safely,

beewang :bigpimp:

[Terry Kennedy]

Hopefully my wireless Internet access will work in most of the country, but I'm not going to have my usual hours a day to peruse the 'fest.Well, there wasn't any service in Cambridge, Ohio where I spent the night. I'm typing this from the car in Columbus, Ohio, about 450 miles into the trip. I'll be staying at Amanda's tonight and maybe tomorrow :freakdanc , so don't expect a lot of posts from me tonight.

[Aequitas]

Hey Terry,
This is my first post and Im glad its to you. You definatley are a true enthusiast. This will also be my first bimmerfest, and from what Ive seen from pics and reading the boards I am surely not to be dissapointed. I look forward to meeting you and others commited to the ultimate driving machine.

Godspeed
Frank B. :thumbup:

[Keith]

Hey Terry,
This is my first post and Im glad its to you. You definatley are a true enthusiast. This will also be my first bimmerfest, and from what Ive seen from pics and reading the boards I am surely not to be dissapointed. I look forward to meeting you and others commited to the ultimate driving machine.

Godspeed
Frank B. :thumbup:

:thumbup: you hit the nail on the head Frank!!!!!!!!!!!

[Jon S.]

Terry, you rock!! :-)))

[alpinewhite325i]

Terry....

I just want to say that I'm so envious! I wish I had the time to make the trip you're making. Driving cross-country is something I plan on doing someday. I can't think of a better event than Bimmerfest to coordinate it with. Now, get that camera going...we're all waiting to see some pics of your journey!

Be safe.

[RKT BMR]

Terry....

I just want to say that I'm so envious! I wish I had the time to make the trip you're making. Driving cross-country is something I plan on doing someday. I can't think of a better event than Bimmerfest to coordinate it with. Now, get that camera going...we're all waiting to see some pics of your journey!Alpine, all you need is two or three more festers from the East Coast can you guys could have the Bimmerfest Caravan of All Time.

There's always next year!

[Terry Kennedy]

I just got into Kansas, heading toward Denver. I spent some extra time at Amanda's, both for :freakdanc and because her brother Josh and his wife Jenny just had a baby boy, Jacob, so Amanda and I spent some time talking to the relatives and buying gifts to send back East.

There's no Internet on the road between here and Colorado (500 or so miles), so you probably won't hear from me again until tomorrow sometime.

I'm driving fast in a straight line (or as straight as I-70 is) to get to the 'fest, so don't expect any pictures on the way out. I'll definitely take a lot on the way back, though, as I'm taking a couple weeks for that part of the trip.

[Keith]

I just got into Kansas, heading toward Denver. I spent some extra time at Amanda's, both for :freakdanc and because her brother Josh and his wife Jenny just had a baby boy, Jacob, so Amanda and I spent some time talking to the relatives and buying gifts to send back East.

There's no Internet on the road between here and Colorado (500 or so miles), so you probably won't hear from me again until tomorrow sometime.

I'm driving fast in a straight line (or as straight as I-70 is) to get to the 'fest, so don't expect any pictures on the way out. I'll definitely take a lot on the way back, though, as I'm taking a couple weeks for that part of the trip.


Sounds great Terry, how's the weather been?
Looking forward to meeting you and joining you at the Ramada for "Car Wash '04! :D

[scottn2retro]

This is probably going to make Terry the record holder for longest drive to B'fest.

Is there going to be a prize (this year and every year) for the 'fester that makes the longest trek to the event?

(Although, I'm getting the impression that Terry is only using this B'fest trek as a reason to get in a little :freakdanc on the way and back :D

[Keith]

(Although, I'm getting the impression that Terry is only using this B'fest trek as a reason to get in a little :freakdanc on the way and back :D

Oh yeah, it's all good !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! :thumbup:
I'll :drink: to that and we will do a :beerchug: to Terry at the Elephant Bar Friday night, our favorite food/wateringhole in SB!

[alpinewhite325i]

Alpine, all you need is two or three more festers from the East Coast can you guys could have the Bimmerfest Caravan of All Time.

There's always next year!

:rofl:

Something to think about :thumbup:

[Dr. Phil]

:rofl:

Something to think about :thumbup:
I would be in for the trip :bigpimp: :eeps: :p

[Terry Kennedy]

Sounds great Terry, how's the weather been?Rain from western Pennsylvania to Kansas. Kansas was beautiful but had lots of bugs - my windshield looks like the viewscreen of the Starship Enterprise in warp. I'm about 50 miles into Colorado now and it is sunny and 59 degrees. Before I left Amanda's, the TV said 2 feet of snow on I70 in Colorado, but I'll have to wait till I get to higher elevations to see that, I guess.

[Terry Kennedy]

Although, I'm getting the impression that Terry is only using this B'fest trek as a reason to get in a little :freakdanc on the way and back :DActually, I drive out and back to Amanda's in Illinois every month or two (850 miles one way) solo, so this isn't that much more of a trip.

[Keith]

Rain from western Pennsylvania to Kansas. Kansas was beautiful but had lots of bugs - my windshield looks like the viewscreen of the Starship Enterprise in warp. I'm about 50 miles into Colorado now and it is sunny and 59 degrees. Before I left Amanda's, the TV said 2 feet of snow on I70 in Colorado, but I'll have to wait till I get to higher elevations to see that, I guess.

:thumbup: Keep up the safe driving Terry! :D

[swchang]

How many miles do you have on your car? :yikes:

Hope you have some safe motoring, though. :)

[Terry Kennedy]

How many miles do you have on your car? :yikes: 18529 right now (in Edwards, Colorado). I got it in October 2002, but it spent much of its first few months at the dealer getting its wiring harness straightened out. Sometimes we drive Amanda's car (a 2001 Celica) back and forth instead of mine.

[swchang]

18529 right now (in Edwards, Colorado). I got it in October 2002, but it spent much of its first few months at the dealer getting its wiring harness straightened out. Sometimes we drive Amanda's car (a 2001 Celica) back and forth instead of mine.

So you're going to basically double that by the time you get back? :p

Sounds awesome. Hope your trip's going well.

[Terry Kennedy]

So you're going to basically double that by the time you get back? :p

Sounds awesome. Hope your trip's going well.Not quite double - I've "budgeted" 8000 miles for this trip. I'm in western Utah, 2355.4 miles from New York. Utah is incredibly beautiful - but desolate. I'm into that sort of thing, so it works for me. I'm on my way to Las Vegas now, but I won't get there tonight (300+ miles to go).

I'll upload some pics if I get a motel room where my wireles Internet works (I'm 0 for N so far - all my posts have been from rest areas on the road).

[Keith]

Not quite double - I've "budgeted" 8000 miles for this trip. I'm in western Utah, 2355.4 miles from New York. Utah is incredibly beautiful - but desolate. I'm into that sort of thing, so it works for me. I'm on my way to Las Vegas now, but I won't get there tonight (300+ miles to go).

I'll upload some pics if I get a motel room where my wireles Internet works (I'm 0 for N so far - all my posts have been from rest areas on the road).

Go Terry Go Terry Go......................... :thumbup:

[MPoweredKid]

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=203745

guys, check this out. we would love for all of you staying friday night to come. it would be really sweet to have a bunch of bimmer nuts there!!!!

thanks,
Brent

[Terry Kennedy]

Ok, here are some pictures. All except the first are from Utah - the first is from Colorado just a bit west of Denver. These aren't clickable for larger images, since I'm uploading these over my wireless Internet connection from the car. I have lots more pictures and I'll make a real album when I get home.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2671-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2675-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2695-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2716-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2728-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2734-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2739-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2775-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2776-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2793-s.jpg

[BoostedE21]

Nice Terry! R u thinking about coming to the friday shin-dig? If you I would liek to meet you, and if I cant then hopefully the day of the fest. See you soon and drive safe! :thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

Nice Terry! R u thinking about coming to the friday shin-dig? If you I would liek to meet you, and if I cant then hopefully the day of the fest. See you soon and drive safe! :thumbup:Maybe. I have to see how the wash and detailing of my car goes - I'll probably be spending 5 hours or so on that.

[operknockity]

Great pics, Terry. Damn there's a lot of desolate land in the interior!

[Terry Kennedy]

Well, I've arrived. I was close enough (100 miles out) that I decided to push on to Santa Barbara. So I'm officially here a day and a half early. I'm at the Ramada. I will probably see about borrowing the hose and extension cord on Wednesday so I can leave them available for others as they roll in - this assumes that the Ramada has these to lend and not just places to connect them.

If anyone is in the area and wants to drop by and see the car or chat, call me at the Ramada (I might be out sightseeing, so best to call first).

3000 miles, 7 days (with time out at Amanda's), 0 tickets. Average MPG 26.4; average MPH 63.1 (a bunch of construction as well as local driving at Amanda's reduced the MPH a bit).

[operknockity]

Woo hoo!!!!!!! A couple of days of well deserved R&R and then the next phase of the fun begins!

[Terry Kennedy]

Some more pics. The first is from Beaver, Utah (really!) yesterday, while the rest are from today after detailing the car. The last one is the view from my room at the Ramada.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2799-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2803-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2805-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2811-s.jpg

[Keith]

Some more pics. The first is from Beaver, Utah (really!) yesterday, while the rest are from today after detailing the car. The last one is the view from my room at the Ramada.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2799-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2803-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2805-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2811-s.jpg

Yeah Terry, don't you love that shangri la area around the pool and out your window (assuming your looking out that way) :thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

Yeah Terry, don't you love that shangri la area around the pool and out your window (assuming your looking out that way) :thumbup:It is really cool - in fact, if Amanda and I lived out here, this is the sort of thing we'd do.

The Ramada is kind of funky - it is still a good hotel, but in places it is teetering on the edge of losing it - plugs don't stay in the outlets because the outlets are worn out, and some aspects of the rooms need a facelift (like the shower doors and their crumbling grout). And the "free Internet" is only in some rooms - weird. Why not install wireless access points and do the whole facility? I got a room without Internet, so I'm using my wireless link back to home (one of the advantages of being an ex-Internet geek is that I have facilities like this available to me). Overall, I can't complain, though - and if they're booking the place solid, why should they make any changes?

[MPoweredKid]

are you in SB??????

[operknockity]

are you in SB??????

:rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl: :rofl:

[Terry Kennedy]

I spent the day sighteeing at Stearns Wharf and vicinity. Some pictures:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2822-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2824-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2832-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2853-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2874-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2911-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2918-s.jpg

[Jon S.]

Welcome to Santa Barbara Terry!

Propeller Head called me to say he'll be arriving tonite too.

[mbushnell]

Some more pics. The first is from Beaver, Utah (really!) yesterday, while the rest are from today after detailing the car. The last one is the view from my room at the Ramada.

Terry,

I noticed that you took the bra off the front end. I assume that was to wash the car & it will be reinstalled for the trip home.

What brand did you get & how diid it perform? Was it easy to install & remove?

Thanks

[Terry Kennedy]

I noticed that you took the bra off the front end. I assume that was to wash the car & it will be reinstalled for the trip home.

What brand did you get & how diid it perform? Was it easy to install & remove?Yes, the car is going bra-less for the show :D. I'll put it back on Sunday when I hit the road again.

It is the BMW one, from my dealer. The piece for the hood is fine, and goes on with 4 hooks into holes in the underside of the hood and a cross-strap. The piece for the bumper and grille isn't so good, unfortunately - it has 12 tabs that you bend into the wheel wells (4 each) and two that go in by the fan, and two that would go under the bumper if the car didn't have the factory crud shield under there. You have to stick velcro inside the engine compartment for the tabs to stick to, which is visible when the bra is removed. Also, it makes opening / closing the hood a bit more difficult. It didn't fly off on the interstates, so it isn't _that_ bad.

[operknockity]

It is the BMW one, from my dealer. The piece for the hood is fine, and goes on with 4 hooks into holes in the underside of the hood and a cross-strap. The piece for the bumper and grille isn't so good, unfortunately - it has 12 tabs that you bend into the wheel wells (4 each) and two that go in by the fan, and two that would go under the bumper if the car didn't have the factory crud shield under there. You have to stick velcro inside the engine compartment for the tabs to stick to, which is visible when the bra is removed. Also, it makes opening / closing the hood a bit more difficult. It didn't fly off on the interstates, so it isn't _that_ bad.

I've got a BMW bra as well, and like Terry says, the bumper section is a royal pain! On the other hand, mine survived our Death Valley run a couple of years back, so it does work. I'd would have preferred a Colgan bra, but at the time the face-lifted 3er was too new and they hadn't yet started production.

[Terry Kennedy]

Here are a few of the 90 pictures I shot at the show and drive today.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2950-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2987-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2994-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S2998-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3002-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3004-s.jpg

I'll continue to post pictures of my return trip. My current travel plans are Vazquez rocks, Sequoia park, Death Valley, Las Vegas, Lake Havasu City, Albuquerque, back up to Colorado to retrace the 2003 Colorado Grand, back to Illinois, and ???

[Terry Kennedy]

First, a link for the newspaper article (in PDF format) about the show here (http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/Santa%20Barbara%20News-Press%20Bimmerfest.pdf).

Today was a trip to Vasquez Rocks. I know a bunch of the 'fest folks said it wasn't worth it, but it's a Trek thing :D

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3009-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3011-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3013-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3015-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3024-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3046-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3051-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3064-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3073-s.jpg

I'm in Fresno now and will be doing Sequoia on Monday. Stay tuned...

[operknockity]

but it's a Trek thing :D
Did you have to fight a Gorn????? :rofl:

[scottn2retro]

Did you have to fight a Gorn????? :rofl:

:rofl: :bustingup :thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

Did you have to fight a Gorn????? :rofl:No, but they do have these:

[uter]

Terry,

Are you coming through Phoenix? I'd love to see all of your 325xit modifications in person.

[M3pinoydriver]

dang I should've read this earlier. That's bad ass how you're driving all the way from NY just for a BMW show

[operknockity]

That's bad ass how you're driving all the way from NY just for a BMW show
It ain't "just a BMW show"... It's Bimmerfest!!!

[Terry Kennedy]

Are you coming through Phoenix? I'd love to see all of your 325xit modifications in person.I could - I'll be driving from Lake Havasu to Albuquerque around the 5th.

[Jon S.]

Hey Terry,

I can't seem to get your .pdf to load... :dunno:

[Mr. The Edge]

Hey Terry,

I can't seem to get your .pdf to load... :dunno:

just worked for me...

[operknockity]

just worked for me...
No problemo for me either.

[Cliff]

It worked fine for me too. You might want to download Acrobat (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) and reinstall it, Jon.

[Jon S.]

It worked fine for me too. You might want to download Acrobat (http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep2.html) and reinstall it, Jon.
Thanks Cliff; worked like a charm. :thumbup:

Btw, did you try on the car cover yet?

[Cliff]

Thanks Cliff; worked like a charm. :thumbup:

Btw, did you try on the car cover yet?
It protected my car both nights at the hotel, Jon :D That's why I was hot to get it from you on Friday. It's pretty easy to roll it up over the car and stuff it into the bag, too. It's a very nice cover. I probably ought to consider picking up the locking cable for it.

[RKT BMR]

It protected my car both nights at the hotel, Jon :D That's why I was hot to get it from you on Friday. It's pretty easy to roll it up over the car and stuff it into the bag, too. It's a very nice cover. I probably ought to consider picking up the locking cable for it.???

BMW cover? Or aftermarket?

I'm looking for a new one, after melting my BMW cover in the dryer. :mad:

[Cliff]

It's the BMW cover, Dave. Do you think Jon would buy a cover somewhere other than from the parts dept? This one needs washing too, but after talking to you I think I'll just string a line up in my garage and dry it on that...:eek:

[uter]

I could - I'll be driving from Lake Havasu to Albuquerque around the 5th.

Hmm, Scottsdale/Phoenix isn't exactly on the way (assuming you're taking the I-40 to Albuquerque). Still, if your plans bring you this way, PM me. You could raise the number of 325xit's in Phoenix to 2, and I'd get a chance to see your mods (maybe over cold beverages).

For the record, the drive down the I-17 to Phoenix is a hoot (and you pass close to Sedona (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22842) , a pretty amazing place itself)

-Uter (Andy)

[RKT BMR]

It's the BMW cover, Dave. Do you think Jon would buy a cover somewhere other than from the parts dept? This one needs washing too, but after talking to you I think I'll just string a line up in my garage and dry it on that...:eek:Actually, you'll be fine to air dry it in one of those jumbo industrial dryers at the laundromat. It'll just take a trunkfull of quarters :D

I got impatient after two hours of "fluff" on the dryer setting, so I bumped it up to "delicate" for a third hour of Georges. That was the fatal blow. :bawling:

[Cliff]

Actually, you'll be fine to air dry it in one of those jumbo industrial dryers at the laundromat. It'll just take a trunkfull of quarters :D

I got impatient after two hours of "fluff" on the dryer setting, so I bumped it up to "delicate" for a third hour of Georges. That was the fatal blow. :bawling:
I don't really need a car cover much (between having a garage and covered parking at work) so I'm cool with letting it cure in the garage for a week or two...

[audiophilia]

Terry:

I have enjoyed your internet journal very much. Sounds and reads like a blast.

Safe drive, and keep the updates coming... :thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

Safe drive, and keep the updates coming... :thumbup:Well, today I managed to not damage the car and not get mauled by a bear, so it was a good day :D.

I did a nice long drive through Sequoia, entering on 180 (up north) and coming out on 198 (in the south). Particularly in the south, the roads are very twisty, with many 10MPH hairpin turns. And they don't believe in guardrails (or even curbs!) in many places.

Here are a few shots, selected from the 263 I took today:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3145-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3163-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3175-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3180-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3189-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3197-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3219-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3221-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3222-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3240-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3243-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3249-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3271-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3277-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3300-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3305-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3322-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3328-s.jpg

Tuesday is Death Valley Day...

[MattE21]

Hmm, Scottsdale/Phoenix isn't exactly on the way (assuming you're taking the I-40 to Albuquerque). Still, if your plans bring you this way, PM me. You could raise the number of 325xit's in Phoenix to 2, and I'd get a chance to see your mods (maybe over cold beverages).

For the record, the drive down the I-17 to Phoenix is a hoot (and you pass close to Sedona (http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=22842) , a pretty amazing place itself)

-Uter (Andy)


Hey Uter, did you make it to bimmerfest this year? if not, theres always next year! not to post ***** another forum on here, but the SouthWest forum on www.bimmerforums.com/forum has a great AZ crew and we would love to hear from you and see you at some local meets!
-- Matthew

[Terry Kennedy]

I'm surprised nobody posted with "Hey, we haven't heard from Terry since he said he was going to Death Valley - I wonder if he's Ok", or at least "Let's go find his car and collect his mods." :D

In any event, I spent the night in Stovepipe Wells (an amazingly good bargain considering the location - in fact, I'm paying more for the Super 8 in Barstow that I'm staying in tonight).

To get you caught up, here are 30 shots from yesterday and today. These are straight out of the camera except for the occasional crop, and re-sizing for my slow uploads. As always, larger images and prints will be available on request after I get home.

Being buzzed by the fighters was interesting. Oddly, their radar doesn't set off the V1 :dunno:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3337-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3342-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3346-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3347-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3352-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3362-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3372-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3382-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3390-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3399-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3420-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3423-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3427-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3429-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3437-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3465-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3477-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3500-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3520-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3534-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3548-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3593-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3621-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3625-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3632-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3642-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3650-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3654-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3656-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3669-s.jpg

[swchang]

Hope you've got plenty of air in those tires...

Keep the pictures coming! :thumbup:

[Spectre]

We're just quietly watching your progress and assuming the best. After all, you've got BMW Roadside Assistance if something goes wrong with the wagon. ;)

Did the roadrunner go "Beep beep" as it ran past? :lmao: I know what sound the FA-18's made! Nice dusk shots, btw.

[RKT BMR]

We're just quietly watching your progress and assuming the best. After all, you've got BMW Roadside Assistance if something goes wrong with the wagon. ;)

Did the roadrunner go "Beep beep" as it ran past? :lmao: I know what sound the FA-18's made! Nice dusk shots, btw.This was one of the coolest shots in the latest batch. I want the full-res version, Terry!

Mind if I use it for an avatar?

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3548-s.jpg

[Terry Kennedy]

We're just quietly watching your progress and assuming the best. After all, you've got BMW Roadside Assistance if something goes wrong with the wagon. ;)Complete with the wrong phone number on the sticker inside the hatch :mad:
Did the roadrunner go "Beep beep" as it ran past? :lmao:No, it went "click click" with its beak. But maybe this one was defective :D

[Terry Kennedy]

This was one of the coolest shots in the latest batch. I want the full-res version, Terry!

Mind if I use it for an avatar?

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3548-s.jpgFeel free, though I don't know how well it will come out when sized down to an avatar.

[marvelphx]

Terry, you take some fantastic photographs btw...

[Terry Kennedy]

Terry, you take some fantastic photographs btw...Thanks! It is often said that "it isn't the equipment, it is the photographer", but a bunch of my shots just wouldn't be possible with lesser equipment. A lot of the more exciting shots (jets, moon, roadrunner) were taken with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens with an image stabilizer, with a 2x extender for a 400mm effective length. The camera body is a Canon EOS 1Ds 11.4 megapixel. I'm shooting on 2GB Compact Flash cards. In Sequoia I actually overflowed onto a 3rd card - the other days I've only used one or two.

[Terry Kennedy]

Here are today's pictures from Amboy Crater, in the modern ghost town of Amboy, CA. Since I have a high-speed link tonight I'll post a few more pictures than usual. Amboy crater is a recently (500 years or so) extinct volcano.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3677-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3744-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3680-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3683-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3688-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3707-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3708-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3712-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3719-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3735-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3743-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3755-s.jpg

The sign at the bottom of the last picture reads "Town for sale - approx 700 acres with businesses". There is no sign of life whatsoever in the town. Many other towns along Route 66 have been abandoned and are in a much more advanced state of decay.

[scottn2retro]

Terry - you are indeed a good photographer. Are you anywhere near as talented as a writer?

You should do an article about your trek and bimmerfest and submit it (with your great photos) to the Roundel. :thumbup: :bigpimp:

[operknockity]

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3683-s.jpg
http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3755-s.jpg


You made it! Many years back we made several trips out to Amboy, staying in Roy's Hotel, climbing the crater, and digging trilobite fossils in the foot of the mountain ranges nearby. You can't see it from the road, but on the other side of the crater there is a breach that makes climbing in to the crater much easier! (If I get a chance to scan in the photos I'll post them)

Did you make it to Chambliss to see the UFO Repair Station? Chambliss might not even exist any more given the decay rate of towns in that area.

[Terry Kennedy]

Terry - you are indeed a good photographer. Are you anywhere near as talented as a writer?

You should do an article about your trek and bimmerfest and submit it (with your great photos) to the Roundel. :thumbup: :bigpimp:I'm going to write something up when I get back. I still have many thousands of miles to go and pictures to take. If you read the January (I think) Roundel they had an article on the Colorado Grand, and I'll be retracing that route later in my trip.

[Terry Kennedy]

You made it! Many years back we made several trips out to Amboy, staying in Roy's Hotel, climbing the crater, and digging trilobite fossils in the foot of the mountain ranges nearby. You can't see it from the road, but on the other side of the crater there is a breach that makes climbing in to the crater much easier! (If I get a chance to scan in the photos I'll post them)

Did you make it to Chambliss to see the UFO Repair Station? Chambliss might not even exist any more given the decay rate of towns in that area.The whole area is abandoned - the whole town of Amboy is for sale, and even the post office has closed. Someone is still there (but hiding) as there was an air conditioner running in the back of the hotel office, and one of the gas pumps was powered on (the light in it was on) and it had a price of $3.429 posted.

I couldn't even find Chambliss - I think it has dried up and blown away (or is that blown up and dried away)?

[PhilH]

Cool trip. Nice pictures. :thumbup:

[Clarke]

Thanks! It is often said that "it isn't the equipment, it is the photographer", but a bunch of my shots just wouldn't be possible with lesser equipment. A lot of the more exciting shots (jets, moon, roadrunner) were taken with a 70-200mm f2.8 lens with an image stabilizer, with a 2x extender for a 400mm effective length. The camera body is a Canon EOS 1Ds 11.4 megapixel. I'm shooting on 2GB Compact Flash cards. In Sequoia I actually overflowed onto a 3rd card - the other days I've only used one or two.Just think how good they could be if you had a Prime lens.;) As someone who used to just point it at the horizon alot I have really enjoyed this great trip and pics.Thank you very much!:thumbup:

[Terry Kennedy]

Here are pictures from yesterday and today. Yesterday I took it easy and visited Lake Havasu City (and London Bridge), as well as photographing the sunset on I-10. Last night finding a hotel room in north-central Arizona was impossible - apparently the university up at Flagstaff was graduating and all rooms were booked. I finally found a fleabag motel which charged me $50 for a room that should have been condemned. It didn't even have grounded outlets, so I couldn't recharge my computer.

Today I visited Meteor Crater on my way to Albuquerque. I also stopped in a rather odd service station on Route 66 where they had a boozy stuffed armadillo (see the picture). I'm in a nice hotel now (the Doubletree, downtown) to make up for last night's abomination. I may stay here a second day and sightsee.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3789-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3798-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3822-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3835-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3843-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3849-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3858-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3866-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3897-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3904-s.jpg

[operknockity]

Awesome pics!!!

[audiophilia]

Always wanted to visit that crater.

Impressive in person?

Great pics, as usual! :thumbup:

[alpinewhite325i]

Super pics.

Keep them comming...although we may not all comment, we look forward to your updates!

[marvelphx]

Yes, Northern Arizona University was holding commencement on Friday and Saturday. One of my very good friends graduated on Friday so we went up to witness it.

You should have called me, we have two houses up there... no fleabag motels! :eeps:

[Terry Kennedy]

Today was another easy day, driving up to Colorado Springs from Albuquerque. I took a few pictures today, mostly "art" shots of clouds, etc. Here's a few samples. The first one is in New Mexico, the rest are in Colorado. In the last picture, that isn't a meteor - it is a jet contrail.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3912-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3924-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3934-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3942-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3946-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3951-s.jpg

[MG67]

Great Pictures Terry, also very nice meeting you at Bimmerfest! Have a safe trip!!

Mike

[mattjw916]

great pics, your trip makes the 900 miles each way I had to drive to get there seem brief! :D

[Terry Kennedy]

Today we have a bunch of railroad pictures. I drove from Colorado Springs to Vail, stopping at Georgetown and Silver Plume. There is (was?) a scenic narrow-gauge (3 feet instead of the normal 4 foot 8.5 inch spacing between rails) steam railroad there. Unfortunately, it is one of those situations where the equipment and tours are handled by one company, with the historical society owning the land and tracks. They seem to be having a pissing match, with the result that the operator is taking their equipment and leaving. [Side note - the operator wanted the historical society to maintain their tracks, and the historical society wanted the operator to take over maintenance. I walked a couple miles of the track and noticed many loose spikes and several out-of-gauge conditions.]

Anyway, this is a loop track (it crosses over itself at different elevations) and the bridge's official name is the Devil's Gate High Bridge, though it is more commonly known as the Georgetown Loop. It was built in 1883 and was an engineering marvel in its day. It was torn down and sold for scrap in 1939. The current bridge and tracks date from 1984 when it was reconstructed as a tourist attraction.

Since it is closed, I got a chance to wander around the property with no-one else present. Here are the pictures:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3972-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S3974-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4001-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4011-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4030-s.jpg

This is one of the anchors for the first bridge, dating from 1883. While walking in the woods I found a number of traces of the first bridge, including dressed stone blocks that formed the piers for the bridge (the new bridge uses poured concrete piers):

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4048-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4060-s.jpg

The next two shots are from Guanella Pass, the main road back in mining days. It is nearly two thousand feet above I-70 (which is at 8800 feet at this point). The second shot looks down on Georgetown:

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4093-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4095-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4106-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4107-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4115-s.jpg

Above, I said that the tour operator is taking their trains and going elsewhere. This is the ramp they build for removing the equipment - the individual engines and cars are rolled up this ramp and onto flatbed trailers. Given the weight of some of the engines, I expect a good deal of nervous finger-crossing is in order.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4136-s.jpg

Tuesday I start my drive following the route of the 2003 Colorado Grand. Internet access is iffy along the route, so you may not see an update from me for a few days.

[Terry Kennedy]

Well, it looks like the rest of Colorado is a write-off. As many of you know, I had planned to retrace the path of the 2003 Colorado Grand classic car rally. That event happened in September, long after the snow season. With a report of early snowmelt here, I had hoped that I'd be able to accomplish this. But it isn't going to happen. Today started out nice, but by the time I got to Rabbit Ears Pass near Steamboat Springs, storm clouds had moved in. I made it down from the pass (9400 feet, give or take) before the rain started, but on the way out of Steamboat Springs toward Aspen, it had started raining and the temperature had dropped from 63 to 32 (and this was down at 6500 feet or so). The clouds were coming down to road level making visibility pretty much nil. The Grand runs mainly on back roads that don't get much maintenance, so even rain is a problem (I encountered one mudslide). Given that I have RE750 (summer only) tires on the car, driving in snow is out of the question, and there's over a foot on some parts of the subsequent route.

Given these conditions, I'm going to give up, and hopefully re-visit the route at some future, warmer, date.

I'm off to Amanda's tomorrow. I'll post again along the way to Amanda's if I have Internet service (Colorado to Illinois is pretty spotty, though).

Here are a few pictures from today. The first is the Marriott in Vail where I stayed, and where the Grand departed from. The next is a rock formation about 30 miles into the route, before the weather turned ugly. The rest are random shots I snapped when the rain paused.

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4160-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4162-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4165-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4166-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4168-s.jpg

http://www.tmk.com/transient/040426/6F5S4173-s.jpg

[operknockity]

Those are pretty ominous clouds :yikes:

[swirlyeyedrurou]

F/A-18E/F Super Hornets..... Awesome man! :thumbup:

yeah.so that was awhile ago. still.

[Spectre]

Are we there yet? This thread has been pretty quiet for awhile. What happened to Terry? Or is he just, um, busy at Amanda's? :freakdanc :D

[Terry Kennedy]

Are we there yet? This thread has been pretty quiet for awhile. What happened to Terry? Or is he just, um, busy at Amanda's? :freakdanc :DI'm at Amanda's. She's got med school finals (her last ones are today, actually) so things have been pretty hectic.

[uter]

I'm at Amanda's. She's got med school finals (her last ones are today, actually) so things have been pretty hectic.

Yeah, after one of my med school finals, I went outside the bar so my stomach could get a little "hectic". Unfortunately, the emesis trajetory was in the path of a really potent exhaust vent. The result was the entire flank of someone's white 7-series was painted "hectic".

So, is your S.O. done with med school? Where'd she match?

[Terry Kennedy]

So, is your S.O. done with med school? Where'd she match?No, this is her 3rd year of what was originally a combined 9-year MD/PhD plan, but which has changed to a MD-only one. So she's actually just finishing up first year courses.

[Spectre]

Unfortunately, the emesis trajetory was in the path of a really potent exhaust vent. The result was the entire flank of someone's white 7-series was painted "hectic".Such a vivid description. :rofl: