To Any One Looking At Towing From Fla To Rumble '02

[Instigator]

Just returned last night from a marathon road trip to Fla and back.
Made it from about 1/2 hr North of West Palm to my House in Cols Ohio in 15 Hrs 40 Mins, stoping only for gas and running 80 every where I could.
The Rumble is in Carrolton Kentucky, I think about and hour, or hour and a half closer.
Was'nt pulling a boat :( but would have been an easy tow.

[DRAGIN FLY]

Hey Instigator
Did you get by Montys shop on your road trip. just wanted to know what he thought about your stacks.
I would like to make the rumble but I gave up trying to have a play boat( seats 4) so I can go racing . I just got my Quartermaster (1 seat) and my wifes Velocity is not fun enough. but I might be setting up a Jag lake racer for my freind to race and me to play with. When is the Rumble?

[B.Leonard]

I guess the boat wasn't worth it?

-BL

[ALLISON7712]

I DROVE TO PITTSBURGH PA OVER THE HOLIDAYS AND WENT PAST CARROLTON KY WHERE TH RUMBEL WILL BE. IT WILL BE AN EASY 3 1/2 HR TRIP FOR ME AND STEVE ZUCKERMAN SO COUNT US IN. HAD TO TAKE A DIGITAL PIC FROM THE TAHOE AS WE PASSED IT ON THE WAY BACK. LOL SEE ATTACHED. THANKS ERIC

[Instigator]

Fly, he likes the stacks, and bring waht ever you've got that runs.
We will have more fun playing on the river at 45 MPH's than racing at a buck ten.
(think i saw the inside of one of your projects :D )
BL, the boats were all sold!!! Wish schedules would have worked out a little better for all of us. Sleekster stopped long enough for lunck and then hauled ass!! He may be stopping on hiw way North though, something about a V-8 lurking in Lloydsters garage that he thinks would look good on the Sleek Craft:eek:
Eric, still laughing at the picture!!! Looking forward to meeting/hanging with you next August. All the crew that got the chance to meet you at D/H speeks very highly of you and your rig.
Got in town last night, Cinci Boat show starts tomorrow!!
Glad I'm un-employed, a freakin job would just get in the way of these things:D

[ALLISON7712]

IT ONLY TOOK 8 HRS TO GET FROM NASHVILLE TO PITTSBURGH BUT TOOK 12HRS TO GET HOME:mad: THE REASON IT TOOK SO LONG I GOT CAUGHT IN RUSH HR TRAFFIC AND THE FIRST SNOW THAT HIT COLUMBUS AND CINCINATTI IT TOOK ME 5 1/2 HRS TO DRIVE FROM COL. TO CIN. IT WAS NOT FUN:( THE WIFE SLEPT AND I DROVE.LOL SORRY WE DID NOT GET TO TALK AND I CAN'T WAIT TO MEET ALL THE GUYS THAT I HAV'NT MEET EITHER. LAVY T, SPEED RACER, AND THE FEW OTHERS I MEET WERE AS NICE AS THEY COME. ITS GUYS LIKE THAT THAT MAKE THIS ALL WORTH WILE. I THINK THAT CARROLTON WILL BE A BETTER PLACE TO ACTUALLY BE ABLE TO TALK AND MEET EVERYONE THAN DALE HOLLOW. LOOKING FOWARD TO IT. THANKS ERIC.

[Instigator]

Yep, I know what you mean.
We hit traffic heading south and got stuck in it for 200 miles!!
I was ready to melt down!!
Not much traffic last night, and was scared ****less of hitting snow and the people that can't drive in it on the way home.
2 hrs shorter home than down.
And yeah, Point Park at Carrolton has paved parking for a couple hundred boats.
I like the parade through town idea too.
Here is a link to last years event for those asking about it.
http://www.essbasetools.com/rumble/index.html
We should have our new website up shortly with info for you.

[Raceboat Rus]

you mean to say that you passed right by central Fla and did not visit Talon 2.5 or Raceboat Rus...... SHAME ON YOU

[Talon2.5]

yea no sh#* whats up with that!!!!! i was on vacation too!!!!

[Talon2.5]

hey instigator, your into buying and selling cars these days......

i was looking at a 1999 astro van to buy to come to the rumble

it has power windows, locks, and so on, 84 thou on the odometer, has a class 3 hitch, 4.3 vortec V-6

may get it for 9000, is that a good buy???

[LaserModVee]

Talon,
That sounds like a good buy to me. Check out www.kbb.com to see what the van retails for, as well as trade in value.
Those 4.3's are small blocks with two cylinders cut off, so you know they'll run forever.

[Instigator]

I knew I was going to blow by both of you guys and some others.
Was on a very tight schedule, did'nt even know for sure we were coming down until the day before!!!
Drove straight through both ways.
Skip, that van should do you fine.
My brother bought one new in around '90 and it had the same motor in it.
He pulled a 23' cuddy cabin with a V-8 I/O in it w/no problem.
Finally sold it with over 100K on it and never touched it!!!
I like your thinking too.
Can't see you making the pull w/o the Talon!!
Russ sorry I missed you too.
Maybe next time???
Funds were/are getting really tight and we had to bail before our charge cards burst into flames!!
Things are a little slower up here than I had hoped, may have to get a real job :eek:
Tried to convince Monty that he needed a new "Grunt" to push a broom around :confused: the shop.
He said I would take too long to trane???
We did p/u the local real estate guides while down.
Brian, you and Gina need to check these things out.
Can live in Fla cheaper than Cols???

[H2Onut]

I had an Astro before My p/U I t was a GREAT truck, I mean great, I sold it with 143,000 never went to dealer, just eats front tires cuz all dat weight up front. But it was a very good vehicle.

I miss it !

[B.Leonard]

You can't compare the economy of FL with OH. Thats like comparing USA to Mexico :D

You're far too into boats to be living up there. How many people do you know down here now? Me, Lloyd, Skip, Mike, B.Mac just a few on this board, probably many others. You need to pack up the OH experience and c'mon down for good.

It's a challenge at first, but in the long run you'll be glad you did it.

-BL

[Talon2.5]

laser,

kbb says 14470, so i guess 9000 isnt bad:D

[LaserModVee]

I check www.kbb.com first.

I would check www.traderonline.com to see what people are asking for them too.

Definitely sounds like a good deal. The only problems I know of anyone having with an Astro van was valve stem seals. That came at 160,000 miles!!! Whew, not like that is unusual.

Now we can count on the Talon at the Rumble!

[Talon2.5]

i'll be there somehow, buy/rent a vehicle, rain or shine!!!!

[Talon2.5]

well i went and test drove a 98 with 72 thou on it and came so close to buying it, but i havent had car payments in 7 years, and the thought of that just pis@#ed me off!!!

so i am going to start re-doing the old truck, it needs heads, tranny, rear end, paint and a fiberglass topper for traveling with

that will be cheaper than 5 years of payments, i guess ive been spoiled not having them, i dont want the "fun" money going into paying dreaded car payments

i already have 1100 saved to come to the rumble (wifes bonus):eek:

seems my whole thought pattern is toward getting to this rumble lately :D

[Talon2.5]

heres a quick sketch of what i'll be doing soon :eek:

[B.Mac]

Sarasota FLA. economy is booming.......less than 1% unemployment, real estate is plentiful & affordable especially if you're handy w/ a saw. Boating? Heh heh.............I launched my Vector in the Sarasota Bay yesterday, (3 min. from house)normally, I have to limit my WOT runs to certain areas of the bay that are narrower (less chop), but yesterday.......oh man, 75-80 mph from launch, out of the bay & 5 miles out into the Gulf of Mexico. Running in the Gulf w/ my Vector was a blast (and rare), running aroung 60 'cause of the occassional gentle rollers & occassional unscheduled flight time. :eek: Scared to catch a rouge wave and end up with this pointy nosed thing stuck in the sand 20' under! I run the bay all the time 'cause it's so close to my house but there are tons of lakes & rivers. The hot spot around here is the Peace River about 45 min. south of Sarasota, thats where all the big boys play. Whatta ya do for a living? Anything to do with construction they're dying for help here. Tons of professional positions, Health & hospitality industries, mechanicals etc. Jobs galore.....Pay scale is generally lower depending upon your field, but the cost of living is substantially lower overall. Boating 24/7/365 was about 75 degrees in the gulf yesterday. Lived up north (NY) for thirty years because I snow skied professionally but looking back.........I can't believe I endured that wet cold mess and sorry economy for so long!!
Anything I can do let me know, can get you info, whatever re: FLA a boater's paradise.:D
See Ya
B.MAC

[Instigator]

Skip, You're my hero on the car payment deal!!
Spent the first 25 yrs of my life thinking anybody with a car payment was an idiot!!
Spent the last 17 making them!!
One of the biggest problems with me getting my boating/motor business off the ground is a truck and boat payment that I have to make go away.
Been looking at trucks/Burbs. Think about $3k will buy a descent one up here.
If you have the basic solid truck to start with, and got cold feet at the idea of payments????
Wrench on Oh sun tanned one!!!
B.Mac, Thanx for the info and the great offer of help!!
Looking very seriouslly at it at this point.
Snowed last night and I'm getting ready to start my 2 hr (dry road) daily commute to the Cinci boat show.
Winters here are usually just cold and nasty. Not enough snow or mountains to make descent sking.(or anything else)
Kinda looking at the Atlantic side but don't really know???
Kinda like the idea of being able to put my Sonic in at Lauderdale and head straight east 60 miles and be in the Bahamas, on a weekend boat trip:eek:
Definately have to get my **** together up here before I can do anything buttttttttttttt?
Left a well paying sales management job 3 months ago, and want to go back to doing something I enjoy again??
We shall see???
Thanx again guys, I really appreciatte the offers of help.
Raceboat Russ called to harass me last night:D