1 Birkin, 1,600+ miles, 3 days and a 13 year old co-pilot

[Yeti]

My wife thinks I have completely lost my mind. I look at it as the ultimate bonding experience with my newly minted teenager.

 

The Background:

I sold my Exige back in 2009. The boys were starting to do more activities outside of the home and I did not have the time to spend at the track (it is not a coincidence that it rhymes with crack). Earlier this year an indoor go-cart track opened and I was hooked again. My older son started running about 2 months ago and is also now obsessed. I started looking around for a bigger fix. I found it in the form of a 2001 Birkin S3.

The Plan:

Pack light. Fly to Denver with son. Meet with the gentleman selling car. Pack car. Mail that which does not fit. Head east. See a few sites. Get back to PA in time for work and school.

 

simple.

[yellowss7]

Pack lots of Sunscreen! Safe Travels. :driving: Tom

[jlumba81]

Bring earplugs and keep hydrated. Fill up after 150 miles or until you get used to how the gas gauge reads.

[Sean]

Consider taking a few more days. Work and school are certainly important, but bonding time at this age cannot be made up later! Anything over 400 miles per day will likely seem like torture more than pleasure after the second day.

 

I did a 1,330 mile solo blat over three days in 2014, and while still fun, the last day had me thinking it should have been a four-day event, if not more. And that was without a passenger.

[Yeti]

I appreciate the comments and suggestions. Keep them coming please.

 

I do have a little wiggle room on the amount of time for the trip. He can miss some school but work is a little tougher for me.

[jlumba81]

I've done a couple 700 mi in 1 day trips and they aren't too bad. Consider doing a lot of miles the first day then taper down. 2.5 gas cans are a nice size.

[Alfonse]

In my 03 Birkin, anything over an hour and I can't walk straight for a few minutes. By the second hour, my butt is tenderized. I plan on some work on the seats this winter.

[Alfonse]

I should add, that first hour is a blast.

[MightyMike]

Congrats! I drove the same car from Houston to Colorado Springs in one day back in 2009.

 

Here's my post: http://www.usa7s.net/vb/showthread.php?4657-Road-trip-to-pickup-my-new-Birkin-(long)&highlight=mightymike

 

Before:

http://i68.tinypic.com/2z522ao.jpg

 

After:

http://i65.tinypic.com/20qao08.jpg

 

Enjoy your new toy!

[wemtd]

Lots of ear plugs, also make sure you have good eye protection and stop to get out and stretch every 1-2 hours for safety (no exceptions).

I also think nothing beats a helmet for protection from the wind buffeting. As much as I love my birkin i sometimes think it was designed to optimize wind buffeting of the driver's head.

 

Please post pictures of your journey for all of us to vicariously enjoy!!

[lotusman1951]

To much of a good thing. Truly

[Blokko]

Have you already inspected the car or will the visit be the first time that you have seen it?

 

I once flew out to see a car with the intention of driving it back the same day. When I got there the car was not quite as described and if it had been a local car I'd have walked away.

 

The guy had driven 90 mins to the airport to pick me up and I had no easy alternative method for getting home - I'd put myself in a stupid situation where I ended up buying a car that I would not have taken in other circumstances.

[HOTTTCAR]

Check this out. This guy is my hero.

Arrived back in Naples this eve after 28 days, 10 1/2 hours. 11,366 miles to travel through all of the lower 48 states. We had a grand time and would highly recommend a trip like this.

 

 

 

http://www471.pair.com/stalkerv/gallery2/main.php?g2_itemId=25723

 

 

 

 

We averaged 470 miles a day with the longest being 681 miles. Fuel ranged from 24 mpg to 32 mpg. Average day from start to finish including fuel stops and food was 11 hours. New Toyo R888 were installed before departure. Fronts were completely bald at 10,000 miles. Waited a day in Tenn. for new ones to be shipped and installed. Despite the rain, hail, some 40 degree days and muddy, rutted roads a great time was had. Highly recommend road trips in a Stalker. No other car is as much an attention getter. I figure 'If I don't injoy my life, who will'?

 

http://www.usa7s.net/vb/webkit-fake-url://a7b2cca9-032f-4913-8571-001326837574/imagejpeg

Edited August 18, 2016 by HOTTTCAR

[Kitcat]

Take ear muffs or headphones to put over the ear plugs. I still have ringing in my ears from just using ear plugs when I picked up my first 7, using your same plan of action. Take a very small tool kit and elec tape and duct tape. I am sure you will have your cell but be aware of possible limited-no cell coverage in remote areas. Add the car to your AAA plan, add ins coverage to your car. Be prepared for the ruckus your car will cause at every rest stop, gas station and restaurant (Is it a kit car, how fast, how much $, etc.). Ask the seller to show you how to set up the top & side curtains before you leave the seller's place. I can still remember my trip home in my new X-flow Cat back in '07, all positive.

I agree with others that 1600 miles in 3 days is really pushing it in a 7. It is a go-kart, with all the pluses and minuses that implies (bumpy, noisy, incredibly hot, etc). Also, it is not unheard of to have a mechanical problem in a 7:), and allowing a bit of time to work thru that mite make sense?

Edited August 18, 2016 by Kitcat

[slomove]

Have you already inspected the car or will the visit be the first time that you have seen it?....

 

To expand on Blokko's recommendation: I bought my Birkin 2003 in Florida and toyed with the idea of driving it home to SoCal. Fortunately I did not. While the car was practically new with only 600 miles in five years, it overheated and there were more loose bolts and jiggly wires than I could count. I am sure I would not have made it home safely. But the car was still a very good deal, it just needed day or so of serious inspection and sorting.

 

On the other hand, if the car is well built and maintained such a drive is a great idea.

[jimrankin]

Forget the ear plugs and go with a good set of attenuators. Try on a few pair to see what works best for you. Not only are they much better at keeping the noise and wind buffeting down on long trips they hold your hat in place so any side draft from trucks and the like won't lift it off and the visor won't want to keep shifting the had because the band over your head keeps it all in place. I use one over a bandana or a hat and it's the only thing that keeps them on my bald shiny head at speed.

[locost7018]

What are attenuators?? Are they ear protectors like for shooting? I don't think the police will allow the driver to wear those. Russ

[Yeti]

Thanks again for the input. I am taking it all to heart. I have put ear protection on the list. I am wondering if I should also get an in car communication system like I've used on the track for DE? I was thinking something that we could talk to each other plus stream some music. I'm also planning on renewing my AAA if the Hagerty program doesn't cover what I might need. As for the distance covered each day, I like the idea of go big the first day and then taper down. We'll see. I've told my son to try and find things to see along the way to help set the goals. At this point it seems as if US70 is the quickest route but that does not mean it is the best.

 

As for the car itself, I will not have seen it before hand. But I believe that it has been in good hands all of its life. It has been with MightyMike (as he points out above) and others from the 7 community here. I know things can go wrong but believe that it has been in loving hands long enough that the kinks have been worked out. You got to have faith in something....

[oilteq]

I assume it has a Zetec engine that exhausts on the left. May I suggest using the side curtains (doors)? Even with ear muffs, the wind can beat the heck out of you, and the side curtains will keep the wind off of you. Use an ear plug in your left ear for the exhaust noise, and use your right ear to listen to your son as you yell back and forth to converse. Take lots of sun block. The wind blowing over you will keep you from realizing that you are burning until it is far too late. You have my wishes for a safe and trouble free trip.

[Ian7]

1600 miles is a day-and-a-half in a 'normal' car for me. That said, once did nearly 2000 miles in a 7 in a 'noon Wednesday to noon Friday' trip, and it was WAY WAY too much .... stretch it out, see the sights, BONDING is your primary goal, right ? (Can't do that when its too loud to even shout, let alone chat. Drive a bit, stop often, bond a lot .... :-)