VIR Road Trip

[Dr K]

Okay, I've made 2 posts to other boards, with only one (negative) response. When is everyone driving down to VIR?

[Jazzbass]

Early Wednesday.

[Cliff Claven]

We'll probably leave Monday. Hopefully get there by Thursday night. We're slow. We stop a lot. And we take the long way around.

[Ryan]

I'm taking my personal helicopter, so leaving fri morning :D

[Cliff Claven]

I took a faster-than-light rocketship once. I Left after the event started and arrived there before I left. But it took too long to stop and I overshot my mark. Ended up somewhere south of Florida. So now we just leave several days in advance and take it easy getting there. Leaves us with plenty of time to walk the dogs and eat potato chips out of a can.

[KevinOyler]

I am planning to leave Thursday afternoon, after work. Willing to meet anyone looking to leave around that time to caravan.

[Eli]

I'm going Wednesday morning and wouldn't mind a caravan. The only issues is that I'm traveling with two kids, and we tend to make a lot of stops along the way. Bathroom breaks, diaper changes, clothing, etc.

[John Clay]

Eli,

Are you taking two kids by yourself?

The Clay family will be leaving after school gets out Thursday. The three year old is staying with Grandma, the five and eight year olds will be packed in the minivan and, with the wife, following the 944 down to VIR.

I'm really starting to get exited about the trip.

This will be Pam's first time on a track other than Summit Point. I'm sure Friday will be quite confusing for her.

[}{arlequin]

944 followed by a minivan? sounds like "smokey and the bandit"

[bettyc]

This will be Pam's first time on a track other than Summit Point. I'm sure Friday will be quite confusing for her.

Since Pam autocrosses I predict she'll have a clear idea of where she needs to be by the end of the first session. Something about learning 22 turns by walking the course seems to help when faced with an actual track. ;)

[Chopper Dropper]

Betty is absolutely right.Autocrossing is a great training ground for the track.Apart from the obvious car control autocrossers will have, the ability to learn a track quickly and "read" it is invaluable.
Dirk

[Dr K]

For Thursday evening (around 5-6 PM departure), we currently have (hopefully) the following

Peter Kaufman
Keven Oyler
Deborah and Ray Seyforth (leaving from Warrington, taking 29)

Please call if you want to join

I'd prefer I-95 -> I-85 -> Rt. 58 as I believe it's faster - any feedback on that?

[Marc A]

If you are leaving from Northern Virginia, going down 95/85 will not be faster than going down 29.

It never fails that 95 will bottle up in at least 2 places leaving you sitting for ungodly amounts of time. This will be true given the time of your departure.

My 2 cents.

[rs911t]

Ditto Marc's assessment. Rt 29 is the way to go.

[Chopper Dropper]

If you are on 95 going down, taking Powhite (SP?) to 360 is faster than 85-58 even trailering down the Interstate at 70+. Watch out for the boys in blue on 58 or 360. Have done both routes many times and all things being equal was slower than another couple who took Powhite and trailer 10-15 MPH slower than I, by almost half an hour. 29 is too far out of the way for me, so no opinion on that route.
Dirk

[Dr K]

Just keeping the string alive. Who from the DC/NoVA/MD area is going?

What day are you driving down?

If you're shy, and like to drive alone, no need ot answer, but then WHY are you reading Dorkiphus??

[zahjah]

i will be trailering from baltimore...hope to be on the road no later than noon on thursday if anyone wants to team up from here.

can someone update me on the things at the wilson bridge.under "normal" circumstances, should i expect delays at 1-2 pm in the afternoon? haven't been through that neck of the woods in a year or so. is 301 to richmond the way to go?

thanks

[rs911t]

not going ... :(

[Marc A]

On the wilson bridge . . . . . check before going around the beltway in that direction.

3 weeks ago the delay was 4 hours on a Sat.

I would come around the beltway toward Bethesda/Chevy Chase.

[zahjah]

marc--

would you suggest picking up 29 or stay with 95 from that side?

[zahjah]

oh--sorry marc

just reread your earlier post...sounds like 29 is my answer.

thank you

[cmartin]

29 is too far if you are coming from b-more. 95 to the powhite to 85 is the way to go.

[Marc A]

Greg:

Do what Chris said and hope like hell you hit the 495/95 interchange at the right moment.

See you at the ghetto.

[Richard Curtis]

In case you need an alternate route (listen to 107.7 FM for traffic reports every 10 minutes on the 8, i.e, 5:08, 5:18, etc.), you might try I-495 to I-66 to U.S. 29 south. I've driven both routes (I-95/I-85 and I-66/US 29) many, many times and the travel time is about the same. US 29 does have stoplights but only Charlottesville can be a pain and it's certainly not onerous. Driving I-95 between D.C. and Richmond can be even more of a pain; just way too much traffic and it's traveling at very high speeds (or at least it was prior to the huge gas price jumps of last week... maybe folks are driving a bit more sanely now). Three weekends ago, it took me almost 3 hours to drive to Richmond from No.Va., usually at 1.5 hour trip. I've found that US 29 is much more predictable and doesn't take more time.

[APKhaos]

I-29 is a good run for drivers, but some guys who tow think its a little tough because of the hills. I've always come back to I-29 as the most predictable route. I-95 can be good, particularly late at night, but the 1 - 2 hour holdups have become far to frequent. I-29 for me.

[Trak Ratt]

From Baltimore the 301 Bridge works well. I think 495/95 is best choice but 301 is an alternative. Lots of lights but not much traffic backup in the early afternoon. 301 picks up 95 again well below Fredericksburg. Same directions once you pick up 95 north of Richmond. Lots of choices as to where you pick up 301 from either 495 or through Annapolis. Map quest would work best to sort them out.

[Dr K]

Kevin Oyler and I, and perhaps Deborah and Ray Seyforth (anyone have their phone number?) will be trying to meet at Rt. 29 just by I-66 around 6 PM. If you want to join, please call my cell phone at 301-806-8004. Calling at 5:45 PM would not be too late (knowing how things go, calling at 6:15 might not be too late, either).

We'll have FRS radios, and I have an extra one, for communication on the way down, although cell phones work, too.