I am driving a Ford F-350 dually with a lighweight open, dual axle trailer. I am going to Mooresville to pick up a late model asphalt race car. I have a racing partner in Mooresville and he has prepared one of our cars for my son to drive this weekend.

 

My son is turning 17 on Saturday and I have been very strict about his driving and he has been (mostly) cooperative about it. I always told him that I would rather him drive a race car than drive on the street. He is with me and is helping drive this trip. He won a race in a beginner division (Chevettes)at a track that I owned 5 years ago. He was 11 going on 12 and the rules reguired the drivers in that class to be 14. I didn't know he was in the car until the race was over. The tracks around here require a driver's license to race the kinds of cars that I have. He just got his license a few weeks ago and I am going to let him race.

 

BTW, he doesn't know the car is prepared for him and will be surprised when we get there andthe car has his name over the door and his football number on the doors and roof.

 

As to the route, I can't imagine the grade on 77 being any worse than Jelico mountain and the white-knuckle gorge at the NC state line on I-40. I will let you know late tonight.

 

I am driving now (actually son is). Thanks for your input.

 

Sounds like a great trip and a awesome treat for your son. Best of luck and I wish you a safe journey!

Charleston to 77 is the best route...for sure.

I am driving a Ford F-350 dually with a lighweight open, dual axle trailer. I am going to Mooresville to pick up a late model asphalt race car. I have a racing partner in Mooresville and he has prepared one of our cars for my son to drive this weekend.

 

My son is turning 17 on Saturday and I have been very strict about his driving and he has been (mostly) cooperative about it. I always told him that I would rather him drive a race car than drive on the street. He is with me and is helping drive this trip. He won a race in a beginner division (Chevettes)at a track that I owned 5 years ago. He was 11 going on 12 and the rules reguired the drivers in that class to be 14. I didn't know he was in the car until the race was over. The tracks around here require a driver's license to race the kinds of cars that I have. He just got his license a few weeks ago and I am going to let him race.

 

BTW, he doesn't know the car is prepared for him and will be surprised when we get there andthe car has his name over the door and his football number on the doors and roof.

 

As to the route, I can't imagine the grade on 77 being any worse than Jelico mountain and the white-knuckle gorge at the NC state line on I-40. I will let you know late tonight.

 

I am driving now (actually son is). Thanks for your input.

 

I know your son will be thrilled with the car. Be careful and have a safe trip.:thumb:

We always take that route when we go to the race at Lowes. It is beauitful.

I-24 E to I-69 S (flat and straight) I-74 E at Indy, I-75 S to I-40 E at knoxville. That would be my choice.

I am driving a Ford F-350 dually with a lighweight open, dual axle trailer. I am going to Mooresville to pick up a late model asphalt race car. I have a racing partner in Mooresville and he has prepared one of our cars for my son to drive this weekend.

 

My son is turning 17 on Saturday and I have been very strict about his driving and he has been (mostly) cooperative about it. I always told him that I would rather him drive a race car than drive on the street. He is with me and is helping drive this trip. He won a race in a beginner division (Chevettes)at a track that I owned 5 years ago. He was 11 going on 12 and the rules reguired the drivers in that class to be 14. I didn't know he was in the car until the race was over. The tracks around here require a driver's license to race the kinds of cars that I have. He just got his license a few weeks ago and I am going to let him race.

 

BTW, he doesn't know the car is prepared for him and will be surprised when we get there andthe car has his name over the door and his football number on the doors and roof.

 

As to the route, I can't imagine the grade on 77 being any worse than Jelico mountain and the white-knuckle gorge at the NC state line on I-40. I will let you know late tonight.

 

I am driving now (actually son is). Thanks for your input.

 

More than enough truck. :thumb:

 

Sounds like a great trip, Mr. N. I think I am envious.

 

Be safe, have fun.

Made it just over 12 hours from Chicago but that included a detour for an over-turned semi and various delays for road construction and 3 fuel stops. I think the Charleston route is probably 2 hours quicker than going through Knoxville.

 

We are making a few last minute adjustments and will load up and leave in a few hours. We will have an extra driver going back so we should be good with sharing the driving load.

 

My son is excited and is certain that he will win the race on Saturday. He will get a good dose of reality during the Thursday night practice session. No novice driver has ever sat in a modern day stock car and gone as fast as an experienced driver. He will not be the exception to the rule but this will be the first step to a (hopefully) fun hobby.

 

But the best part is going to be the time we are spending together which is becoming harder to find time for with our busy schedules. Illinois has their dead period for football during this week and the timing couldn't be better for us.

Made it just over 12 hours from Chicago but that included a detour for an over-turned semi and various delays for road construction and 3 fuel stops. I think the Charleston route is probably 2 hours quicker than going through Knoxville.

 

We are making a few last minute adjustments and will load up and leave in a few hours. We will have an extra driver going back so we should be good with sharing the driving load.

 

My son is excited and is certain that he will win the race on Saturday. He will get a good dose of reality during the Thursday night practice session. No novice driver has ever sat in a modern day stock car and gone as fast as an experienced driver. He will not be the exception to the rule but this will be the first step to a (hopefully) fun hobby.

 

But the best part is going to be the time we are spending together which is becoming harder to find time for with our busy schedules. Illinois has their dead period for football during this week and the timing couldn't be better for us.

Time with kids can never be replaced good luck.

Made it just over 12 hours from Chicago but that included a detour for an over-turned semi and various delays for road construction and 3 fuel stops. I think the Charleston route is probably 2 hours quicker than going through Knoxville.

 

We are making a few last minute adjustments and will load up and leave in a few hours. We will have an extra driver going back so we should be good with sharing the driving load.

 

My son is excited and is certain that he will win the race on Saturday. He will get a good dose of reality during the Thursday night practice session. No novice driver has ever sat in a modern day stock car and gone as fast as an experienced driver. He will not be the exception to the rule but this will be the first step to a (hopefully) fun hobby.

 

But the best part is going to be the time we are spending together which is becoming harder to find time for with our busy schedules. Illinois has their dead period for football during this week and the timing couldn't be better for us.

 

Two summers ago, my dad and I made an unexpected road trip from his house in Colorado to my house in Kentucky. I kept thinking the whole time how lucky I was to be spending time with him.

Almost to Louisville. Trip has been uneventful other than getting pulled over on Turnpike in West Virginia. Good news......trooper is a racing fan and I got a written warning for 83 in 70.

Busy, busy week.

 

After the trip to Mooresville, I worked Wednesday and Friday and squeezed in a practice session on Thursday.

 

We raced on Saturday night. My son missed the A Feature by about a half a second. I had the track line him up at the rear for both the Heat race and the B Feature.

 

On the first lap of the Heat race, he had passed one car and was coming off Turn 4 when the car on the outside came down and ripped the right front fender off the car. It was cosmetic and quickly repaired in time for the Feature.

 

There, he started on the tail and stayed on the lead lap while racing a car for position for about 10 laps. All in all, a very good first outing.

 

I started outside row 2 for the "A" Feature and ran second for about 10 laps. Then the car picked up a sputter from an apparent fuel problem. I dropped out with an DNF. I found part of the mesh from the fuel cell in the fuel filter which might have clogged the pick up in the fuel cell.

 

It was a wild night in the "A" Feature with several cars piled up in a crash on the front stretch. I escaped with body damage only. This is a track I go to a few times a year and after the race, one of the drivers came over and said, "How many miles do you drive to come here?" I told him "about 125". He then replied, "Isn't that a long ways to just come here and run over people."

 

It went down hill from there but I took the high road and finally told him that I don't mind if he wants to explain a problem that he has with my driving but that I resented his implication that I shouldn't come back.

 

His night was ended in that big wreck and he somehow thought I had something to do with his bad luck. That happens from time to time and he will probably find a way to apologize next time I am there and he has cooled down.

 

It was a great 17th birthday for my son but the car will have to sit on jack stands for a while as football starts back up this week.

 

Maybe a crate motor in the same car for the Limited Late Model class at New Smyrna during Speedweeks..............