Plymouth Meet in Tucson, starting to plan the route

[TodFitch]

The Plymouth Owners Club's national meet will be in Tucson this April 11th through 14th.

 

I've driven all the roads from here to there at one time or another with most of them driven in the last few years: I've family in the Tucson metro area and I've planned on driving the '33 there for sometime but don't want to take freeways so I've been scouting ways across the Arizona desert on each trip I've taken. The meet is an excuse to actually do the drive.

 

Undecided about splitting the drive into three almost equal parts (First night in Lebec, CA, second night in Parker, AZ). Or go longer on the first two days (first night in either Palmdale, CA or Hesperia/Victorville, CA, second night in Gila Bend, AZ) to allow for tourist stops at places like Casa Grande National Monument, Biosphere 2, etc. on the third day. Actually, from Gila Bend one could also drop south through Ajo to Organ Pipe National Monument and then head east for the third day.

 

https://maps.google.com/maps?saddr=almaden+expressway+and+blossom+hill,+san+jose,+ca&daddr=37.1927938,-121.7482061+to:34.9871605,-119.4317375+to:34.637811,-118.3455912+to:Holiday+Inn+Express+Hotel+%26+Suites+Hesperia,+Holiday+Inn+Express+Hotel+%26+Suites+Hesperia,+9750+Key+Point+Avenue,+Hesperia,+CA+92345+to:34.4710861,-117.2651214+to:33.508768,-113.1618997+to:33.270074,-112.7978394+to:33.0623988,-112.665758+to:Gila+Bend,+AZ+to:Hilton+Tucson+East,+Hilton+Tucson+East,+7600+E+Broadway+Blvd,+Tucson,+AZ+85710&hl=en&ll=34.642247,-116.586914&spn=6.21699,13.040771&sll=33.094993,-112.663422&sspn=0.395771,0.815048&geocode=FaVmOAIdElS8-CnvfUzs3jOOgDF8r4zAhsSYYA%3BFVmENwIdEkW--CknJdYDlyWOgDHurr_16PyElg%3BFZjcFQIdx53h-CkrWk32ztLrgDFTxJ5btXA8KA%3BFfOHEAIdiTDy-Cn3_fGNM2bCgDGfL383SF4lnQ%3BFaFTDQId19sA-SGl9VWVAK9A1ykxD7jwaWjDgDGl9VWVAK9A1w%3BFa78DQIdH60C-Skx1-pe1WDDgDH_a3nraQCKKg%3BFaBN_wEdVUlB-SlfwdhVk5rUgDHl3IjggVfnKQ%3BFTqp-wEdcddG-SlHegGIcM_UgDFQvkMZnNKMvA%3BFf59-AEdYttI-Sk9-EdBiCrVgDEaZVCWh-4-ZA%3BFXC-9gEd4hNI-SnjfTCNQCjVgDErggvuexfqbQ%3BFQai6wEdQ91k-SnxyjvlQW_WhjEkLe06PKiOpA&oq=tucson+hilton+east&dirflg=h&mra=dpe&mrsp=8&sz=11&via=1,2,3,5,6,7,8&t=m&z=7

 

In any event, there will be no freeway driving for the entire 900 miles to Tucson. There will, however be some four lane highways and some highways posted at 65. Some of that 65 MPH road, like Pinal Pioneer Parkway, is two lane but with relatively little traffic.

 

Getting back will be a bit longer as there are parts of Arizona I haven't shown my wife. Probably head down through Sonoita and Tombstone to Bisbee, then up past Montezuma's Castle to Sedona and maybe take the remains of US66 back across northern Arizona and the Mohave desert to Barstow. Don't see a feasible way to avoid some freeway driving going that way but most of it will be back roads.

 

Minor little jaunt compared to the trips Bamford's Garage does, but it will be a few miles on the old car. And it should be fun. It will be the right time of year for wildflowers coming down California 25 by Pinacles and across the top of the Antelope Valley. And the temperatures in the low desert should still be in the 80s so the lack of air conditioning shouldn't be a problem.

Edited January 30, 2013 by TodFitch

[Bob D]

Tod, Good luck on the trip in April, please take LOTS of photos to share

[Greg F]

Is this meet worth going to?  I have never been, but I am thinking about flying out for the day just to see all the plymouths.

Thx Greg

[TodFitch]

  On 1/31/2013 at 1:16 AM, AAJetz710 said:

Is this meet worth going to? I have never been, but I am thinking about flying out for the day just to see all the plymouths.

Thx Greg

Can't say. Its the first time that region has put on this type of show. Distances are pretty big and I haven't any idea how many people are in driving or trailering distance.

[greg g]

We will be in Az. the weekend but on the other side of the state in Sedona.  Would like to make it over but probably will not happen.  Is this listed as a National event or a Regional Spring Event?  The POC is not following its bylaws as far as event location is concerned.  I know it's hard to get folk to put on an event but the next one on this side of the Mississippi seems to be Detroit. 

[Don Jordan]

Two things: do you have to be a member of POC? Do you have more information about where? If you plan on going through Palmdale I might like to tag along since my 2 door should be up and running by then. And there is safety in numbers.

[TodFitch]

  On 1/31/2013 at 5:03 AM, Don Jordan said:

Two things: do you have to be a member of POC? Do you have more information about where? If you plan on going through Palmdale I might like to tag along since my 2 door should be up and running by then. And there is safety in numbers.

 

It is a POC event. Don't know if they've changed the rules but for the equivalent ones that were held in Oregon and California you had to be a POC member.

 

Correction: On the last California meet there was, if I recall correctly, a region sponsored simultaneous event for non-POC members and modified cars. So I guess the Grand Canyon Region could be doing something like that but I don't see any mention of it on their web site.

 

Entering Palmdale from the west via Elizabeth Lake Road, exiting to the east via Palmdale Blvd/Pearblossom Highway (Hwy 138). Not sure at this time if we'll spend the first night in Lebec (top of the Grapevine), in Palmdale or in Hesperia/Victorville. Depends on who is traveling the same way and what they want to do, especially if they want to do sight seeing on day 3 on the way into Tucson.

Edited January 31, 2013 by TodFitch

[TodFitch]

  On 1/31/2013 at 3:43 AM, greg g said:

We will be in Az. the weekend but on the other side of the state in Sedona.  Would like to make it over but probably will not happen.  Is this listed as a National event or a Regional Spring Event?  The POC is not following its bylaws as far as event location is concerned.  I know it's hard to get folk to put on an event but the next one on this side of the Mississippi seems to be Detroit. 

 

Listed as a national event with the entry form in the national magazine.

 

Hey, Sedona is only about 230 miles from Tucson via the freeway (about the distance between DC and NYC).

[greg g]

I would check with the host club.  I have seen it both ways.  Where all you needed to do was pay the registration fee, and the other where they made you join the national before they would let you register.  I participated in two without joining the POC.  I also attended a Walter P Chrysler club national without joining the club.   If they aren't happy to see you and your car and happy to let you register for the event, then it kinda tells you what you are dealing with as far as the attitude of the club is.   Most of the registration forms I have seen are priced ala cart for individual events so you should be able to pay for the show on the day of the show if you do not want to participate in other events that go along with the meet.  If folks from the Tucson organization are reading this I would encourage allowing any one who showed up, you know kind of a non discrimination attitude.  Who knows you might even get some new members by actually welcoming people in stead of being in hospitable like some of the regions I have seen. 

 

By the way there has already been more discussion about this event here on this forum than on the POC board.  Coincidence?

 

 

If anyone is interested   July 17-21, 2013 WPC Club 2013 National Meet, Minneapolis, MN.    More Information

[Young Ed]

  On 1/31/2013 at 4:47 PM, greg g said:

I would check with the host club.  I have seen it both ways.  Where all you needed to do was pay the registration fee, and the other where they made you join the national before they would let you register.  I participated in two without joining the POC.  I also attended a Walter P Chrysler club national without joining the club.   If they aren't happy to see you and your car and happy to let you register for the event, then it kinda tells you what you are dealing with as far as the attitude of the club is.   Most of the registration forms I have seen are priced ala cart for individual events so you should be able to pay for the show on the day of the show if you do not want to participate in other events that go along with the meet.  If folks from the Tucson organization are reading this I would encourage allowing any one who showed up, you know kind of a non discrimination attitude.  Who knows you might even get some new members by actually welcoming people in stead of being in hospitable like some of the regions I have seen. 

 

By the way there has already been more discussion about this event here on this forum than on the POC board.  Coincidence?

 

 

If anyone is interested   July 17-21, 2013 WPC Club 2013 National Meet, Minneapolis, MN.    More Information

 

Greg I am planning on attending the WPC one as its here. However now I am wondering if I will need to join up.

[greg g]

Ed, I think you will find the WPC folks pretty welcoming.  The event in Vermont was pretty open, participate as you wish.  I registered for the event, and the Saturday show was included.  No pressure to join the club.  Their show is participant judged, with none of the from the factory stuff.  I was very surprised to have the car trophy (3rd out of about 13 in class) and had a lot of positive comments from folks about how my car is set up, and questions about the engine mods and their results. 

 

But again I would check with the organizers as all regions are different.  I just mapped it out and its 1080 miles on way and through Chicago for us so I do not think it will be on our calendar.