Heading across the country in an old car in a couple of weeks

I know there has been talk of road trips as of late.

Son Tom and I are driving a 1971 Alfa from San Diego to Florida the week after the SEMA show (starting Sat. the fifth of Nov.) We were looking at Rt. 66, but I think have settled on a more southerly route, as he wants to visit a friend in Austin, and I need to stop in Phoenix. Any thoughts or ideas as to what back roads to take or things or people to stop and see? And if things go smoothly, we are not opposed to a reader meet up, like we did in Michigan a couple of years ago. That is assuming there is any interest and again, we are not working on the car night and day.

Out west, I wanted to show him Desert Valley Auto Parts in Maricopa, AZ and I think we will stop in Tombstone, as while I know it is a tourist trap, it is one of the few places I have not been in Arizona. Looks like there are some cool back roads down along the Mexican border (this side), but not sure how far off the beaten path we want to get with a nearly 50 year old car. from there we are thinking a stop in Las Cruces, NM and haven't planned much from there. That said, we can jam this thing home in four days and have a horrible boring ride that most likely destroys the car, or we can take seven or eight days and have the trip of a lifetime. Publishing schedules probably dictate something in between as a compromise.

Be careful not to miss the left turn at Albuquerque.

I trust you will get the reference and your son will likely not.

Sounds like a great trip

When you stop at desert valley, cut me some upper quarter patches from a 72 chevelle for around my back window and cram them in the car with you. In exchange i'll write you an article about eradicating rust from a vinyl top muscle car.

I can hook you up with the guys who run Rally Ready driving school in Austin if you're interested.

Edit: it also just occurred to me that if you draw a line from Austin to Gainesville you don't quite go through the Grosh, but close. My door is always open.

One of the SCCA's 100%ers lives here in Lexington and drives an Alfa. If you are cross countrying in one you owe it to yourselves and your readers to stop in and visit Mr George Schweikle.

If you haven't already been there, visit the Unser Racing Museum in Albuquerque, and the Chaparral Gallery at the Petroleum Museum in Midland, TX. Enjoy the drive!

There's a really cool RV museum in Amarillo, TX, if you make it that far north.

Tim, if you've never been to the Techatticup Mine at Nelson, NV I'd highly recommend it. Not only is it an awesome place, the family who owns it are good people, and there are tons of awesome photo ops nearby. Make sure you drive the extra few miles to the end of the road at the Colorado River too.

Oh, and you'll pass the dry lakebed used in every car commercial & music video on the way to the mine too.

I'm interested in the car, very much (and I know you already know George and Dee)....

But- a very interesting drive would be to take R66 into the upper part of Texas, and then find your way down to western hill country, and then down/over to Austin.

There are quite a few Alfisti in the area, and I'm wondering if my friend who has a TZ is still in Santa Fe.... He has a GTV that is very close in color to mine, too.

edit- looking at the route- whatever you do, for the car's sake, I would stay in the northern part of New Mexico and Arizona to keep cool. Roll through Flagstaff and visit pheller.

If you guys have any troubles in Phoenix I've got a garage & tools if you need.

And yeah, it's still pretty damn warm in the lower desert areas - upper 90's here the other day.

Every time my wife and I drive cross country along the I-10 corridor, we're making the detour via Marfa, TX. The Hotel Paisano is a nice place to stay. If you do have the time it's probably worth the detour via the Big Bend National Park as well, but we've never really made it that far.