Rally 8 SoCal to NorCal "Trip of a Life" - Planning Thread


AMB

GT Owner
Aug 29, 2005
401
San Diego,Ca.
Count me in for one for dinner and driving both ways!!!
 

AlohaGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 13, 2007
1,600
Honolulu, HI
Kendall, the SMI hotel is sold out on 9/2 so perhaps we should consider an alteration of plans for an overnight on Monday somewhere enroute.
 

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
Not going to be easy to find lodging for a group, as the rally preceding weekend is Labor Day - last holiday of the Summer, with generally very crowded roads.
 

KJRGT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 4, 2006
2,840
SoCal
Ralphie, I would think Monday night lodging should be ok...wouldn't people be checking out Monday to head back home??

If lodging will be a challenge.....perhaps a later start on Monday and an overnighter in Paso Robles??
 
Last edited:

Copenhagen GT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jun 5, 2008
1,182
Copenhagen, Denmark
So far I have booked a room for monday the 2nd of September at the Fairmont in Sonoma as I am under the impression that the official Rally program will start on Tuesday the 3rd. So arriving tuesday seems a bit late to me, unless the Rally activities on Tuesday do not start until the afternoon/evening??
Cheers
Anders
 

KJRGT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
May 4, 2006
2,840
SoCal
Correct Anders...per DBK's note, Tuesday events begin with a Cocktail Reception around 7:00pm.
 

w.a.nelson

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 29, 2008
1,117
Asbury, NJ
Saw an episode of "Hot Rod TV" today. Don't know how old. It was all about the Peterson ( having brain fade, and don't know if it's Peterson, or Peterson. Apologies to his heirs if I got it wrong. ) Museum, and the fact that their "Vault" is now open to the public. ( Underground storage area where they store all the cars that are not on exhibit. ) Looks like an absolutely fabulous collection!

If there is going to be a group activity going from LA to Sonoma, could it start off with an event at the Peterson, where they would give our group an exclusive tour of the Vault and the Museum? I'd be up for coming to LA a few days before the trip to Sonoma if we could do that.

I know it makes an already complicated event ( The Rally ) even more complicated, but if it could be done correctly, perhaps our group could get some national TV exposure.

Might the Peterson also be a place where our GT's could be shipped to? They have to be moving cars in and out all the time, plus they have a parking area.

If there IS going to be an organized group trip from LA to Sonoma, I, and others I'm sure, really need to know the date and starting point, and duration, etc. because arrangements must be made for air fare and car shipment. I would prefer a 2 day trip, for what it's worth.

Anyway, as someone on the Forum puts it: "I'm just sayin'."
 

fjpikul

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Jan 4, 2006
11,680
Belleville, IL
Bill, are you sure you don't want to meet in Tombstone? BTW, hurry up and order your trailer so we can convewrt for tacos.
 

GEE-TEE

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
May 1, 2009
620
Calabasas, California
I just reserved the hotel. Just gotta make sure all is good at the homefront and see how I can miss another one of Bella's B-Days!!! If my wife doesnt go then I may bring my son if he can skip school.

I need some prepping by Cooltech before rally!!! :)
 
Last edited:

nota4re

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Le Mans 2010 Supporter
Feb 15, 2006
4,281
No problem, Arya!
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,922
NorCal
So far I have booked a room for monday the 2nd of September at the Fairmont in Sonoma as I am under the impression that the official Rally program will start on Tuesday the 3rd. So arriving tuesday seems a bit late to me, unless the Rally activities on Tuesday do not start until the afternoon/evening??
Cheers
Anders

Copenhagen GT - there will be others at the hotel on Monday night so you won't be alone.

Se dig der ven,
Rally VIII Ed
 

SSRob

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Oct 9, 2012
542
Oklahoma
We (my wife and I) will be there Monday night.
 

SYCO GT

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Sep 9, 2006
5,043
California
Would like to join for drive - not sure if I can stay the entire time (first week of school...), but definitely in for driving up or back with everyone.
 
Last edited:

Xcentric

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 9, 2012
5,213
Myakka City, Florida
If there IS going to be an organized group trip from LA to Sonoma, I, and others I'm sure, really need to know the date and starting point, and duration, etc. because arrangements must be made for air fare and car shipment. I would prefer a 2 day trip, for what it's worth."

+1. Not too soon to firm up an overnight...if there will be one...considering the size of the group and tail end of Labor Day weekend. I need a place to park my tow car and trailer. If I need to solve that problem on my own, just say the word. Also, DBK mentioned the possibility of a sag wagon to carry luggage. It would be good to know if this will happen and, just to make it more complicated, if the Post-Rally Rally through the Sierras will somehow tie in logistically. :ack

Looking forward to putting a lot of miles on the GT! :biggrin
 

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
...and, just to make it more complicated, if the Post-Rally Rally through the Sierras will somehow tie in logistically....

No problem for me - - -

To quote John Muir: "Going to the mountains is like going home!"

:cheers
 

Xcentric

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 9, 2012
5,213
Myakka City, Florida
^^^ You know that John Muir never carried anything but his walking stick. He'd get caught overnight at 10,000 feet elev and dance a jig all night to keep from freezing.
 

Vince H

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Jul 23, 2012
2,423
Southern California
Kendall,

I'd like to leave my place early on the 2nd and be at your place by 7:00 am. (1.5 hour drive from Riverside.) The plan at present is to drive the GT both ways. My better half is going to fly up to the Rally a day later and then return with me when it's concluded. Do I need any further reservations than just to add the night of the Second to the Sanoma/Rally hotel? Please let me know when you have a bit of time.

Vince H
 

w.a.nelson

GT Owner
Mark II Lifetime
Feb 29, 2008
1,117
Asbury, NJ
As of now, I am planning to ship the car to LA, and leave on Sunday, overnighting in Cambria, and then go on to Sonoma on Monday, and ship the car back from Sonoma after the Rally.
 

AlohaGT

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Jul 13, 2007
1,600
Honolulu, HI
Kendall, the SMI hotel is sold out on 9/2 so perhaps we should consider an alteration of plans for an overnight on Monday somewhere enroute.

I was able to book the SMI for 9/2 today.
 

Ed Sims

GT Owner
Mark IV Lifetime
Apr 7, 2006
7,922
NorCal
^^^ You know that John Muir never carried anything but his walking stick. He'd get caught overnight at 10,000 feet elev and dance a jig all night to keep from freezing.

LOL!

Ed