Rambit's Spring Fling Reflections

**Rambit** · 04-07-2006, 01:52 PM

Part One -

Well it's been a little over a week since my return and I just haven't been in the mood to log on lately for personal reasons, known only to a select few around here. You know who you are and I thank you so much for your caring and compassion you've shown me. Sorry, but this may be a little long. I want to thank everyone I met in another post right after this one. You guys & girls are the best people I've ever ran across!!!

Going there was so exciting and I wasn't tired at all. Coming back to the same old, same old is another story and it seemed like it took FOREVER. I found myself stopping a lot more, even bought a laptop in Texas I think so I could e-mail from it rather than my using my cell phone/windows mobile pc.

First the facts and figures and I've converted everything to miles for the metrically challanged:

Depart Date - London, Ontario, Canada: 21 March, 11:30 AM EST
Start Mileage: 3049.2 miles

Arrival Date - Irvine, CA, USA: 23 March, 3:26 PM PST
End Mileage: 5563.6 miles (2514.4 miles door to door)

Depart Date - Irvine, CA, USA: 26 March, 1:01 PM PST
- didn't write start mileage down!!!

Arrival Date - London, Ontario, Canada: 29 March, 3:20 PM EST
End Mileage: 8268 miles total on my poor car

Total miles driven in 1 week: 5127.9 miles

Gas: 18 Fill ups, totaling $739.41 USD
Avg. MPG: 18.5
Tolls: $16.50 (I owe Chicago about $0.60 cuz I didn't have any change - can you pay that for me Matt?)

Problems: As far as the car is concerned...NONE!!! This car was amazing on a long haul, yes even the seats and FUN to drive, especially at 165 mph on a couple of occasions. I mainly travelled at 10 mph over the limit, well maybe 20, 30 or 40 quite often. The car was rock solid even at those speeds and is a true touring car IMHO. Never fatigued by the car, only tiredness from being up for what seemed like days, and it was.

Other Problems: All throughout the trip the roads were TERRIBLE. So much construction every few miles that went on for miles and miles. I 40 must be a major truck route. Never seen so many trucks in all my life. AC version navigation was perfect, although it did manage to get me screwed up coming back through Chicago and I wasted a lot of time getting back on track. I swear every highway there is under construction. I did manage to get a speeding ticket in Needles, CA (91 in a 70), which is a bummer, but what can you do. Just 10 minutes before that, I was in the passing lane behind a huge motor home, passing a BMW of all things. We were doing around 80 and suddenly he gets a blowout on the right front. The guy behind me was too close for me to slam the brakes on cuz obviously he had inferior brakes. The motor home was losing control and swerving into the other lane. I had to make a quick decision to cut to the other lane, totally under control, only to be greeted by flying rubber. Now my car has a few marks on it and I hope they can be buffed out. I did manage to get pulled over in Michigan, apparently doing 79 in a 70. I charmed my way out of that one though.

After I got home I went to bed from 6 to midnight, got up to do some work, went to bed at 5, got up at 9 and worked 20+ hours the next day...yep, same old, same old.

Stay tuned for Part Two where I would like to thank everyone!!!

Rambit

**Rambit** · 04-07-2006, 01:53 PM

Part Two -

I don't really know where to start on this one. To put a face to a screen name was so totally cool. Funny though how everyone looked so different to what I imagined, with the exception of Matt (vvv90). For some reason he looked like what I thought he would.

The first person to greet me was bruno (Ann). She was so pleasant in spite of my crudeness I sometimes displayed toward her here. She gave me such a warm welcome, and thanks for that Ann. She knew I was tired and just wanted to sleep, so she gave me her cell number to call when I woke up. I slept for about 4 hours, took a shower and went down to the lobby.

After a while I noticed a silver Charger pull up. The driver went to the front desk to register. I'm thinking, hey he must be here for the M & G, so I'll just go up to him and ask. Well low and behold it's none other than the legendary Pat (NR)!!! I introduced myself and I think he didn't immediately clue in to who I was. After we got that settled I helped him and Lillian with their luggage up to their room. Truthfully I don't know what time it was, but we decided we were hungry. We went down to the lobby, called Ann to see if she wanted to hook up for something to eat. She said yes so we took Pat's rental to Denny's. I ordered a beer and was a little shocked to see them all order breakfast with tea and coffee. I'm thinking beer and eggs, what the hell so I had breakfast too. After we ate we all went back to the Doubletree and to bed.

The next morning I got up at 7. I knew I needed an oil change, so I got directions to Foothill Ranch Chrysler. What a great dealership and experience that was. The service writer got my details and arranged to get the change done. To my amazement they honoured my extended warranty which includes free oil changes. I was expecting to pay for it and be reimburrsed when I got home. I watched the guy change my oil and had a few words with him. Can't remember his name, but he had "JR" on his shirt. Great guy who informed me my tires were all 15 lbs over inflated. I also asked the service writer if he could arrange to powerwash the road grime off my car and he said yes. Not only that, but they let me do it myself! I didn't realize I was taking up their detailers time due to a language barrier. They were so nice.

I knew Paul Whitehead (prwfleet) worked there so I decided to see if I could meet him in person. He invited me into his office and we had a little chat. Great guy to meet and talk with. If I lived there, I'd be buying from him. Very classy and friendly guy. It was at Foothill where I met for the first time none other than John (fatchance). Another terrific person to meet and all in one day and in one place! John had to meet with Paul, but he invited me over to his shop to wash my car. I followed him over and proceeded to wash my car. Everyone there was super friendly and the little kid (can't remember his name) was so cute. Great to have met you John and thanks for everything!

I think I'm going to split this up. It could go on forever. I just don't want to forget anything or anyone...Stay tuned for Part Three.

Rambit

**vvv90** · 04-07-2006, 02:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rambit

Tolls: $16.50 (I owe Chicago about $0.60 cuz I didn't have any change - can you pay that for me Matt?)

Not a chance! You should get something free from visiting our construction-infested-waste-of-time-strips-of-gravel....I mean roads.

Glad to hear from you. I was wondering where you've been. I hope everything is well.

Waiting for part II, especially more details about the "alleged" 165MPH bouts.

**Rambit** · 04-07-2006, 02:47 PM

Too tired right now...more to follow.

Part Three -

While still over at John's shop, I was detailing my wheels and behind me goes a car that absolutely blew me away just by the sound of it. It sounded like NASCAR going by. Who was it you ask? As soon as I got up I caught a glimpse of the grill and knew right off. It was FreebirdSRT! Mark has done such a fantastic and tasteful job on his car in what seems like such a short time. I loved the monochromatic scheme he's accomplished. I gotta say of all the cars I saw, his left a lasting impression on me. He took a lot of flack in the developement stages of his grill, but I gotta tell you all it's stunning. Didn't get a chance to talk to him at that time as more and more cars were coming in and the place was getting crowded. I did talk with him several times later over the next 2 days and he's the most friendly guy you could ever hope to meet. So unassuming, albeit sure of himself, laid back, casual and genuine.

After finishing my wheels at John's place I headed back to the hotel. Thanks God for the navigation to get me back there on my own. I ran into Bo (Bo's R/T) who had just driven up in some kind of GM rental. Loved his drawl and he too, just like Mark, had that certain southern casual laid back thing going on. We talked for a while as I was doing my windows in the parking lot.

I really can't remember who the next people I came across. By this time it was Friday afternoon/evening and more and more cars were arriving. I can't remember when my first encounter with the Great One was, ResumeSpeed that is. It was sometime Friday evening cuz we headed back to John's place and he was in my car. I can tell you all he doesn't work for DCX. He works for either the FBI or CIA. Over the 2 days I followed him all over and the way he finessed information out of people in the know was a work of art. I tried to introduce him to everyone I could manage to find, including Paul Whitehead, who RS had expressed a desire to meet. I just listened and took it all in, especially the conversations between him and Ralph Gilles and Adam Forte. Thanks RS for the gifts that you worked so hard on compiling for me. I now have a complete history of my car along with all the 05 300C SRT's done up nicely in a booklet and printed on premium photo paper. Some of you may have seen it on Saturday and I'll cherish it forever. We all know by now any information from RS is real and is due to his hard efforts in search of knowledge. RS has just recently bought a Jeep GC SRT8, probably the next vehicle that will replace my truck in less than a year and a half. He mentioned to me he had never driven an LX car so I told him it would be my honour to have him drive mine back to the hotel.

Part Four follows...

Rambit

**Rambit** · 04-07-2006, 07:35 PM

As soon as i catch my breath...I should have thought this out a little better.

Part Four -

How could I forget the OTHER GREAT ONE, make that the FIRST GREAT ONE!!! Sorry RS, you're gonna have to take a back seat to this one, but I know you'll be the first to agree with me. To finally meet Linda was so special to me and words alone could never do justice to how much. I was in such a daze by that time. All I know was it was around about the same time as I ran into RS. We kidnapped her and went over to John's place. She back seat drove all they too way I might add. She's so fun to be around and was the centre of attraction wherever she went. Such a small person with such a commanding presence. Linda called John to say she'd been kidnapped. I had punched John's phone number into my nav and was following that. She kept saying "You're going the wrong way", oh and complaining the back seat was too small. Sure enough we were going the wrong way...hehe. I was just driving. Linda, you never did drive my car as we agreed upon over a year ago.

Can't even remember who was in the car with me, but I think Zilla was. Speaking of Zilla, I knew he was British, but had no idea he just got off the boat the week before...hehe. Poor John, he couldn't sleep and then got sick. Pleasure to finally meet you John, Cory and Witold (Westcoast srt8) as well. Along with Pat, the Canadian Contingent was represented by some great guys.

This is going a little back and forth, but I also want to thank Moses for giving (selling) the sweater off his back to Zilla and his wife for giving (selling) me hers...hehe. I don't know his screen name, but we met him at the Doubletree after the event was over. We teased him a little and he was great about it. I last saw him on Sunday morning, and he was trying to sell me a bananna...hehe.

Hey, to all of you who were there, what about the guy's dad from Hawaii. Wasn't he something else! Good luck to the son (sorry, no idea of your name) who's gonna be flying tankers with the National Guard. Your dad was great.

To Chris, Matt & DanRealter: You guys are real characters and I mean that in the best way possible. I truely enjoyed meeting you all. Dan, did you receive Ralph's autographed underwear yet?...hehe. The jacket's all mine and will be part of the deal when I sell my car at Barrett Jackson.

Of course who could forget the special guests, Ralph Gilles and Adam Forte. What a true honour to have met them in person. Such down to earth guys who seemed to really enjoy answering questions, autographing cars and hanging out with us the whole day. Add that to being presented with Ralph's personal SRT jacket, one of only 10 made and to have him pose in front of my car with me (see my new sig pic)...incredible!

I know I'm forgetting SO MANY great people I ran into from other boards and this one. Please forgive me on that. This whole thing was overwhelming to me.

Stay tuned for Part Five

Rambit

**Northern Rider** · 04-07-2006, 07:53 PM

Great read, Bernie!

waiting for the next installment . . .

FreebirdSRT · 04-07-2006, 07:56 PM

Rambit my friend, good to see you back posting again. Let me be next, after vvv90 (aka Dr. Boob) to welcome you back to what has become my 2nd home, since my divorce last August. 300 C Forums.

I will be posting of my travels as well, soon.

Rambit I am truly enjoying reading of your adventures, I look forward to reading the rest soon.

Mark

srt8danno · 04-07-2006, 08:08 PM

What a great read Rambit! There were some shockers in there. First of all I didn’t realize Bruno was a woman.OOPS- did I miss something?

I’m very, very sorry Bruno- it just didn’t dawn on me for some reason.

Sorry to read of your speeding ticket and then getting pulled again in Michigan. You don’t have a radar or were they using laser? I know laser is most difficult to be alerted to. What a great cross country experience. I stated in another thread I actually considered trying to hook up with the AZ crowd and head west, but Irving, CA was 2800 miles away and I just didn’t have the time from work. Glad you were safe and were able to meet and greet all the wonderful members of these forums. Thanks for taking the time to share.

**bruno** · 04-07-2006, 08:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by srt8danno

What a great read Rambit! There were some shockers in there. First of all I didn’t realize Bruno was a woman.OOPS- did I miss something?

I’m very, very sorry Bruno- it just didn’t dawn on me for some reason.

Actually, that part was just a faux paux

on Rambit's part. So, both of you

can go back and make the correction in your posts! Thank you very much!

bruno

**Rambit** · 04-07-2006, 09:11 PM

insert here...

Part Five -

Time to get a little serious here. After meeting so many of you great people in person, it's had a profound affect on me over the past week of how I now look at these forums. Probably the most notable to me was the fact that we're all the same, regardless of where we came from. I have been struggling with posting something since I returned for many reasons. I've been emotionally and physically drained and am just now returning to "normal", whatever that means.

Since losing my wife of 33 years to cancer in Sep 04, these forums have become my true home in every sense and have helped lots to keep me occupied and prevented me from slipping into depression. A few members here are aware of my situation. I have really been struggling with this for a long time by reveling this openly and it's very difficult to express. I used to have "widower" in my profile, but removed it a long time ago. I generally don't care to air my laundry in public and I'm getting a little teary doing this right now. Now I feel I have made real friends that I can put faces to names and everything's changed for me. I don't think I have it in me to be sarcastic, abrasive, rude, crude or whatever anymore. I'm not looking for sympathy, and hope I don't regret posting this personal side of me down the road. Hopefully by writing this, it will help me to heal a little.

I can't believe I just wrote that, but it'll have to stand. If there's another meet and greet next year, count me in and as a volunteer. There's no way I'm driving my car and putting it through those torturous roads again. Next time it's getting trailered by my truck and today I found I can get a trailer made for around $7000 taxes in, complete with hydrolic lift. The trip will be a little slower I'm sure, but if I run into snow, I got 4x4!

Stay tuned for Part Six. Actually there is no part six. I'm done in from this. Again, if I failed to mention anyone, sorry. Thanks everyone for the great hospitality in Irvine.

Rambit