Road Tour Express - a different sort of rally

How about something a little different?

We're running an event next week we think the crowd here at GRM will find interesting, and we are looking to get MUCH more involved here for the next event on April 25th - 28th.

We all know "getting there" is sometimes way more than half the fun - especially when you're driving your favorite car.

The Road Tour Express was designed to make an "event" out of "the drive" in a unique way. The goal is for 2 teams to deliver packages to the final destination over a 4 day time frame. It is a relay, of sorts, so no single person is required to invest more than a single day. The packages contains an ipad, camera, video camera, and a mobile wi-fi hot spot. Each day, there is a challenge presented by sponsors who will award the winners with cool stuff.

Next week, starting on Monday, the teams will set off from Northern California, and Southern California to meet in LA - it promises to be a cool event to watch with a multi-time SCCA autocross champ in a 2002 Camaro, a 57 Chevy Wagon, a 588 c.i. 1971 Mustang Convertible (that runs low 11's) and even a 63 Dodge Dart Wagon. You will be able to vote and determine the winners!

We would like to have you all join in the fun, and start thinking about forming a team for the April event that will be ending in Memphis TN.

You can see what the "pilot-episode" event looked like that we ran last fall on our website and we have a couple video teasers for the event as well:

http://wwwroadtourexpress.com

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7SGyNY767YE

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2NxTiV5HuYY

I've been waiting for this. Thanks for joining the community.

A couple of the masochists (I'm one of them) in the office have been talking about these events the last couple of days, and they sound like a lot of fun. I mean, who doesn't like a good road trip, ESPECIALLY when it's turned into a competition?

If there are any dates in Central VA, let me know!

Actually, we will be having events in various regions... and I'm pretty certain one will be in your area early summer. We should have a finalized schedule posted very soon.

Is there a specific type of car that you are looking for like as a theme?

The only kind of cars we allow are the "cool ones"

Actually, we would like to see as wide range of vehicles as possible, our only stipulation is the owner should be passionate about the car.

One of the neat things about this deal is we, the Road Tour Express guys, (Michael Julian and Scott Payton) don't make the decision on who is a part of the teams.

We pick 2 team leaders and then they organize the team, so you could say it is a Grassroots type of thing :) We don't really even have a say in the vehicle choice.

I have been hankering for some good New England Clam Chowder lately....

Interesting, sounds like a good event for the Stag, once its finished

Steve Chryssos wrote: I have been hankering for some good New England Clam Chowder lately....

You drive a Camaro, not a Trans-Am. No soup for you!

Well dog-gon I had a 'hank-run for some Cooooooooooooors but we gotta go clear cross the Miss-sippie to Texarkana...

There has been SEVERAL Bandit references flying around on the some of the other forums already - and we do have a 1978 Bandit edition 400 manual trans running in the event next week!

The Road Tour Express will be running April 25th - 28th. If you live within +/- 400 miles of the Memphis, TN area and would like to join in the fun click the link below and send us your info!

The drop off point in Memphis will be Comp Cams. They have offered up a plant tour on the 28th to anyone interested.

Team Captains (Tour Guides): We need 2 people to step up and take on the task of assembling a teams. This isn’t as easy as it sounds – in fact it is a little like herding flies! “Tour Guides” search forums and message boards looking for volunteers and play a complicated game of connect-the-dots to ensure the package gets delivered to the destination. It is actually optional for the Tour Guide to be a driver in the event.

Drivers: We will need 8 drivers (and co-drivers) that can spend a day driving around in their hot rod. These drives should be around 75 to 100 miles, giving more than enough time to complete the challenge, drop off the package to the next crew, and return home.

CLICK HERE to sign up to take part

CLICK HERE to submit ideas

Row, row, row your CANOE gently down the stream...

We would love to see a '72 124 kick things off from the Atlanta area. I think that would be a great challenge... A team of classic sports cars showing a team of american muscle cars how a road trip is really done.