Best Route to Mid-Ohio from Boston with a fully loaded rig

[Noel]

Hey Guys,

I am planning a tow out to Mid-Ohio in the spring from the Boston area. I was curious if someone can recommend a good way to go that avoid large hills as much as possible but is still reasonably fast. I have a realtively light setup with an ATC aluminum open trailer with a 1980 911SC and a GMC 5.3L V8 2wd pickup with tranny cooler.

Possible routes are:

I90 straight across NY
I80 Across PA
PA Turnpike (I76) Across PA

Thanks,

Noel

[steveh]

Not sure about I80 or I90, but I took the PA Turnpike to Mid-O from the Philadelphia area last spring, and from about 100 miles east of Pittsburgh and all the way into Ohio there was almost continuous construction, lane closures and other delays. :grumble:

Don't know whether that's all done by now, but knowing the Turnpike (I drive portions of it two or three times a week), I'd bet it will be a mess this year too.

[JimLill]

I90 -- I271 -- I71

[Boxer12]

I90 -- I271 -- I71

that's the fastest, but I would take the Southern Tier Expressway (I-90 to I-88 to I-86 to I-90) and miss Rochester and Buffalo. Much more scenic and save on tolls. Enjoy Mid-O.

[JimLill]

that's the fastest, but I would take the Southern Tier Expressway (I-90 to I-88 to I-86 to I-90) and miss Rochester and Buffalo. Much more scenic and save on tolls. Enjoy Mid-O.

The southern route is cool, but lacking on services in some stretches.......

[Noel]

Thanks guys. Which of those two routes has the least big hills? Or are they about the same?

[JimLill]

Do a flyover with Google Earth to be sure, but I90 is flatter I think.

[TailWagger]

Thanks guys. Which of those two routes has the least big hills? Or are they about the same?

Just break down and buy a friggin diesel. Assuming were going together on this one, and if the cars done, I'd like to, I'll simply state up front that if I have to I'll just push you up the damn hills, lets take the fastest route.

BTW, was down at Kenny's today, the new panels are in, and I have to say that if your in the market for body pieces, Getty is the best, much better than those other guys. Got the foam core stuff... doors, hood, rear quarters, all really, really sweet. Wont need to depend on you for refueling anymore, the hood is about 5 or 6#s with the foam core, very rigid, but light. Doors are really sweet. Hoping the car will be under 2000#s when were done. The 275/315s wont hurt either. Last year GT-3s, this year Cups.

[billy]

Whats the foam stuff?

[TailWagger]

Whats the foam stuff?
Urethane foam is sandwiched between (or in the case of the hood applied under) the fiberglass layers. Makes everything far more rigid with very little weight penalty. The Getty catalog is online at catalog (http://gettydesign.com/PDF%20Files/2007%20Retail%20Catalog.pdf).

[Boxer12]

Thanks guys. Which of those two routes has the least big hills? Or are they about the same?

Both routes are about the same.

[JimLill]

Both routes are about the same.

Not sure I agree with that........ The sections I90 that have hills are common to either route.

The majority of the Thruway west of Albany is pretty tame.


Design Criteria

* The Thruway is generally a four-lane express highway with two lanes for traffic in either direction, separated by a wide median that ranges up to 1,025 feet in width. Six lanes are available in several higher-traffic regions, as are eight lanes.
* To the right of all highway areas is a stabilized shoulder on which vehicles, including the heaviest trucks, may be parked in the case of a breakdown or other emergency.
* There are no intersections at grade, no sharp curves and no steep hills on the Thruway.
* There are acceleration and deceleration lanes, generally 1,200 feet long, at all interchanges, Travel Plazas and parking areas.
* Sight distance of at least 1,000 feet is provided to eliminate any blind spots for fast-traveling motorists.
* Signs and/or advertising devices may not be posted or maintained within 660 feet of the nearest edge of the right-of-way, except with specific permission from the Thruway Authority.


There are a few pretty nasty hills on that southern route. I'll dig that info out.

[Noel]

Nice Ron. I can't wait to see it.

My truck has plenty of power (5.3l V8), I just wanted the easiest route for my light rig. No Diesel!!! No means No!!! :)

One the schedule for Potomac is released I'll let you know the date to sign up. Plus, they offer a three day at the Glen the weekend following Zone 1. It is also $300 for 3 days, so I'm doing that one instead of Zone 1 this year. I want 3 days for such a long tow.

[TailWagger]

Nice Ron. I can't wait to see it.

My truck has plenty of power (5.3l V8), I just wanted the easiest route for my light rig. No Diesel!!! No means No!!! :)

One the schedule for Potomac is released I'll let you know the date to sign up. Plus, they offer a three day at the Glen the weekend following Zone 1. It is also $300 for 3 days, so I'm doing that one instead of Zone 1 this year. I want 3 days for such a long tow.
We'll see. I was thinking about doing zone and CVR which is the monday, tuesday following, but I could be convinced to drop the zone although I think this is a tee-shirt year) and do the Potomac thing, particularly if I go to Mid-Ohio and like the folks and event organization.

[Noel]

We'll see. I was thinking about doing zone and CVR which is the monday, tuesday following, but I could be convinced to drop the zone although I think this is a tee-shirt year) and do the Potomac thing, particularly if I go to Mid-Ohio and like the folks and event organization.

I could be talked into doing a four day if CVR is doing the Glen the two days following Zone 1. I like t-shirts!!! On everyone releases their schedules for the year, lets chat then.