July 12th-13th Ohio Run..."Bat out of hell run"

[southwind25]

July 12th 13th. We are trying to help put together a run that will go from the cleveland-akron area, through south east ohio, then back up either through Amish villages (northwest-ish)), or along the PA border (northeast-ish)... Depending on who responds we have a couple routes in mind. This could include an overnight stop as well, once again depending on who's interested. This will include the Cleveland Lotus club as well as any lotus (se7en)enthusiasts. You can join up along various points of the route, run as much as you can or wish, but we will have to stay in contact by phone to let you know when we will be at a particular point since this is not a ralley with precise checkpoint time arrivals. More details the next 2 weeks as the event develops, we work with the Cleveland Lotus group, and we recieve responses

[southwind25]

Further plans:

We (bob and Mary) are going to co-plan this weekend with Mike and Jen R. :cheers:

The plan right now is for a 2 part 2 day event where you can run one day up to our overnight stop, then go home or continue on the next day. Stay Tuned....:bigears:

[southwind25]

We are CO-hosting the Cleveland area lotus Ltd.

"Bat out of hell run"

July 12th and 13th This is a 2 day event/run with option for 1 day..and we can pick up a se7en owr whatever (no rusty mini vans please) here or there along the route if we know ahead of time.

The run will start at 9:00 am at rt 77 and rt 162.
The route includes rt 241->62->21->83->16->60->666->78->377->555->329->550 into Marietta. for day one.

after dinner rt 26->800->78->536 and stay overnight along the ohio river.

day 2 includes 20->W.V.->19->250-> 88->67->2->170-> P.A. 317->551 and end up in sharon PA at quaker steak.
contact mike rohaley or us for more info, we would like a response by july 5th to know who's comming.

<<Dont mind the Elise in the flyer, we all know there will be more se7ens in this run!>>

http://www.usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1022873960_66rt.jpg

[southwind25]

last call, the event is THIS comming weekend! rain or shine..

[Al Navarro]

Shouldn't this be called "Blat out of Hell?"

[tnttim]

I would be interested in comming along with someone (and split the gas). Since my car is still in raw metal form I would be interested in occuping someones passenger seat. Maybeeeeee tool along on my motorcycle. ???

It is this or the GASS event in Oscoda.

tim

[southwind25]

motorcycles welcome..
the event will esentially start in akron ohio..go through amish middle ohio, filter down to marietta on the ohio southern border. skip into west virginia on day 2, up the WV panhandle thru wheeling WV into PA along the west border and into Sharon PA where we end the second day and head back home to cleveland akron.

the run is awesome...

it starts at 9:00 saturday morning the 12th ,..it's 2 days worth, OR one day 1/2 way and you can easily return home.

only cost you your gas and whatever along the way..room/board...if you stay overnight.

write us personally for more info?

MIKE: do we have any solo flyers that might share the ride?

[Mike Rohaley]

Robert, I will ask those who RSVPed if they have an open seat available and will post here as soon as I get a response.

It's always fun to swap passengers (and drivers sometimes) to mix things up a bit too. Last year I switched keys with Rod and his vintage 911 with Frank's wife Pat as my passenger and it was really fun.

[Mike Rohaley]

tnttim,
Our RSVP date has past and unfortunately there are no spare seats (at least from the local car club members). Maybe one of the other attendees will chime in.

[gjslutz]

I could join up for a few seconds overhead depending on time & weather.

[southwind25]

sounds way too cool.. we will actually be going through Navarre and Wilmont. using rt 62 probably about 10:00/10:30. We hope the weather is good, NOAA is saying mostly sunny saturday.

We cant give an exact time though...

[gjslutz]

If weather holds and we do a little pre planning I could likely add a second A/C for a few breif formation passes. If you want, call & we can set it up. I would only need to be away for a few min that way.

[southwind25]

Gary, that would be great...uhh, i cant find your phone # sorry.

another option could be, since your only a few miles off the route we could detour to beach city airport for a couple minutes,,,

i could call you when we get to Navarre..

the route is on a schedule we have to be on rRT 536 on the WV border before it gets dark.

[gjslutz]

236-5041

[southwind25]

Mike and Jen R. would you be kind enough to be our tour photographers?

our camera decided it was made by lucas..:banghead:

[Mike Rohaley]

Sure, we were bringing it along anyway. Be aware though, we have a kitchen too but that doesn't make us chefs. I hope you don't mind a thumb or two in the photos. Typically we try to take too many shots with the hope that a few come out presentable.

[southwind25]

Comming to you, from the paridise island of new matinsville,,,what a day we had yesterday!! We all got caught in a torential downpour, electrical problems with the Southwind 7 made starting a spuratic affair, of course we cant forget hitting the "whistling pig",,,,which was then again run over by those who followed, but we were able to rebend the front spoiler...we had a wonderful lunch at the rusty rooster, and left without making the "banned from the bar foever" list. those in the elise stayed tragically dry...(and cool)

RT 555 was AWESOME!!

SO,,,after making a few route changes...after sharing the tackiest souvineer contest,,,we are shortly on our way...

it does concern us however, we saw an ark with 2 of every animal going thru the locks on the ohio river....hmmmmm...
wish us luck on day 2!

[southwind25]

Home again home again diggity dig!

First,,we want to thank Gary Slutz for sharing his talents and time with us saturday morning...now THAT was awesome!

The milage total (for our se7en) was 626.7 miles.
casualties included our front spoiler from hitting the groundhog, the ghost of Sir Lucas now inhabits our car, and...we have a slipping clutch. (questions to come shortly), and Bob's derrie'r is worn VERY thin from those hideous seats we need to still replace.

WHAT a RIDE! Our morning stop at the airport set us back a bit timewise, as well as saturday downpour so we ended up having to skip RT 26 in ohio and rt 19 in W.V. but not to cut short the fun, we ventured onto rt 89 in WV...what a wild road! we passed a porch full of hill folk who looked as if they saw spaceships. the roads mid section turned into a strange fiasco as asphalt was washed away from a rain earlier that week and the road was often only 1 lane. however it was passable until we got to what was newly paved, then it turned into switchback heaven.

the weather gods smiled on us, and The rain held out till we stopped at a casino along the way. :7rain:

We Hope Mike and Jen R post some of the pics they took...

We could go on writing about the adventure for another page, but simply we all had a most wonderful time on some of america's most wanted lotus roads. everyone cam home mostly in 1 piece and happy..

and heres a kicker...we couldnt find the keys to my workbeater car this morning...so guess what got driven to work all oil strreaked and full of bugs like an old sopwith camel fresh from a dogfight?

[MHKflyer52]

So has Mary driven the 7 yet or is Robert wearing out the drivers seat.....
Sounds like your having a lot of fun with your 7 as it should be in the real world.
I just have to get my car back on the road as it has been almost a month now without it and the smile that it puts on my face.
Old engine is now out and new engine is being preped to go in most likely this coming weekend...

[southwind25]

Oh Yes, Mary drove the length of rt 89!

sadly Robert here makes a very poor passenger :willy: :ack:

However mary did real well, and set a good pace to follow being the lead car.

And who do you think drove it to work today when Robert couldnt find his keys this morning? yeah Mary!

[Mike Rohaley]

Oh yes! I think we can safely say that we had a great time. A big thanks from all of us to Robert & Mary for making such a great weekend possible. Now that we have had about 24 hours to recharge our batteries, here are a select few of the photos that were taken.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1986315822_P7110106.JPG
Some of the rolling scenery we encountered.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1013574426_P7120153.JPG
A rear view of maybe the best sounding Mini ever to hit the road. Oh yeah....he knows how to hustle around a corner with it too, it's far quicker than any vintage car should be expected to go. It suprised me more than once with it's fine handling.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/318601663_P7110123.JPG
Gary supplied us with an awsome personal airshow (and in case I didn't say it enough, thanks! That was an amazing experience I will never forget).

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1313338840_P7110128.JPG
One of our many interesting stops, this one was just outside a busy Amish community.

[Mike Rohaley]

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/773927762_P7120167.JPG
A photo op along our "highway to hell". Note the route number and the dark, menacing cloud bank slowly decending upon us. The rain found us shortly after this stop.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1404563825_P7120172.JPG
Kyle stretching his legs between one backroad burst.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1926206459_P7120177.JPG
An interesting railroad crossing we encountered, just beep your horn and pray nobody is entering the single lane tunnel from the other way.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1157665700_P7120185.JPG
The world famous Rusty Rooster bar (our safe haven lunch spot as the rains fell......and fell......and fell). It sure did dry out fast though, only a few small lakes remained when we poked our heads out the door to the light of day after we finished our meals.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/43063703_P7120196.JPG
A couple of the 1800ish twists and turns we encountered.

[Mike Rohaley]

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/594317782_P7120206.JPG
The view from one of the finest cars ever to tackle a twisty road.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1415667621_P7120208.JPG
The gang before leaving our hotel Sunday morning (New Martinsville,WV).

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/586888413_P7130211.JPG
Before crossing onto Wheeling Island

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1973986866_P7130213.JPG
One of the beautiful suspension bridges over the Ohio river leading back into WV.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/921194499_P7130214.JPG
Another view.

[Mike Rohaley]

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1326414335_P7130215.JPG
The Quaker Steak & Lube welcomed us and even provided VIP parking, cones and all!

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/442657756_P7130219.JPG
Jen on her way to finishing off "The Tanker".

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1242448145_P7130221.JPG
Robert at his best.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/510103466_P7130224.JPG

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1017732347_P7130222.JPG

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/963209740_P7130227.JPG

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/439735041_P7130231.JPG
Heading for home, 600ish miles and 18 hours later.

If you didn't make it out this time, join us for the next. You really won't want to miss where we end up next.

[11Budlite]

Good job Robert and Mary, and nice write-up and pics Mike! Looks like a great time!! :thumbs:

Bruce :7drive:

[Mike Rohaley]

The following photos are courtesy of Dick & Sally Lott.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/710612455_boh Cars@Airport1.jpg
Parked at the Slutz family airport.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/218439171_boh MikeAfterRide.jpg
After landing, that smile still hasn't left my face.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1366120653_boh SteermanLanding.jpg
One of Gary's neighbors on their way out for a ride.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/577266198_boh
GeneralStore.jpg
A general store along Rt.89 in WV (I think).

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1494595802_boh Route666.jpg
Our Rt.666 stop.

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1407239375_boh WelcomeLotus.jpg

http://usa7s.com/aspnetforum/upload/1346287488_boh Dinner@QS&L.jpg

[GKANSA]

damn my parents can trow a event hope i can get my 7 some day and be as good as them