I know that it would be a miracle to see any of the SoCal 2GNTers in Norwalk with their cars this August, but what if you could be a part of the national caravan and not have to worry about your car making the drive? Could you get two weeks off in August to roll out to Phoenix, load your gear in Daisy and split gas and hotel room? Sure, you could just fly to Chicago like I did last year and meet up with the caravan there, but this is going to be one hell of an adventure in 2005 and we're talking about the Shootout here.

Daisy and I will be going come hell or high water this year. I'd like to share the adventure with another 2GNTer who can appreciate the journey as much as the destination. It won't be just me and it won't be a slow ride either. I've got run4cvr coming with me (even if I have to pay his way by selling plasma all summer long), and we're planning on meeting up with BlueMoonEclipse somewhere in northern Arizona to start the caravan in force. This will be more than a thousand 2GNT horsepower cutting a swath across the midwest on our way to Chicago to meet up with the rest of the caravans there.

Ideally, if we have two guys per car, we can make the trip a non-stop flight. Maybe I'm nuts here (you all know I'm borderline psychotic anymore), but I see this is a sweet opportunity to get all the benefits of the Shootout, but without the biggest hassles. The dates are set. The rooms are reserved. The route is planned. We are going. Do you want to come with us?

All I would need from you is the following (high estimates at this point):

*Approx. $250 for 2/4nights at the Best Western.
*Approx. $150 for ~75gal of high octane (Daisy should still get 30mpg on the highway)
*You buy your own booze/food/chotchkies.
*You can drive a 5 speed.

What you would get from this deal:

*Guaranteed room (which means a bed, not floorspace) at the Best Western in Norwalk.
*Co-driver position in Daisy (co-drivers have to share the driving).
*Either a garage or secrure, covered parking for your car here in Phoenix.
*Two weeks of 2GNT/DSM road trip memories. (Priceless)

So, another long ass DR1665 post, but I think this is a neat idea; not just for people in SoCal who otherwise wouldn't be making the Shootout this year, but for anyone who's got shotgun available. Last year, I was told to just make it to the Shootout and the rest would be taken care of. It was honestly the highlight of an otherwise really, really shitty year. If you're a die hard like me, this is the one event you don't want to miss out on and if you're seriously interested (responsible goes without saying), get in touch with me and let's get some details worked out. Should you not be in SoCal and be interested in the co-driver postion just the same, drop me a line anyways. If I have shotgun open when I roll past your town and you want to ride, the seat is basically yours.


Just get to the Shootout any way you can. We'll take care of the rest. True in 2004. True in 2005.