​​One of the easiest and most fun events a local club group can put together is to get out on local roads that are twisty and fun to drive. All that is required is one sparkplug to initiate the plan and make it happen. Hopefully, since you are reading this, it is you!

 

The four components required in planning a local drive are these:

• Route

• Timing

• Logistics

• Socializing

 

Route

The basic requirement for planning a route is to have road segments that make a loop from a logical start/finish point. Then, it should be a road that you have actually driven and remember as being fun to drive. How long it is depends on your skill as a planner and what the appetite of the group is for time on the road. Figure about an hour drive time for every 45-50 miles for an initial rule of thumb. A two or three hour drive is a great first effort.Here are some of the elements in selecting a good route for a drive (See also Appendix iii) using my rating system on a weighted point scale that includes the following considerations:

 

Fun to drive: Max 25 points; this ties for the most important consideration because it is!

Scenery and View:  Max 25 points; most folks think this is equally important with fun.

Pavement Quality: Max 20 points; a major concern and should get at least a dozen points.

Other Typical Traffic: Max 15 points; a road that is really fun becomes awful with traffic.

Services and support: Max 15 points; you will at least need a start point with services.

 

Naturally, the scale is weighted toward how fun it is to drive and how pretty it is which I have combined to create the Key Score to consider when you just want the best driving experience. Of course the smoothness of the road, how many mastodon motor homes need to be dispensed and getting fuel and a good meal count too, just not as much!Once you have the “road” identified use Google maps to create a route plan for the trip using the following three planning points.

 

Timing

If the route you have in mind will be more than a couple of hours (using the rule of thumb above) it is important to consider the traffic, especially getting to and from the start/finish. For example, if the start point is at the edge of a metro area, which is common to get to the good roads as soon as possible, some of the folks will have an hour or more to get there. If your start time is 8:00 that would mean leaving home before 7:00 and fighting through city traffic, even sometimeson Saturday or Sunday. The return home could be equally tough. In my town, Sunday afternoon/evening traffic is insufferableon one of the arterials coming down from the mountains after about 2:00 PM! Starting around 9:00 and ending before 3:00 is usually best.

 

The other issues regardingtiming have to do with the length of segments and overall duration. The cardinal rule is to stop for a relief break no more than one hour after the start. The second segment can be a bit longer but in no case should rest stops be more than 90 minutes apart. This serves several purposes; it keeps your participants happy, allows stretch breaks, reconvenes the group so you can do a headcount and allows refueling both the car and the people. If the distance to be covered is more than about 5 hours or 250 miles, you ought to break it into two days with an overnight stop. We have found that the drive changes from “fun” to “endure” after five hours.

 

Logistics

The start point and rest stops ought to be at gas stations with a convenience store. Despite their best intentions, people will arrive for a 250 mile drive with a quarter tank of gas. Starting at a place with gas/food allows them to begin with a full tank, grab a coffee and snack and unload the coffee they already drank. The same goes for rest stops…empty and fill! Allow 30 minutes for any rest stop based on the herd nature of people chatting and reliving the drive. A standard driver instruction page you may wish to use for every drive is attached (See Appendix i)

 

Create a Route Guide for the drive.It’s best planned on Google maps. Their directions need to be rewritten with clear language for each turn that matters, not the overly specific way Google does it…theirs are confusing. I have found the specific turn by turn instructions,transferred to a Word document with bullet points for each turn or stop instruction,and checked off when complete, is best. This can be sent via email and each participant can print it for use in the car. Or a link to the map can be used on a phone. If the route is a multi-day route, each day (and even each segment if long or confusing enough) should have a separate map and direction set. (See appendix ii)

 

Plan stops for food if the drive is longer than three hours. A lunch stop can be as simple as letting folks pick up something from a fast food place and meet in the park to eat, or finding a restaurant that can accommodate a surge of people arriving all at once. Once you stop for a sit down meal, it will take at least an hour, probably more like an hour and a half…again, we’re herding cats!!

 

If you will have an overnight, the same issues need to be addressed for dinner. Allow at least an hour in the schedule after the last car has checked in at the motel for cleanup time before dinner. It is best to find a place that is within walking distance of the lodging that can serve both drinks and dinner so that folks can mosey over at their own pace, socialize and eat and not get back into their cars. For liability reasons, once the alcohol comes out driving should be finished.

 

Lodging can be arranged at group rates lower than the rack rate by planning well ahead. Be conscious of the group’s tolerance for cost balanced against quality, recognizing that this is not a vacation stay but just an overnight stop. We find that two star chain motels, like Quality Inn or Travelodge, seem to work fine since the rates usually are reasonable for the area. Recognize that every place has a high season and a low season or has a special event in town that will affect rates upward and if it is significant enough you may wish to reschedule your drive. Or, simply accept that you are paying a premium for a special date that is important to you.

 

A driver’s meeting covering Appendix (i) should be held at the start of your trip and the notes in “Having Fun while taking Care of each other” should be in the printed Routebook.

 

Socializing

One of the key elements of making a drive a fun event, especially for spouses who aren’t drivers, is the ability to engage with other adventurous, fun people.Be sure to allow for this in your planning! You’ll note that I suggest 30 minutes for a rest stop and 90 minutes for a meal. Of course it doesn’t take anywhere near that amount of time if you are on a solomission. The added time is what makes this a fun drive instead of a destination drive. Nametags may be appropriate or at least making introductions and checking in with new people who are not yet assimilated into the group. In the racing world the reminiscing is called “Bench Racing” and it sustains racers through the long winter months. The memories made with friends on a wonderful drive are no less sustaining. There is a bond of common experience that ties the group together so emphasize the social nature of a fun drive and enjoy!

 

(Appendix i)

Drivers Meeting Notes

Driving safely is priority number one. We are not just representing ourselves we are also representing our club, Lotus Ltd, and Lotus Cars. Don’t be “That Guy.”

If you are following someone, leave ample distance for debris to settle rather than to nick up your beautiful paint job. Besides, the car in front may suddenly stop or slow.

Don’t use the drive as an excuse to drive really fast; remember that this is a fun run. Arriving too early just means waiting for your friends. Being on time is what it’s all about. Also, you’re responsible for any speeding tickets you might collect; we won’t come to bail you out of jail if it comes to that. Just so you know…

Drivers are reminded that we’re traveling on open roads, where other traffic, animals, kids and law enforcement might be found around every corner. We employ what we like to call the “Your mom is in the car behind you” method to ensure folks don’t drive too wildly, and to date have not had a major issue. Thankfully, it seems, most folks recognize the best thing to do is drive in a manner which means we are able to do this again.

Some of you have a wonderful aftermarket exhaust. Save that wide open throttle for the tunnels or the open road, not in the urban neighborhoods.

Having Fun while taking Care of each other

A full tank of gas is always a good thing. Please start the drive with a full tank. Top off at each scheduled gas stop unless you have enough for 100 miles or so for your peace of mind and ours.Gas sources will be noted in the route directions as a minimum; others may be available as well, and if you need to make an unscheduled stop, do it with a buddy.

If you have questions about the next segment, don’t wait to ask until we are gathering to leave. Asking is far better than guessing, but please check the Routebook before you ask.

We recommend you check off each instruction once it is complete so the next instruction is clear and immediately apparent.

If you want to run faster or slower than the main body, instead of chafing at the pace, find a buddy or two to form a sub group for mutual benefit/support and reconnect at the next planned stop. Always stay with at least one other car! Phone numbers are on the back page.

You may become the leader of your group at which point all the other drivers following you will, naturally, assume you know where you are going and will dutifully follow you to the ends of the earth.  Please fulfill their assumptions that you do know where you are going. As has been previously mentioned, everything you need to know is in the Routebook.

If you are leading the group, or a sub-group, slow just a bit after all significant turn points to let the group reform  but leave enough room behind you for all the cars to make the turn. Watch the car behind you at all unclear turns to make sure it has made the turn with you. If everyone can see the car behind making the turn, then all is well.

Stop at the planned stops. Get out, stretch, and wait for another friendly face…a very welcome sight. Meals and events are based on stopping as planned so there is no benefit in arriving early. Plus, your body will thank youJ

(Appendix ii)

Sample Routebook

This is a sample from one segment of a drive in Colorado. Note that it contains start time, driver’s meeting time and some driver suggestions as well as turn by turn directions. Each star (*) that starts a new line depicts a separate instruction so it is easy for the navigator to check off each instruction when complete thereby making it easy to keep track of where you are. Each “official” stop is noted in red with name and address as a failsafe. Even if one car gets separated it can put the address into phone GPS and join the group at the next stop even if on another route.

 

Day One CSprings Start: Depart from the parking lot of Trading Post at 9:00

We will have a drivers meeting at 8:45 and plan to depart the Trading Post promptly at 9:00 Friday. Please use the bath rooms on premises, as we will have at least 60 minutes to our rest stop.

 

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