The Last Road Trip - Update -.1.0 and Final

On the road Tue. The difference is I’m driving a 911 Targa 4S instead of the usual VW. It has been thirty years since I’ve started a long Porsche road trip. Difficult to face it, but pending medical issues and just f’n age force me to face the fact that this is the swan song.

Only have a few set stops this trip & gonna let the spirit lead the rest of the way.
* Laps booked at Barber Motorsport Ala
* Laps booked at Porsche Atlanta
* Visiting my sole remaining Viet Nam bud in Charlotte
* Driving the Tail of the Dragon
* Laps booked at Road America
* Road to the Sun - Glacier Nat’l Park
* Visiting an ex-brother-in-law in Bellingham WA
* Visit family in Dallas

I get off the interstates as much as possible to enjoy the road & car. If you have a good sports car road, anywhere, I would appreciate the suggestion. I expect to touch all four borders, so anything goes :-)

I could post updates if interested, but really don’t want to be a pain on the board.
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0.5
Sincerely appreciate the suggestions so far. All have been added the list.

Was not really planning to update, but surprised at the response to the suggestion. Doesn’t say much for the board to be be interested in an old guy’s swan song, but I’ll keep all up to date. :-)

With a little help from, UHG!, John Denver:
“All my bags are packed
I'm ready to go”
“ But, I'm leavin' on a jet (black) plane (on Pirelli’s)
Don't know when I'll be back again”

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Update 1.0 …………. and Final ………….. FOR now

The best laid plans do not always end as planed. A case of good & bad decisions:
* The Bad - the previous week I had so respiratory issues. Tue. morning was not good at all, but was absolutely determined to go. I got to the car, turned it over & sitting there while it warmed up, I had the thought, for a moment, this is not a good idea today.

Got to Leeds, AL, Barber Motorsport. Guess there was a big race over the 4th weekend, so all was shutdown. So be it …. get on down the road.

Got to Road Atlanta in Braselton, GA. Not a soul in sight :-)

Decided to head to Porsche NA a day early. The hotel in across the street. A day early, but the staff was great. Was ok all day, sitting in the saddle, but stand up & I could barely breath. A few folks were waking out as I sat there, so I rolled down the window & asked if they could get a bellman, etc. to give me a hand.

The guy was wearing a Porsche shirt, so he helped. Learned he is a Brand Manager for Porsche. Turns out they did not have a wheelchair. He opens the lobby Porsche store and rolls out a wheelchair that looks like a Porsche Design product :-)

Got through the night, but in the morning, got from the bed to the chair & sat ……. for two hours before I could do anything.

The good - Faced the fact that day 1 was indeed a bad decision. It was either go to Emergency in Atlanta or make a run to home base. Again, the staff was great; got the car loaded & got me in the car.

Departed at 6:30 CST and pulled in the driveway at 12:42. For those interested in the “Escort” score (Escort Redline), Escort 9 - Highway Patrol 0.

My Admin Asst., an office/home, helped me in & unloaded. Sat on the porch with oxygen & enjoyed a Bud winding down & decided to head to the VA. As usual, the NOLA VA was great. Blood oxygen level was 85%. IV with steroids & antibiotics. Almost kept me overnight, but released me. My girl was a trooper, she waited well past quitting time & got me home.

Porsche came through & let my son take the scheduled track time on Thursday. He was able to rearrange his schedule & flew in the Atlanta yesterday. He is coming here this afternoon.

So much for the Swan Song ………. For now. Have not packed it in yet. Have meds to take for a week and I will reevaluate the possibility of starting again. Will have to adjust the plan cause I may need assistance on any given day, but one day at a time.

The problem with a 911 road-trip is you just don’t want to stop …. the road keeps calling :-)