This will become the "official" thread for the fall Ohio Route 26 Drive. Please post all future comments to this thread all the way through post-event pictures. Details are as follows:

The Event:

Ohio Route 26, from Cambridge to Marietta Ohio, is known as one of the 10 best drives in the U.S.A. It is 80 miles of twisties and elevation changes; perfect for the S2000. You will enjoy driving through rural areas complete with rivers, forest, farms and covered bridges. This will be the 3rd time the Ohio group has made this run and each has been better than the previous. New friendships are made and everyone, from ages 21 to 60, seems to have a lot of fun.

Event Dates and Itinerary:

October 4-5, 2003

The NE Ohio people will meet at Belden Village Mall in Canton at 8:30AM and will depart promptly at 9AM. We will proceed south on I-77 to the Dover/New Philadelphia area. From there we will take 250 southeast. We'll have a quick jog east on 36, then head south on 800. This will take us past Clendening Lake and Piedmont Lake. We will follow 800 to 22. We will take 22 west to the Salt Fork State Park area and proceed to the lodge. At this point we can empty bladders, meet up with the Columbus folks and take photos in front of the lodge and by the lake.

The Central Ohio people will meet at the JC Penny Catalog Outlet Store, 2361 Park Crescent Dr Dk 901,Columbus, OH 43232 at 8:30AM and will depart promptly at 9:00AM. You will proceed east on I-70 to Cambridge and head north for 2 exits on I-77. You will exit at route 22 and head east. Follow the signs to the Salt Fork State Park and proceed to the lodge.

We will eat lunch at the Salt Fork State Park Lodge. For those of you bringing shoppers...ummm...I mean spouses...I believe there is a gift shop there.

After lunch we will proceed back east on 22 and pick up 800 south. We will follow 800 south to I-70 east for one exit. We will pick up 40 east to Morristown for a short bit and hit 26 south from there. Route 26 may have a zigzag at 148. We may need to take 148 west briefly and then pick up 26 south again. 26 may also break at 556 so we may need to do another quick west jog there and then pick up 26 south again. Route 26 will take us into downtown Woodsfield. We can stop for a break there and then continue south on route 26 to Marietta. By following this route, we will enjoy a larger portion of Route 26 than we have in the past.

For those staying at the Hampton, we will check in upon arrival in Marietta. Those not staying overnight should still meet in this parking lot as it provides a central launch point for going downtown to dinner. We traditionally have had ample time after check-in to grab a quick shower.

We will proceed to downtown Marietta for dinner and cocktails at the Marietta Brewing Co. This restaurant has excellent food and has never let us down, including a major, nuclear powered air conditioning unit for hot days.

Lodging: Hampton Inn Marietta, Ohio

I have secured a block of 10 rooms, for the discounted rate of $72/night. The rooms are doubles, meaning 2 queen beds. Each room has a mini-fridge and microwave. The hotel has a complimentary breakfast buffet each morning.

To reserve your room, please call 1-740-373-5353 and give them the following code number when making your reservation - OHS. This will ensure you are part of our group and get the discount. Make your reservations PRIOR to September 25th. After that date, they will release any of the 10 rooms not reserved.

Drive Leader: TBD

Drive Requirements:

Everyone participating must sign a waiver form on the day of the event. For those who are minors (under 21), you must also have a waiver form signed by your parents prior to the event date. This is a requirement of the drive.

Everyone participating must FAX (440-684-3102) to my attention a copy of their current insurance card and drivers license. PM me if you would like to scan and email me a copy instead (preferred).

Drive Structure:

Based on previous experience, we will arrange people into two groups based on your driving experience and preference:

Spirited: You have the age/maturity to not let testosterone get you into trouble. You are very familiar with how your car handles at it's limits. You want to focus on driving your car close to it's limits through tight corners while still remaining safe. You simply want to enjoy the drive, not prove how fast you or your car are.

Moderate/Sightseeing: You enjoy pushing your car some but you don't have experience/confidence near the limit of adhesion. This group will have its faster participants in front and the slower participants in the rear.

Each group will be divided into blocks of no more than 5 cars. It will be the responsibility of each person leading each 5 car pack to keep their 5 car pack together. If they lose sight, they must slow the group down until everyone is gathered up.

Please reply to this thread which group you would like to be in and I will keep a roster here.

Participants:

OhioRacer - room = yes - group = ????????
StrangeDaze- room = yes - group = Moderate/front
Mchester - room = no - group = Spirited/middle
spt-s2k - room = yes - group = Moderate
Bimp+1 - room = yes - group = Moderate
JonasM+1 - room = yes - group =Moderate leader
ggd2+1 - room = yes - group = Moderate
SKYS2K+1 - room = no - group = Moderate

 

I should be able to make this drive and might even be staying overnight for the return trip on Sunday this time!

I do have one question. How is the last person in the "block" supposed to slow down the entire block especially considering that many of us will not have a passenger and will have trouble using the radio while driving safely? Perhaps the blocks should be independent units with a group leader in each block and a person at the end who can at least listen to the radio for directions, etc. Thoughts?

 

Oh, I'll opt for the front end of the Moderate group and I'll email you my current DL/ins. info. Same email address as last time?

 

Yes, same email.

As far as your other question, I guess everyone will have to be aware of what's happening behind them and adjust speed accordingly. The purpose for this is I don't want someone to feel they need to speed up uncomfortably to catch up. That's my only concern. I guess we can always re-sort according to comfort level.

 

Tina and I are looking forward to the drive with all of you, again.

Mchester - room = No - group = Spirited/middle

 

I understand your concern. But I am thinking that if we have each block be on their own, then they only need to worry about themselves. Each one should be small enough to be manageble without anyone feeling pressure to keep up.

Otherwise, if their block gets stuck behind a stop sign or red light or slow moving vehicle, they may feel like they are taking away the fun of the block in front of them because the front block must then slow down and wait on them. This could cause a situation where the slower block tries too hard to catch up.

Just my two cents. But maybe my concerns only apply when the overall group gets really large? So we might not have to worry too much.

 

I think either method could be made to work as well as the other.

It will just take a little cooperation to make it safe and enjoyable for all.

Hopefully, everyone would be agreeable to the guidelines set forth by the organizer of the event.

If not, then maybe they should make their way to the meeting point in a separate group or on their own?

This might seem a little harsh but I think we all agree that we don't want anyone to feel pressured in any way to "keep up" with anyone else.

 

We have had people in the past who wanted to take things at their own pace without feeling like they needed to even attempt to follow the group. I think that is a good idea and anyone who wants should feel free to do so. They certainly seemed to have just as much fun as the rest of us did!

I am fine with whatever works for you, Carmen.

Thanks,
Joe

 

Carmen,
Put me in the moderate group (comming alone) and I will be getting a room.

 

There won't be any madness this time.

Joe,

You bring up good points. If we do break the groups apart, then we'll need a leader in each group experienced in the route to make sure everyone arrives in Marietta and not Chicago . Right now I'm not even sure what the route is. I'd like to try some new roads. At least those of us in the north. Coming down I-77 for 60 minutes is BORING. I was hoping we could meet at Canton and then find a nice back road. If anyone is "map-talented" I could use some help on ideas for a route. Thanks.