A 1992 Q45's journey from St. Louis ~ San Francisco Cali.

[chinaonnitrous]

So, after a 6 hour plane ride from Oakland International Airport I landed in freezing St. Louis where I met Jesda. Left the airport, for a short ride home, where Jesda promptly showed me that the ABS system was indeed fully functional. Anywho, after a yummy dinner prepared by his mom, hung out for a bit, but called into work for friday. Money and paperwork were excanged, and I had to leave It was already Wednesday night. Loaded wheels/luggage in the car, and headed out.

Drove for approx 5 hours, first night went without incident. The Q' pulled quite a bit to the right, but I did get used to it. Checked tire air pressure, and refilled power steering as it started to make noise.

Woke up next morning, visited a Mc Donalds in Kansas City, that was apparently "up scale", it was nicely furnished (padded seats), and had a 40" LCD Tv in High def, showing the golf tournament. . Drove for a few hours, and ended up having the Front Passenger tire blow out at 95mph. The tire was too cambered due to a worn upper link. Causing the inside of the tire to wear out. Excessive heat, over time totally seperated the middle of the tire from the outside. (Pics uploaded later). Used one of the Extra Pie-pans to clear that up.

About 11 hours later, I pass the bonneville salt flats (Utah/Nevada border). I cruise out to the middle of the flats at about 2am to check it out. Obivously I coudlnt' see anything since it was so late. But i decided to stay in town right on the Nevada Border. As i cruise off the freeway looking for a hotel to stay, Im going about 40 mph. Speed Limit 30 i belive. A stormtrooper is comming my way, and immediately flips a U-turn. Red/Blues come on ,and i pull into the service station. Says I was speeding etc.... and asks about the vehicle. He saw the for sale sign, saw the Missouri Plates, Saw my California Id. He asks for the paperwork of the vehicle, as I explain to him I had just purchased it from a seller in Missouri. I go to the trunk to retrieve the title, and bill of sale in my luggage, as he spots the extra Piepans in the trunk. He proceedes to question me about the vehcile, the owner, and why I would fly all the way to Missouri for a vehicle with so many miles. I explain about NICO, the forums, and all the work thats been done to the car. He questions my belongings asking about Narcotics, Weed, Large amounts of cash. Nevertheless, he asks to search the car. I let him, since hopefully there was nothing to hide. He used a stethescope on all the wheels, looked and poked around the interior. Questioned the gas tank, because the trunk cover was loose, and he spotted the screws had been tampered with. I explain to him all the DIY work (soldered maf, etc..), and he seemded to buy my story. He did run a lisence check, and plate check. Everything turned out fine...... Kinda surreal seeing this actually happen to me. Drug/money traffic apparently was very abundant, and its just like how you see it on TV. Car all apart, doors, trunk, hood open....Mirrors, and flashlights. Everything except the K-9, and the Camera crew.

So I sleep, and wake the next morning.

I head back a few miles back into Utah, to the Bonnieville salt flats.... No one around, so I take the car onto the salt. Proceeded to nail the gas, up to about 130+ i belive... Slowed down, to about 60 or so..proceeded to let it drift, a nice left, right, hard left and the back end swung out, and i hit full throttle and opposite lock. Did several more lower speed drifts, and had some fun in the salt . After a few mins and another high speed run, I decide to head home.

Pretty uneventful, stopped in reno to win 120 in hold-em p0ker. Came home to the G/f, and a nice dinner.

I guess the blow out, storm trooper and the salt were the highlights of the trip.

But I definatly want to give a very deep thank you to Jesda for picking me up, and giving me such a great deal on an awesome car. Thank to his mom for a yummy dinner!!!!

As a side note. I drove the car to work today, and someone had left me a note. Jesda, the sticker that reads "Go bother a Liberal....work...blah blah....." , someone apparently was offended and wrote "IGNORANT" and spit on the windshield

The car was driven about 15+ hours straight, with gas, and bathroom breaks. It didnt hicup at all, just the powersteering leak. It ran like a true champ. Also I spent about 300 in gas.......

[nchopp]

That sucks about the tire, AND the trooper. :-\ Did you end up getting the ticket?

[chinaonnitrous]

That sucks about the tire, AND the trooper. :-\ Did you end up getting the ticket?

HEheheeh, no ticket. we talked a bit about the car for a bit. Honestly a nice officer. Level headed, didnt seem prejudice against me. I belive he was just doing his job, and following something that didnt look too legit.

[nchopp]

Good that he was a solid cop. Too many out there that aren't.

"He proceedes to question me about the vehcile, the owner, and why I would fly all the way to Missouri for a vehicle with so many miles."

He obviously hasn't driven a Q. :-)

[Jesda]

Salt flats! Sweet!!!!!

As a side note. I drove the car to work today, and someone had left me a note. Jesda, the sticker that reads "Go bother a Liberal....work...blah blah....." , someone apparently was offended and wrote "IGNORANT" and spit on the windshield

LMFAO!!!!!!! Hey, I offered you a bottle of Goo Gone to remove them! I knew you were going to run into problems in California!

Good to hear you made it! If you ever drive across the country, you're always more than welcome to a night at our bizarre African-Asian household, if you don't mind our right-wing dinner talk too much.

[Peterofdevon]

What plates were on the car? You bougt the car out of state and drove it with those state's plates? Did you pay for temp plates for a 15 hr ride?

Peter

[maxnix]

I head back a few miles back into Utah, to the Bonnieville salt flats....

No mention of thorough underbody wash?

[elwesso]

Good stuff man.... I knew those tires were gonna go soon... I gave them to jesda when they were just above the tread wear things, and he proceeded to drive them another 20,000 miles...

[Rex]

Good write up, pics of course will help .

Glad to hear you and the police officer both remained calm and worked through him doing his job. I truely believe honesty and politeness goes along way with the law ... at least the honest law.

Can't wait to hear more of your story as you and the Q begin to bond.

[JedCoop]

Funny how enjoyable those long treks can be, some folks think its a huge burden. I went KC to San Jose about 6 years ago in November. Probably the same route as you took (but no salt flats). It got real cold at night - 12 degrees! And less than 30 hours door to door.

The only sleep I got was in the car. I used a jacket I had in back that was keeping plants from falling over. Too bad I didn't notice that the cover had come off the cactus which ejected tons of tiny spines into my coat. I was trying to wrap my self up against the cold, but I couldn't really get to sleep, I kept itching.

I was pulling those things out of me for weeks after that. And to top it all off when I got to the Californina border, the CA Agrictulture department took the cactus - the soil may have contained a fungus or somethng. And my coat remains unwearable. But the Q was sooo nice to drive, so it was a good time.

Still, I think I'd rather the cop incident over the cactus.