How Far is Too Far

flagboy55 · 10/12/24, 12:12 PM

Taking the question from the Burg thread, I thought it’s a fair question. The criteria is a race with a start time of 7pm, and you’re driving home afterwards. For my friends Oppweld and Yeleyfan76, the answer is probably there’s no place too far, but for us mortals, we have parameters. Thanks

motorhead748 · 10/12/24, 1:59 PM

For me it’s pretty much anything goes if it’s something I want to see. Another factor for me is do I have anything I want to do the following day. If the answer is yes then I’ll ride home after the race and I’ve done that 3 times this summer from Knoxville which is 562 miles. If no I may camp out at the track but I’ve gotten to where I’ll just come home anyway because if I stay it essentially chews up the whole weekend.
I’m in SW Ohio & tracks like Haubstadt, Attica, Fremont are all in the 180-220 mile range and wouldn’t consider staying the nite after a race.
I always travel by motorcycle unless someone is going with me which is rare.
Heck a few weeks ago on a Sunday I rode out to Knoxville because they were having a car show at the track. Left at 4a & was home at 11:20p.

Charles Nungester · 10/12/24, 2:34 PM

Well considering Im in the same situation as Ron. About a hour and a half. Family member may need help. Ron also has been riding a lot with friends. Some no longer with us .

I alone say about three to four hours for a event. Maybe a couple days for small trips. If I was free to do so. And have all my life.

yeleyfan76 · 10/12/24, 7:29 PM

Everybody’s situation is different of course. We have all done the crazy(fun) things needed to attend a show and return home. Pops always said on work/school nites if you can’t get up the next day for them you aren’t going. Lots of midweek trips to southern Delaware 3hrs each way were tough. Syracuse Ny up and back on a Sunday for the BBM finale were long days. No matter what the events or parameters of travel were we have all done it. If you still can that’s great, if life has thrown curveballs to you that sux. No need to air your personal issues for why you can’t do what you once did. Let’s just read about whatever fun(crazy) trips people can make. BTW 55 you drove ur butt off out east this year for the Storm. Almost did them all, maybe next year you stay for Kutztown to prep for ISW at IMS. �� There is a good brewery in town as well. Got ya covered.

Stevensville Mike · 10/12/24, 9:55 PM

From Stevensville, Kokomo is two hours to the south, Butler is two hours to the east, and I-96 is two hours to the northeast. The drive there is not the point. It is the drive home. I always thought driving at night was easier for there are headlights and you can pretty much see who is around you on the road. Not to mention less traffic. Now with the 'new' cable cheese grater guardrails dividing the median on the interstates, the lights coming at you flicker. Prior to, a flicker meant something was in between you and them - like a deer, so you were on guard. Now it feels like a crapshoot at night sometimes.

Hartford is always a 30 minute "treat".

But as I get older I realize my problem is my night vision. I have a harder time focusing and dialing in ahead of me. Of course my eye doctor has told me cataracts surgery is in the crosshairs, so that should help down the line.

Two hours/110-120 miles has pretty much been my limit these days. I'll get back in the saddle down the line, but for now the days/nights past of Owendale, Beaver Dam, Knoxville, Eldora, Lincoln Park, & Terre Haute are on hold.

The Old Coyote · 10/13/24, 9:03 AM

Same with me, Mike. I used to drive two hours one way to Kokomo every Sunday when it was a weekly track and drive home afterwards. Now that Kokomo is a special event track those days are gone.
I did drive home after the Klash last Friday, but it was not something I would do on a regular basis as this coyote is not as frisky as he was once was!

cornerthree · 10/13/24, 4:04 PM

Being 61 it's starting to get shorter. But if I have a couple of friends along 7 hours. We did it last week at Terre Haute. We are from the Green Bay area, FYI we did go to Fairbury IL on Friday.

B99 · 10/13/24, 7:07 PM

As I get older, and I'm catching corner 3, I usually go by time I'm gonna get home. If it's 2-3 am, OK, but if it's gonna be later than that I'm probably out. More often I'm leaving before all the features are done. Kokomo is a little over 3 hours for me, and when the Klash sprint main was done, I was headed home. The Hut on a Sunday night was out because I have to work the next day. Special show, 2-3 hours. Weekly show I'm not driving more than an hour.

10/13/24, 7:07 PM	#8 Re: How Far is Too Far
B99 Senior Member Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 269	As I get older, and I'm catching corner 3, I usually go by time I'm gonna get home. If it's 2-3 am, OK, but if it's gonna be later than that I'm probably out. More often I'm leaving before all the features are done. Kokomo is a little over 3 hours for me, and when the Klash sprint main was done, I was headed home. The Hut on a Sunday night was out because I have to work the next day. Special show, 2-3 hours. Weekly show I'm not driving more than an hour.