Customs Road trip companion needed. Anyone interested

I am planning on bringing the Hudson over to USA and do an extensive road trip. I had a friend here who was all gungho ready to go and has now dropped out for personal reasons. I really need a traveling companion as I will be driving a right hand drive car on the right hand side of the road so will be much safer with a lookout. i have done a bit of driving over there before but LHD/RHS of road.
The plan is listed below and looking for someone to share some costs(fuel/accommodation) and have some fun on the trip. The first main event is the Stray Kat 500 in Dewey OK with about a 5 day drive along mostly Route 66.
Also wondered if maybe some custom guys were doing a drive in their cars to the Stray Kat that would be interested.
So the plan is to arrive at Long Beach and collect the car late April(25/26th) and on Saturday 28th attend the Donut Derelicts event at Huntington Beach. Then the real road trip can start. I have always said that I don't like redoing travel but with the first run in Dewey OK(Stray Kat 500) I think that heading east back along Route 66 is the best option. Have done it several years ago but still a lot to see and revisit.I want to have about 5-6 hours drive time each day which would extend to say 8 hours with stops,lunch,attractions etc.Always drinks at the end!!
So first stop Saturday night maybe Needles and then Sunday night Flagstaff or get as far as Gallup NM. Then take our time to arrive in Dewey OK on Thursday for the Stray Kat 500.
After that it is on to Imperial MO to stay with my son's in-laws and I am going to try to connect with Kurt McCormick who lives close by and has an incredible collection of historic customs & hot rods.
After that it is off to Detroit to see museums,across to Lincoln Nebraska for Speedway Motors and then to Santa Maria for the WKC event. Travelling Lincoln Highway(30) for a fair bit of the way after Detroit. Also a very historic highway even older than Route 66.

 

Can't really help out, but we will see you in Dewey Ok.

 

im sure that shipping the car to the states is expensive & lots of paper work ?? what dates will you be in the usa ?? thanks & have a good trip over here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I'd love to come along but I'm afraid we'd look like this when I enter your car.

Enjoy yourself while here.

 

Sound like fun. I am close to Imperial, Mo. If for any reason you need use of a garage PM me. Safe travels

 

Sounds like a great time! Hope you find someone to travel with.

 

Oh, you want a US mail delivery person, they do that shit all day.
They have an uncanny ability to wait till you're passing them against traffic and when door to door they floor it to the next mail box. They spend their day doing 100 foot drag races.

 

Thanks for all the likes but I wasn't kidding.

 

Have fun,be safe and lots of pictures.

 

PM sent

 

This would be sooo much fun! Too bad I'm still working!! Maybe in 2 years though!!!

 

You should plan to visit the Auburn / Cord and Natmus musuem beside it in Auburn In. On your route to detroit!!!

Sent from my SM-G935V using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

Yes that is on the list.

 

Plans looking up. My friend from CA has said he would like to connect in Detroit as he wants to do the museums and travel with me on Route 30 via Le Claire, Lincoln(Speedway Motors) and then onto Santa Maria. He will be attending the Streak in San Diego so can't get there earlier. So I think that leg is taken up.
Now my Brisbane friend who dropped out my be interested in the first part to Detroit as it is only about 3 weeks in total from departure to home for him.

 

If you travels take you through Indy look me up and I will arrange the nickel tour of some of the drag race shops in Brownsburg. The museum at the 500 track is also worth a look. Plus Joker Fab is right across the parking lot from my shop.

Roo

 

If you swing deep in the South we could probably make a parade/convoy from all the people down here who road trip their old school rides regularly

 

Maybe.
I'm relatively certain that I could do a leg with you somewhere along the highway ...

 

eHarmony

The HAMB edition

 

Sent a PM Ed

 

Sounds like a great time, enjoy it, one day I'd like to come to your part of the world!

 

Well after nearly going off the rails the plan is back in action. I was having maintenance work done on the Hudson to make sure it was going to be roadworthy and reliable for such an extensive trip. A mechanic doing some work and road tested and felt there was something wrong in the rear end like a wheel running out. After inspection by the rear end/tail shaft specialist it was determined that the RHS rear axle was bent(a lot), the LHS less so and a wheel bearing cracked. So major decision needed. This rear end has always been a problem. It is a 9in but has the small outer bearings. I believe that this occurred ,as does the rear end specialist because of the weight of the Hudson in the rear and using bags in the back. On a few occasions I have used the all air out button from the ride height setting and this dumps the car down savagely. Only a few of times but that was enough. So all back together with a full floating setup
with much bigger bearings etc etc. It's only $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.
In future I will use the slower rear drop control so it doesn't slam down hard. It is only about 2 seconds difference.

So now we are ready to ship and loading next week with ship leaving 20the March and arriving Long Beach around 21st April(hopefully earlier). They reckon I can get the car on the Friday 27th and the original plan will fall into place.
If a bit later say Monday I will miss the Donut Derelicts on Saturday morning but will still attend without the car.
I will have enough time to get to Dewey OK for the Stray Kat 500 and hope to be there late Thursday.
After that it is onto Detroit for Museums etc and then across USA to Santa Maria for WKC event.

 

Hey look me up when you hit Detroit..lived here my whole life..I’d love to give you the automotive tour of Detroit. I’ve done this for many out of towners and they’ve all said I missed my true calling. I’m a car nut, history nut, and I love Detroit and I’m proud to show it off.

 

Loveoftiki....you're a stand up guy for offering this!!

 

Sounds like a great trip.


Sent from my Nexus 7 using The H.A.M.B. mobile app

 

pork 'n' beaner would like you to send a picture of yourself, Hudson48

 

Well it is really happening!!! Loaded the car into the container today and leaves Australia on 20th March.
Arrives Long Beach 21st April. Hopefully we can collect no later than Friday 27th April. I am looking at coming in on Wednesday 25th April and going to the cruise at Bob's Big Boy Downey. Is that any good?
Hopefully with the car collected on Friday we will go to the Donuts Derelicts coffee run on Saturday morning and then start the road trip after that heading east out to Needles. A stop on the way at Vintage Coach which is the Hudson shop that was operated by Bill Albright (RIP) and now run by his grandson.Bill supplied the doors and rear fenders for us to convert the original 4 door to a 2 door.
Just a question about Needles. Is that an alright place to have a stopover for the night?

 

Wow ! What an exciting trip ! If you make it into Ohio I'll meet you and buy you lunch or dinner.

 

Piece of advise, stay in Flagstaff. Gallup is not a nice place to stop for an overnight. We always stay in Little America, but its a bit pricey for what it is.

I also see that you are planning on spending 4 days on the trip from Flagstaff to Dewey. Do you have plans on stops to make along that route or just winging it? I've only come across that section of the 40 twice and my recollection is that its relatively barren. If you are into the outdoors, Southern Utah has some of the most incredible scenery on the planet and some great driving roads. You could loop up through Denver and back down to Dewey on State level highways instead of Interstate. If you've got your stops planned, then go for it.

 

Can you tell us how you have arranged vehicle license to drive in the USA and insurance arrangements.
It maybe of interest to others contemplating a similar trip in the future.

 

It is legal to drive in USA on the current registration from Australia. Of course I will have my Qld drivers license.
Hagerty's do a 2 month policy for visiting foreign cars which is full comprehensive plus personal liability.That was the problem with my earlier plans. At that stage no insurance was available until the Hagerty plan came up.
So I will have to do that twice as the first two months will be April to June and then I am back in July for the second part of the trip.(The car stays at a friends place in Encinitas)