Now don't get me wrong, and I've Long Hauled at least 10 times, and participated at least 4 other times doing parts of this great event. But...
CROWN POINT, IN: As I sit on the shoulder of Hwy 65 in Indiana about 1/2 mile from the exit (yes - out on the hwy shoulder) I start to see other participants & locals - who do not know why all the cars are on the shoulder. So they do not pull in behind us, they later realize why it's backed up - as the ramp is 100% full of cars. So they slow way down & try to find someone to let them in. But we can't let them in because were all pretty much right up next to the car in front of us. So as they slow, some stop (in the right lane of traffic) and the 65mph traffic has to brake hard and/or swerve out into the left lane. THAT is a very dangerous situation for all of us. Especially those in the left lane driving. This affects participants, locals, and the professional truckers. It's not safe.
Solution? There IS more than one way to get to the fairgrounds, but we participants do not know what other road/roads to take. In my "55 minute drive" from Hwy 65 (shoulder) to the Crown Point Fairgrounds (beautiful I must say) I saw at least 4 police/sheriff cars pass me, going the opposite way (off work?). Maybe if they were informed of the mass arrival of 4,000+ cars, they could direct us down different roads to get to the fairgrounds? I did not know where to go other than the route, and didn't care to get lost or pull on to dead end roads, so stayed on the route. THEY (F. Events/Police/Sheriff/Volunteers) should direct us down some other through routes/streets to "empty" the backup, the ramp, those on the shoulder in danger. Please have a plan to fill a FEW side streets, as this would have alleviated the problem quickly. SOMEHOW we have to get to the venue quicker and safer.
BETTERDORF, IA: As I sit on the shoulder of Co Rd 6 / I-74 in Illinois about 2 miles before the bridge, it's happening again. Miles of PT cars backed up on the shoulder, then on the bridge. Locals in the right lane are not sure what's going on, only to pull out to the left lane at the end of the bridge (in IA now) as they now can see it's just the exit ramp is full. So they quickly pull out into the left lane and hope they don't get hit. At the bottom of that ramp we were to take a right turn. HOW ABOUT an officer right there - directing cars straight across and up a block, then to the right, or left, to empty the ramp/shoulder? This truly somehow HAS to happen.
OR... there needs to be fewer cars accepted for the event. Do I like that - no. Yet, it's about safety at this point. Limit the number of cars, or years of cars, or no locals, or I don't know - but something should be done. I myself would like to see better traffic management. Please USE the many roads through a town, and then take turns pulling in to the venue. And if possible have MANY entrances to the venues. Most venues have to have a few ways in, so man those gates and use them. It's a safety issue - many miles from that gate. OR... Maybe ask the Mopar guys & gals to use a different ramp off the main route freeway/highway? I say this as they are a LOYAL group, and may enjoy all using the same small route? OR... all 2005 and newer cars? It's just one way to lower the number of cars - on any one ramp/shoulder.
THERE HAS TO BE WAYS to improve traffic, and it's time to sit down and come up with them.
Another observation. That little town in IA that invited us there (Marquokata?) SHOULD have been told cars could starting arriving by 7am or so. The waitress serving us breakfast said they were told cars should start arriving at 9am. Now that's a blatant lie. They had to call in extra help earlier than they were told, and were out of some foods. How many hear/see the PT cars leaving hotels by 6am? I sure did. They left at 6am, 6:04am, 6:11am, 6:16am, etc - all the way up to when we left the hotel lot at 8am, and several cars were still there (sleeping in). Do you (Hot Rod / Family Events) really tell a town "expect us at 9am". If not you, SOMEONE did, and you need to find out who.
FOOD: The Radisson my friends stayed at (not sure what day) the rope was put across the restaurant entrance - as they ran out of food. The Isle Casino Buffet ran out of BBQ ribs and Carved Beef, and were trying to get some turkey out. Plus there were many empty food trays as going through the line. CHULA VISTA: As I thanked a parking worker he said thanks, and was going to talk to the townsperson/resort employee (?) that told him it would be about 2,500 cars. Wow... how about saying expect 4,000-5,000 cars. He went on to say he thought maybe Hot Rod (Family Events?) might be downplaying just how many people this attracts, so they can find venues? Could be, otherwise no one should be running out of that much food, or be baffled by the number of cars. Or, better communication is needed to all these venues. Food, parking, police, routes, plan B, plan C, and a plan D need to be thought of.
I'm off my soapbox. I just hope it's read by someone who make decisions, and it somehow will help all involved.
CROWN POINT, IN: As I sit on the shoulder of Hwy 65 in Indiana about 1/2 mile from the exit (yes - out on the hwy shoulder) I start to see other participants & locals - who do not know why all the cars are on the shoulder. So they do not pull in behind us, they later realize why it's backed up - as the ramp is 100% full of cars. So they slow way down & try to find someone to let them in. But we can't let them in because were all pretty much right up next to the car in front of us. So as they slow, some stop (in the right lane of traffic) and the 65mph traffic has to brake hard and/or swerve out into the left lane. THAT is a very dangerous situation for all of us. Especially those in the left lane driving. This affects participants, locals, and the professional truckers. It's not safe.
Solution? There IS more than one way to get to the fairgrounds, but we participants do not know what other road/roads to take. In my "55 minute drive" from Hwy 65 (shoulder) to the Crown Point Fairgrounds (beautiful I must say) I saw at least 4 police/sheriff cars pass me, going the opposite way (off work?). Maybe if they were informed of the mass arrival of 4,000+ cars, they could direct us down different roads to get to the fairgrounds? I did not know where to go other than the route, and didn't care to get lost or pull on to dead end roads, so stayed on the route. THEY (F. Events/Police/Sheriff/Volunteers) should direct us down some other through routes/streets to "empty" the backup, the ramp, those on the shoulder in danger. Please have a plan to fill a FEW side streets, as this would have alleviated the problem quickly. SOMEHOW we have to get to the venue quicker and safer.
BETTERDORF, IA: As I sit on the shoulder of Co Rd 6 / I-74 in Illinois about 2 miles before the bridge, it's happening again. Miles of PT cars backed up on the shoulder, then on the bridge. Locals in the right lane are not sure what's going on, only to pull out to the left lane at the end of the bridge (in IA now) as they now can see it's just the exit ramp is full. So they quickly pull out into the left lane and hope they don't get hit. At the bottom of that ramp we were to take a right turn. HOW ABOUT an officer right there - directing cars straight across and up a block, then to the right, or left, to empty the ramp/shoulder? This truly somehow HAS to happen.
OR... there needs to be fewer cars accepted for the event. Do I like that - no. Yet, it's about safety at this point. Limit the number of cars, or years of cars, or no locals, or I don't know - but something should be done. I myself would like to see better traffic management. Please USE the many roads through a town, and then take turns pulling in to the venue. And if possible have MANY entrances to the venues. Most venues have to have a few ways in, so man those gates and use them. It's a safety issue - many miles from that gate. OR... Maybe ask the Mopar guys & gals to use a different ramp off the main route freeway/highway? I say this as they are a LOYAL group, and may enjoy all using the same small route? OR... all 2005 and newer cars? It's just one way to lower the number of cars - on any one ramp/shoulder.
THERE HAS TO BE WAYS to improve traffic, and it's time to sit down and come up with them.
Another observation. That little town in IA that invited us there (Marquokata?) SHOULD have been told cars could starting arriving by 7am or so. The waitress serving us breakfast said they were told cars should start arriving at 9am. Now that's a blatant lie. They had to call in extra help earlier than they were told, and were out of some foods. How many hear/see the PT cars leaving hotels by 6am? I sure did. They left at 6am, 6:04am, 6:11am, 6:16am, etc - all the way up to when we left the hotel lot at 8am, and several cars were still there (sleeping in). Do you (Hot Rod / Family Events) really tell a town "expect us at 9am". If not you, SOMEONE did, and you need to find out who.
FOOD: The Radisson my friends stayed at (not sure what day) the rope was put across the restaurant entrance - as they ran out of food. The Isle Casino Buffet ran out of BBQ ribs and Carved Beef, and were trying to get some turkey out. Plus there were many empty food trays as going through the line. CHULA VISTA: As I thanked a parking worker he said thanks, and was going to talk to the townsperson/resort employee (?) that told him it would be about 2,500 cars. Wow... how about saying expect 4,000-5,000 cars. He went on to say he thought maybe Hot Rod (Family Events?) might be downplaying just how many people this attracts, so they can find venues? Could be, otherwise no one should be running out of that much food, or be baffled by the number of cars. Or, better communication is needed to all these venues. Food, parking, police, routes, plan B, plan C, and a plan D need to be thought of.
I'm off my soapbox. I just hope it's read by someone who make decisions, and it somehow will help all involved.
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