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Is Power Tour getting dangerous?

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  • Is Power Tour getting dangerous?

    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.
    Jim T
    Supercar Collectibles
    www.Supercar1.com

  • #2
    I don't know how, but I almost forgot about the traffic jam getting to Chula Vista. Another back up of cars beyond comprehension. Arrived in Dells at 12:45pm area, and finally parked about 2:05 and so far away from the resort (vendors) we couldn't even see them. Later noticed the cars behind the hill even further away. First cars couldn't drive in all the way to the main area (like us) then some could who "were" parked in with us? Very very confusing, as seemed like no rhyme or reason to where people were directed - and they were looking at PT stickers pretty close (still confused). I won't go back to Chula Vista, as too small of a road to get in there. If it leaves from there, I'll study the route and watch somewhere down the road. In a safe spot...
    Jim T
    Supercar Collectibles
    www.Supercar1.com

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    • #3
      Jim- All excellent points my friend. I truly hope next year brings change..... Sadly, I feel it will be the same again, but I agree with everyones complaints and suggestions.
      sigpic

      "People Sleep Peacefully in their beds at Night Because Rough Men Stand Ready to do violence on their Behalf."
      - George Orwell

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      • #4
        I don't think next year is going to be the same animal.

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        • #5
          Originally posted by Bucky67 View Post
          Jim- All excellent points my friend. I truly hope next year brings change..... Sadly, I feel it will be the same again, but I agree with everyones complaints and suggestions.
          I just hope this somehow get's passed on to those who make the decisions. It has to be safer.
          Jim T
          Supercar Collectibles
          www.Supercar1.com

          Comment


          • #6
            Originally posted by White Monster View Post
            I don't think next year is going to be the same animal.
            Just readying a few posts I have a gut feeling major changes will be happening, but I don't know if it's anything to do with being safer...
            Jim T
            Supercar Collectibles
            www.Supercar1.com

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            • #7
              Jim,
              I have long hauled 2 times 2010 and 2012. We did not see the long waits on the shoulder etc. There were some long small town lines at 4 way stops etc.
              I come from a road rally/pro rally background. On road trips we always had extra maps of everywhere we were going. Same for the PT.
              We would look at the maps and the PT instructions and see where the route took us. We had GPS also which helps.
              It looks like in the incidents you posted there were alternate methods to the destination. Some were go past turn around and go back 5-10 miles to a different exit. YES YOU SHOULDN'T HAVE TO DO THAT. What was needed was more than on route to the venue in the last 20-25 miles.
              I understand your concern.

              Nick

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              • #8
                Originally posted by White Monster View Post
                I don't think next year is going to be the same animal.
                I think so too.
                Jim & Cathy North Mankato, MN Long Haulers '04,07,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,18,21Short Haul '05,'15,'17,’19 WST '14,'15,'16,'17,’18

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                • #9
                  I hope next year will be different. I highly doubt if Family Events is going to try to reduce the number of cars because that hits their bottom line. Probably the best solution is choosing a proper venue that has multiple entrances and plenty of parking. It would also be nice - if hell freezes over - to park the Long Haulers closer to the vendors and put the locals in a separate area farther back.

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                  • #10
                    also releasing the route months in advance would give us more opportunities to plan and make the town we are going thru much more prepared for us

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                    • #11
                      Originally posted by 59brook View Post
                      also releasing the route months in advance would give us more opportunities to plan and make the town we are going thru much more prepared for us
                      I believe they do not release the route that far in advance as they are still getting it set up. I think they wait and have someone drive the route just weeks before the event, to see if there are any roads closed, construction, detours, etc'. Still, they could come up with multiple routes for the last 3-7 (?) miles, asking Chevy to go route 1, Mopar go route 2, all others go route 3, all ending up at the venue (to a different gate each - would be another plus). It may not work for all venues, but they must look at trying it.
                      Last edited by Jimsc52; June 18, 2014, 08:12 AM.
                      Jim T
                      Supercar Collectibles
                      www.Supercar1.com

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                      • #12
                        it is amazing how many local businesses have no clue of the potential to bring in customer's because the route is announced so late. for instance this yr Schwartz perf only found out a few days ahead of time to prepare for an open house which was very nice. in 2012 i believe when we were in Oklahoma near rt 66 with so many things to do ,none of the local shops, museums, or even the rod and custom hall of fame had no idea we were going to be in the area. Most of the Business s i spoke with said they would have opened later to accommodate us. while i agree roads can have unforeseen construction come up maybe the answer is a preliminary run 2-3 months in advance and then a final run 2-3 weeks before

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                        • #13
                          I guess we just have to accept that Family Events is a business, and it's designed to make money. It's not set up to do the extra's like you've described. Sigh...
                          Jim T
                          Supercar Collectibles
                          www.Supercar1.com

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                          • #14
                            I think they let the local Chamber of Commerce know, but not everyone is a member so the word may not get out.
                            Jim & Cathy North Mankato, MN Long Haulers '04,07,08,09,10,11,12,13,14,18,21Short Haul '05,'15,'17,’19 WST '14,'15,'16,'17,’18

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                            • #15
                              Do you suppose the steep increase in participants has anything to do with the "bikers" changing their hobby to "hotrodder" ?? From reading what you guys are saying, it sounds like a ton of rookies are out there contributing to the mayhem.
                              Ed, Mary, & 'Earl'
                              HRPT LongHaulers, 08, 09, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19.


                              Inside every old person is a young person wondering, "what the hell happened?"

                              The man at the top of the mountain didn't fall there. -Vince Lombardi

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