Coupe Road Trip

[Bob-STL]

Coupe #621 went with the Gateway Cobra Club to Arkansas and Oklahoma for the Fall Color Cruise. It was based out of Hot Springs, Arkansas.

There were 18 or so cars that attended. They were from Missouri, Arkansas, Texas, and Illinois. Great time, excellent Fall Colors, and even better driving!

#621 logged 1,322 miles (814 highway and 508 back road). The car (Forte 331 EFI) averaged 21 mpg . (I checked these numbers three times, and wondering if I had forgotten a fill up, calculated them with an additional 8 gallon. Even that resulted in 19 mpg. So mileage was decent.)

Thursday was the only rain day, so we were covered up then.





However, we had a pre-planned trip and tour to Craft Performance Engine Builders, that we did in the daily drivers. This was great. Lance and his crew run an outstanding operation. Here is an engine they ran on the dyno. It is a 380 W Short Deck that makes 684 HP and does 8800 RPM. What a monster!





Friday, we got queued up for a 280-300 mile cruise to Talihina OK along the Talimena Scenic Byway.





Does anyone know how many people it takes to line the cars up correctly at a scenic spot????

[Bob-STL]

The cruise proceeded everywhere in-line....Sometimes it was two lines! However, the roads were really good.





Talihina, Oklahoma sort of rolls out the carpet for the Fall Colors.





Lunch in Talihina was at Pam's Hateful Hussy Diner. Pam makes a great grilled chicken-bacon sandwich and the place was packed!





Somewhere along the way my odometer hit a milestone.





Sometimes we created a little of a traffic jam.

[Bob-STL]

Gas stops were always a bit extended and created a stir in the community.





This little girl liked "the red one"!





Anybody recognize this car? The car was incredible and the driver equally so!





Saturday, we headed to Mount Magazine State Park and Lodge in Arkansas. The colors were really popping.





Finally, got everyone lined up and quickly!





Great place for lunch!

[Bob-STL]

Someone has described the Gateway Cobra Club as an "Ice Cream Club with a Car Fetish" ..... Rarely, is an ice cream place passed up!





Time to head back. Overall it was an excellent trip!

[John Dol]

Seems like you guys had a ton of fun. Great trip!

John

[Bob Cowan]

cool, Bob! Great to see that car and you two getting some great trips in.

[mmoen]

sad I missed it. Hopefully next year. looks like a blast.
Mike M.

[JimLev]

Nice pics. 5 years ago my wife and I went on a 10 week cross country road trip. We decided to get off the highway and hit the back roads. We ended up staying at a B&B in Talihina.

[Gbeck]

Glad to see you enjoying that sweet ride. I CAN'T WAIT to get my coupe on the road. This is exactly what I want to do with it!