Cal Club Autocross Forums

Who is planning to run the Pro?

memememe

Will, Stacey, Robert, and I will probably be going.

I know Tom Berry has been to Farmington. Tom or anybody else have comments on the route to take? Mapquest had me turning immediately at Flagstaff. That road looks iffy. I'd have figured staying on 40 longer and turning straight up. But I've never been to Farmington. Towing the Mondo Trailer.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Will, Stacey, Robert, and I will probably be going.

I know Tom Berry has been to Farmington. Tom or anybody else have comments on the route to take? Mapquest had me turning immediately at Flagstaff. That road looks iffy. I'd have figured staying on 40 longer and turning straight up. But I've never been to Farmington. Towing the Mondo Trailer.

Yeah, I noticed that. A bit easier with my trailer, but makes me wonder. Is the scenery worth it?

Registration is open, BTW.

I've been wanting to make one long distance trip this year, how is the drive?

KJ Christopher wrote:

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Will, Stacey, Robert, and I will probably be going.

I know Tom Berry has been to Farmington. Tom or anybody else have comments on the route to take? Mapquest had me turning immediately at Flagstaff. That road looks iffy. I'd have figured staying on 40 longer and turning straight up. But I've never been to Farmington. Towing the Mondo Trailer.

Yeah, I noticed that. A bit easier with my trailer, but makes me wonder. Is the scenery worth it?

Registration is open, BTW.

The most direct route is Interstate 40 to Gallup, New Mexico and take 491 north to Shiprock, then east to Farmington on Highway 64. The route out of Flagstaff takes you across the Navajo Indian reservation to Colorado and south to Shiprock, then east to Farmington. Its longer. With trailers, my suggestion is stick to the Interstate.

BTW, I'm not seeing a hot link on the SCCA ProSolo page for Farmington as yet. Is there another way to get to the registration page?

I show 737mi from Pasadena to McGee Park using I 40 to 89 to 160 to 64 (turn off 40 at Flagstaff).
And 765mi from Pasadena to McGee Park using I 40 to 491 to 64 (turn off 40 at Gallup).

491 is the old US666. Either route goes to Shiprock....

Steve Ekstrand wrote:I show 737mi from Pasadena to McGee Park using I 40 to 89 to 160 to 64 (turn off 40 at Flagstaff).
And 765mi from Pasadena to McGee Park using I 40 to 491 to 64 (turn off 40 at Gallup).

Have you driven both pulling a trailer? I have. Take the Interstate...or not.

I always figure Interstate. But 491 is the old US666 which in NM had one of the highest fatality rates. I've been to Four Corners, Mesa Verde, and Durango as a kid so I've probably been on, but don't remember. Just like to hear from others. Don't want to bale on 89-160 only to find 491 is worse!

I went to the Farmington event a couple of years ago and regularly drive to Telluride. The route through Flagstaff and up through the Rez is beautiful and fairly flat. It is mostly a two lane road though with minimal spots for safe passing. Pulling a trailer might not be hard but you might make yourself a traffic hazard for others. If you go this way pay attention to your gas gauge. There aren't many places to get gas.

Going I-40 is a road that will actually allow you to travel safer until you get to old 666 (I don't know the new number). This road is dangerous, but mostly at night and on the weekends. There are way more areas with passing lanes so it might be the safer way to go. Although the miles are slightly different, I think the times would be close to the same.

Ken

Aaron and I are going, although I don't think we will be towing. More like me driving the MX5 and Aaron following in his baller Lexus! Aaron has a trailer, but I'm not sure it is wise for two first time towers to try their first tow all the way to NM!

Steve Ekstrand wrote:I always figure Interstate. But 491 is the old US666 which in NM had one of the highest fatality rates. I've been to Four Corners, Mesa Verde, and Durango as a kid so I've probably been on, but don't remember. Just like to hear from others. Don't want to bale on 89-160 only to find 491 is worse!

Here's another consideration FOR the Interstate... Sharon and I traveled 89-160 over to Colorado last August. There is lots of highway reburbishment going on all along the 160 route, particularly east of Kayenta to the Colorado border. Some stopping along the way, sometimes lengthy. Check-out whats going on construction wise regardless of WHICH route you choose. Even the Interstate has things going on between Flagstaff and New Mexico, or even from the Colorado River to Flagstaff.

I'm flying in.

Kurt Rahn wrote:I'm flying in.

BASTARD

Steve Ekstrand wrote:

Kurt Rahn wrote:I'm flying in.

BASTARD

I plan on staying on the interstate as long as possible, which means exiting at Thoreau and heading north on highway 371. This puts you a little closer to the event site (which is really closer to Bloomfield), and bypasses Farmington city traffic . The 371 is slightly more scenic than 491, but you don't get to see Shiprock.

Max Hayter wrote:Aaron and I are going, although I don't think we will be towing. More like me driving the MX5 and Aaron following in his baller Lexus! Aaron has a trailer, but I'm not sure it is wise for two first time towers to try their first tow all the way to NM!

My first tow was to Topeka... Powder up the boys and hitch up!

Sebastian Rios wrote:I plan on staying on the interstate as long as possible, which means exiting at Thoreau and heading north on highway 371. This puts you a little closer to the event site (which is really closer to Bloomfield), and bypasses Farmington city traffic . The 371 is slightly more scenic than 491, but you don't get to see Shiprock.

371 looks like a tiny road. US routes have standards at least. I think 371 is a state highway aka farm road. Is it okay?

Steve Ekstrand wrote:371 looks like a tiny road. US routes have standards at least. I think 371 is a state highway aka farm road. Is it okay?

Street view?

Sebastian Rios wrote:I plan on staying on the interstate as long as possible, which means exiting at Thoreau and heading north on highway 371. This puts you a little closer to the event site (which is really closer to Bloomfield), and bypasses Farmington city traffic . The 371 is slightly more scenic than 491, but you don't get to see Shiprock.

Seb - have you been on 371? I lived and worked in New Mexico for 12 years and spent a bit of time on the Navajo Reservation and I have never been on that road. 491 is a decent road with some passing lanes. It looks like a great road, but if something happens I'm not sure cells phones would work much past Crownpoint.

I drove 371 in my Mom's FJ. It is a 2 lane deal and was a little dicey with snow and ice, but that was on Thanksgiving day. I doubt there will be snow and ice on July 20. I found it to be a little less boring than 491.

Sebastian Rios wrote:I drove 371 in my Mom's FJ. It is a 2 lane deal and was a little dicey with snow and ice, but that was on Thanksgiving day. I doubt there will be snow and ice on July 20. I found it to be a little less boring than 491.

Boring sometimes = good when you're towing a 45' trailer....

Just out of curiosity, why are you folks not considering Packwood? It looks like only the Berrys are headed up there from here. Seems like a cooler, more scenic, less arid location.

Packwood is FANTASTIC!!!

But its too damn FAR!!! And much of that far is through Kalifornya and their ridiculous 55 mph towing limits.

Steve Ekstrand wrote:Packwood is FANTASTIC!!!

But its too damn FAR!!! And much of that far is through Kalifornya and their ridiculous 55 mph towing limits.

Exactly. I will go one year and spend the week between events. But not this year and that is too far to tow for one weekend.