Getting to San Diego in Oct 2019

[Garry]

I am in the process of planning to attend the 2019 Pagoda gathering in San Diego in October next year. I am also bringing my car. Its a bucket list thing.
m

At this point I have got my shipping of the vehicle from Melbourne Australia to LA arranged and also the registration requirements of driving a foreign car in the USA/Canada. I still need to arrange the insurances and a mountain of other details.  Once the car is in LA, the fun begins.


From landing the car in LA, the plan is for my wife and I to go have a bit of a drive around the USA and Canada. We plan to drive up the west coast to Vancouver, across the Rockies to Winnipeg, mosey on down to Columbus Ohio (for a vehicle service with Joe JA17) via Chicago then back up to Detroit and across to Quebec, down through Maine to Philadelphia and then on down to Virginia.  At this point I am hoping to put the vehicle on a road transport with others coming from the Virginia[size=78%] area across to San Diego.[/size]


Plan is to arrive in LA at the beginning of July, at least catchup with Dr Benz if he has a gathering in August and to meet up with as many others that are on the general route.


What I am looking for at this point is suggestions on the “must see” or “must attend car shows” that may be on around that time. I have visited most of the places when I was living in the USA and.I am going to be very flexible on route and timing other than ending up in Virginia to catch the transport across to San Diego for the October weekend Pagoda gathering then back to LA and ship the car home.


Any suggestions are welcome.


Garry

[JamesL]

Awesome

That's one very big bucket you must keep your list in!

[pj]

Garry, what a great trip that will be! No matter when you come through Ontario-Michigan-Ohio, we will organize a welcome for you.

BTW, I know things in Australia are upside down compared to North America, but your drive to Vancouver will take you up the west coast, not the east :-)

[Garry]

Peter,


I was thinking it is east of me and upside down as well.
 Geographically embarrassed

[JamesL]

But it IS the east coast of the Pacific ocean and you will be driving the coast road. 

(Jealous, in London)

[Jowe]

Great plan Garry. Just a reminder; they are driving on the opposite side of the roads in the US  When you are in all the planning details, have you ever thought about sending in the car for a leftie conversion? 
Cheers,

[Vander]

Has any one else on the US east coast, started to figure out shipping?

[wayne R]

Garry you will have a marvelous time, good on you it will be an experience you wont forget.
Let me and my wife know if you want any help in CA, as i have very good reliable car club friends  there,.
 We both go  back every year to CA, Arizona, Nevada, shes goes with our daughter to shop, i go to shows and
bring  parts back. But im sure  the Pagoda team will give you lots of help, and support.
I  want to give you a little advice on shipping back cars from US, there are changes all the time, and over the years
i have  returned about 12 to 15 cars, and in case you dont know here is the latest i experiance with my Pagoda, 3 months ago,
every car now imported has to have an asbestos check , that is they test it in LA, before it goes into container, your car should be ok,
mine was , although i was worried about the old crappy fire wall all flaky etc ,but was ok. A Ford Galaxie  in the same container
had Asbestos in the head gaskets so had to  be replaced before shipping. Its just another crazy way for customs to make money i think.
Also not all shipping agents in LA have the facility to do this so they send to the agents that  do..
My agent here on gold coast his agent has the facility name is  Oceans International in LA ,and all cars are safe inside there warehouse.
So dont be alarmed ,you will be ok , just letting you know---regards Wayne.

[JamesL]

Johan

Garry has already been down that road - albeit converting it LH to RHD. Epic thread here > https://www.sl113.org/forums/index.php?topic=14705.0

[wayne R]

Thanks Garry ,you have it all under control----regards Wayne.

[BaronYoungman]

I saw Chicago mentioned... Ariana and I would love to be host for a day,  we can overwhelm you with useless Windy City Trivial, and of course REAL CHICAGO DEEP DISH PIZZA.
Bob

[Garry]

Now I have done it, not only paid my Pogadafest entry fee, but booked two airfares from Melbourne to LA, arriving 29 June and departing 10 October.  That should give me enough time to drive down to San Diego    


Well do a drive from Melbourne Australia to SanDiego via LA Seattle, Portland Maine and then back to San Diego.

[Tyler S]

Garry, Be sure your IDP “International Drivers Permit” is current. This is done in your home country.

CBP forms need to be filled out for the importation. No registration in any state is required when you are a tourist and the car is imported and tied to your passport. The only issue that may arise is when traveling to Canada.

A few usefull links.
https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/278/related/1

https://help.cbp.gov/app/answers/detail/a_id/1664/~/temporary-importation-of-a-car-for-personal-use

[Garry]

Tyler, thnaks for that info. 


The shipper has indicated that i will still need a pollution exemption form from EPA that is a fairly routing exemption for that aged vehicle.  I am planning on insuring it with Haggerty for the period.  They have asked for a six month policy and that is fine, i will have it there about four months.  I have checked the Canadian crossing and they appear to be happy for crossing back and forth with the vehicle provided registered and insured and i have a licence....


The hard bit is if i need third party liability.  The shipper is saying with the Australian Registration, that comes with it and i don’t need to do anything.  I will get an IDP due to the extended time.


The next difficulty is getting an advance visa for a 120 day period, normally only 90 days so am going to the US consular near by here in the next week or so.


Next big hurdle is getting health insurance for that period for both of us as well.  It looks like I can only get 90 days but that is still a work in progress

[specracer]

You asked about "must see" car events? You mentioned Detroit, couldnt tell from you itinerary if the Woodward Dream Cruise works for you, but it is an amazing gathering. August 17th

http://www.woodwarddreamcruise.com/

[Garry]

Thanks Andy,


Will note that one, timing will probably be tied to the gathering at the Benz Dr get together if occurring but am certainly going thru there around that time.


Garry

[suzy]

Garry, I think there are a few of us members living in LA who could meet you for a meal.  you should definitely go to the Peterson Museum which is a fantastic car collection of several floors.  you should make sure you buy a ticket to the vault, which is a separate fee but worth it.  Go online, take a look.

[Garry]

Thanks Suzy for those suggestions.  I have heard about the museum but whilst having been through LA maybe 30 times have never been there.  This time I will make a point of doing so as I think I will be there for some time sorting out the off loading of my car with the help of Tom Collit from LA Restorations so would be nice to all get together.


Garry

[Garry]

Purchased Pagodafest tickets ✔️

Air Tickets purchased ✔️


Car currently being fully serviced ✔️


Bank account opened in USA and cards being issued ✔️


Registration process agreed ✔️


Long Term visa applied for and nominally approved ✔️


House Sitter arranged for 4 months. ✔️


Shipping company on standby for vehicle in late April. ✔️


To do:


Arrange insurance with Haggerty.


Decide what spares to carry for a 10,000 mile drive.


Work out servicing where.


Deliver vehicle and keep fingers crossed...


What have I forgotten?

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Garry,

Great Planning for a supper trip!

One thing I would do and that would be;

Establish the route you plan to drive in North America, then start a new thread listing the major cities you plan to stop. Perhaps Members have plans to meet up with you for a coffee or two. Also Members in certain areas you will be passing may let you know of service shop locations they might be using for there Pagoda. I think you have the rest of it well planned.

Wishing you a wonderful trip! I know several Members here in Ontario Canada look forward to see you.

Best,

Dieter

PS. I think Garry with this trip you will break all records for the longest trip ever taken by a “Pagoda SL Group” Member.

[Jordan]

Garry, looking forward to meeting you again at Dan's in August.

Not to be an alarmist but you mentioned you opened a US bank account.  In doing so have you checked to make sure you will not have to file US taxes with the IRS?

[Garry]

Jordan,


Simple answer is no.  I did note that the Bank were not doing any withholding tax.  Given that the interest rate on the account is 0.2% i don’t think it is going to earn a lot of $$. 😂. It really is only a debit card account although they did issue a cheque book.  I haven’t seen one of those for years, didn’t know that they were still used.  In Australia we are getting to the point where there is very little cash used either, it’s all tap and go cards even for a cup of coffee.

[Brian in NL]

The US is like a third-world country when it comes to secure banking. Checks weren't being used in Europe when I moved here 12 years ago. They are the easiest route to fraud in banking.

But I digress … enjoy your adventure, Garry. Sounds like a lot of fun. If you make it up north to Washington state, let me know. I have a friend who manages communications for the Lemay - America's Car Museum, in Tacoma. I haven't been there yet, but I hear it's fantastic.

Happy Motoring and see you in October!

[Rolf-Dieter ✝︎]

Hi Garry,

I know you are planning your route well, however, if you are in the neighborhood of Bowling Green, Kentucky stop by the Corvette Museum. Or near Dearborn, MI the Henry Ford Museum. Both places are always great to visit. I was there last in 2013 with Robert G. We took the VIP Factory tour (the guide takes you all along the assembly line and it takes about 3 hours. Then he gives you a special tour in the museum explains everything). The factory and museum are at the same location. We stayed at the Museums Manager B&B very safe parking for your Pagoda

The Henry Ford Museum is always a great place to visit (you may have been there in your past travels. Robert and I will make the trip again in June (we have a massive car show here the first weekend in June, just about a 15-minute drive from my residence). We plan to make a repeat trip down there to both places after checking out cars from all over North America. The fellow that puts on this car show is the son of the Birth control inventor, needless to say, a multi-millionaire. Robert, as I may have mentioned, is a car nut (corvettes, chevies, Cadillacs etc). There will be all kinds of cars there. Last year they had some 3000 cars there on the golf course. Yes, you guessed it Steve P. villa and his guest house is on the golf course. This, of course, will be all done by the time you pass in our area, however, the golf course is open every Thursday up to late September there are normally some 200 plus cars local cars (depending on the weather) there, again all kinds of makes. Last year I meet therewith Dan C. Hugh R. we had a nice visit.  It would be cool if you and some of the other Pagoda's that are planning to come out to Dan's Benz Barn can join us there the Thursday, August 22, 2019, and we can then all together make our trip to the Benz Barn that would be cool to have an Australian Pagoda in the group. I should start a separate thread to see if that would work out.

Dieter

Corvette Museum -----> https://www.inspirock.com/united-states/bowling-green/national-corvette-museum-a64050383?ad_acc=iphk&gclid=Cj0KCQiAzKnjBRDPARIsAKxfTRAJ7Xh-Z0RXRUg9EevRL63tULdDfjtrIuomCEGHro5rCLqhiVzOuRsaAiaAEALw_wcB

Henry Ford ---> https://www.thehenryford.org/visit/henry-ford-museum/

Country Cruising Event May 31 to June 2, 2019, a great place to visit.

web site----> https://www.fleetwoodcountrycruizein.com

[Garry]

Am putting together a general outline of how my wife Kate and I will get from Los Angeles to San Diego, via Vancouver, Chicago, Ontario to Maine and then down onto Virginia before transporting car to San Diego.

Rough timing, remembering that we are going to freewheel where ever we care to go on the way.

Fly into Los Angeles 27 June 2019. Hopefully car will arrive week before.

Drive north arrive Santa Rosa around 7-9 July

Drive further north to Vancouver arrive around 20-22 July

Drive via Banff and Great Falls across east to Chicago arriving around 15-17 Aug

Quick run down to Blacklick Ohio and back up to Detroit around 21 August

On to the Benz Dr gathering near London Ontario on 23/25 August

A slow meander East to to Maine and then turn south for a slow drive arriving in Greenwood Virginia around 20-21 Sept in time to pick up the group truck transport thereabouts across to San Diego

Arrive in San Diego in time for the Pagodafest on 3-6 Oct

Return with car to Los Angeles to fly out on 9 October, car to follow on ship to Australia.

looking for any suggestions or must see suggestions along the way, this is not a fixed route and happy to deviate along the way.


Garry