Needed: (2) driver/navigators for a Hybrids vs. Diesel shootout across the country!

[xcel]

Hi All:

___I just received permission to take a European sourced Honda Civic iCDTi for a partial cross-country 1908 – 2008 Centennial Greatest Automobile Race reenactment and Hybrid(s) vs. Diesel shootout.

___For the second trip across, we will be leaving Chicago on Wednesday the 5th of March and arriving in San Francisco on the 7th. From there; we are headed to Los Angeles for a Green Driving - Hypermiling Clinic to be filmed for the Discovery Channel on Saturday, March 8th. We will be visiting with Tarabell in Los Angeles on that Saturday as well for those that have not met her yet. Immediately following, we will follow the Mother Road - Route 66 back from LA to Chicago to finish off the trip. Arrival into Chicago should occur during the late evening on Monday the 10th.

___The Format: Similar to the reenactment performed 2 weeks ago, 24/7 with 3 driver/navigators per vehicle and swapping out and between both vehicles every 3 to 5 hours.

___The Vehicles: Bestmapman’s 2007 Prius-II and the European Sourced 2007 Honda Civic iCDTi Turbo-diesel as discussed in the following: CleanMPG reviews the 2007 Honda Civic 2.2L iCDTi Turbo Diesel.

___The Drivers: Taking up the challenge include Jud (Bestmapman), Ken (Slowhands), Andrew (Palemelanesian), and myself as of this posting.

___We need two more and although I have just started putting out the request by PM, I thought it best to place it to the membership as this is a short time frame fill and anybody who is up for the challenge is invited. You must be able to drive a stick as the iCDTi includes a 6-speed manual transmission. A special incentive for a Michigan or East coast minded driver could occur as the iCDTi has to be picked up in Birmingham, MI. As of this moment, I will be taking Amtrak to pick it up and back after dropping it off. If anyone coming through from that direction would like to leave their car in Birmingham, MI for a week and drop off the iCDTi/pick up their vehicle on the way back, they can drive the iCDTi to Chicago where we will set it up for the trek across and back again as well as back to MI to pick up your own vehicle the following Tuesday.

___Thanks in advance and please reply ASAP.

___Good Luck

___Wayne

[PaleMelanesian]

WooHoo! We did get the iCDTi. That's good news.

And I have my flight booked. Tues March 4, 7:50 pm arrival at Midway.

[Daox]

Man... I wish I had the vacation days to do this! I'll look into it, but don't hold your breath.

Just checked my calendar and my coworker who I cover for is gone the 5th through 10th. Figures eh?

[bestmapman]

Great news. Rt 66 here we come.

[SlowHands]

Good job on getting the iCDTi Wayne!
I am quite glad that we will not be putting 4 'growed up' men in a Prius... I'm not so sure that Judd or Andrew would appreciate my snugglin' up (or 'percolating'!) while trying to sleep in the backseat as much as Sean might

Even if we get 1 more driver that would be great, of course 2 more would be the '6-pack' that works nicely for switching out the driving duties. And if by some chance we end up as a 4-pack, well that's more difficult but still quite do-able. But I got a feeling we'll get the full 6-pack for this run

I'll bring both my ScanGauges again, you still have the one.

Looks like a long time friend of mine may drive up from San Diego to meet us in Los Angeles too (from when we were about 7 years old....)

[atlaw4u]

This will be a thrilling comparison. I cant' wait to follow along.

[WriConsult]

This should be exciting. My money's on the diesel, but we'll see. Wish I could help drive it.

[laurieaw]

dang it all. wayne asked me but i just can't get away from work. this time of the year is nothing but pressure for me and i have to be here.....

let's do something in the fall, eh? there must be something we can renact then!

[phoebeisis]

The Prius has 68" of front to back sleeping room with the back seats folded forward,and with the space between the seats spanned with plywood and foam.You need a 51x8" piece of thin-1/4 or 1/8 plywood.The 68" is with the front seats all the way back..
We use dense foam with plywood to fill in the 8" from the folded back seat to the back of the front seats.Use the fully extended head rests to support the plywood .You can set it up so you can still move the front seats all the way back(for different drivers). An air mattress is a nice addition since you guys aren't going to sleep in any sissy motels,right?
You aren't really putting much weight on the head rests,so they won't break.
The foam is make the "rest" level with the folded seat.You can use lots of pillows for fill rather than a dense foam sheet.
Luck,
Charlie

[xcel]

Hi Charlie:

___If there are three to the vehicle, we will have a nice solution in either but if four … Let us just say you may not have seen a Prius loaded up with 4 men and 150 + #’s of gear. The HCH’s were packed to their limits and that was with 3 per vehicle

___Good Luck

___Wayne