Calling Phoenix, AZ peeps. Need some help.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by GearHeadPeter

Ok, this might be what you are looking for. A better ride is one suggested earlier that you take I-10 to the Loop 202 (San Tan) and go east as it will take you close to the mountains, and some very nice scenery along the way. I would suggest coming back on the Loop 202 (San Tan) via US101 as the US60 can be quite busy on the weekends. Here is a link of the freeway system and I think the I-10 to the 202 (E) to the 101 (S) to the 202 (W), and back to the raceway would be better, faster, and more enjoyable, but that is my hummble opinion.

With the amount of cars this should be fine and all the way we can do 65-75 depending on how the cops feels about 300+ cars driving all together.

The map is here: http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/Valley_Freeways/Index.asp

There are many great drives in AZ, and hopefully you all come back to enjoy those drives, but just don't come back in the summer unless you like 115 degrees.

Take a look at post 12 and see if this is the one you were talking about.

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by Fearer2010SS

I believe there are 8 lights including the on/off ramps at the 51 and 101. Lincoln is pretty bare bones when you get into Paradise Valley, very low population. I lived Paradise Valley/Scottsdale portion of this route for years, if you might even get some traffic support from Paradise Valley and more likely Scottsdale PD.

An alternate without traffic lights would be to follow the same route from Firebird up the 51. Instead of getting off on Lincoln keep heading north until you hit the 101. This will take you through the center of the Phoenix Mountain Range and Camelback will still be in view. Once you hit the 101 head east and keep following the freeway all the way to its end in Chandler. This portion of the 101 has a good view of the McDowell Mountain Range and even passes by West World (Barrett Jackson grounds). This route will even go past the Pavillions and Casino Arizona. Obviously once you hit the 202 just head west to get back to Firebird.

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Take a look at post 12 and see if this is the one you were talking about.

No avoid this route. It goes through Gilbert and Mesa in view of the Superstitions. The problem is the 202 once you get east of the 101 in Chandler is under HEAVY construction and is often closed down on the weekend. I know all these routes very well right now as I travel to 4 job sites in the area. As far as I know the 101 east of the 51 has no construction.

[TAG UR IT]

Ok...I"m confused...

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Ok...I"m confused...

Hopefully this will help:

1. Leave Firebird head to I-10 west.
2. Follow I-10 west until you hit SR51 north.
3. Take SR51 north to Loop 101, go east
4. Take the Loop 101 east to its end at the Loop 202. Keep in mind the Loop 101 and 202 intersect twice, you want the second intersection.
5. At the Loop 202 head west towards the I-10 east and back to Firebird.

- Just slightly alter the route you made for Lincoln drive its basically the same loop just all freeway.

[14pilot]

Only 1 hour from Firebird... Go with your Post #6 route. Really its the only option I've seen here that comes close to what you are looking to do.

[Bowtiepower00]

I would avoid the Loop 101 through Scottsdale, tons of traffic, even on the weekends, and tons of left lane drivers going under the speed limit.

I would also avoid Maricopa and 347, lots of potential radar traps. Same with Riggs Rd W toward 51st Ave, that is Reservation Land and always has a speed trap, both areas have some really low speed limit areas, and get clogged with traffic.

Lincoln has mobile photo radar, and has been under construction recently, it might be finished, but you are definately going to hit some lights.

87 N to Globe is a great drivers road, but it fills with traffic on the weekends, and BRING A RADAR DETECTOR there WILL BE SPEED TRAPS for those of you from out of town who are planning on doing some driving. It's also a longer drive.

Ideally, I agree with the 202 all the way around to the 101 and back to the 60 or 202 to the 10, that is some of the least congested road we have in the Valley, and has some of the best views for our expressways. You could even take the 202 all the way to the 143, and reconnect with the 10 from the 143, but that may make the drive a bit too long. There are roads with better views, but they will have more congestion and or more lights.

I've never done a major cruise with cars, but I've participated in and helped organize plenty of bike poker and fun runs, and every stoplight breaks the pack up into smaller and smaller groups. If you stay on the freeways, I'm sure you could get a police block at the stoplight at the I10 onramp and keep everyone in one giant pack for pretty much the whole trip, with exceptions for the idiots who block lanes or merge into the sea of Camaros with their minivans.

EDIT: The route in post 6 would work, but it is pretty devoid of scenery. Maricopa is a pretty small town, there are a couple of lights, but with some planning I think the local PD may consider helping out with some traffic blocks to keep the pack together. Return traffic on the 10 will probably be fairly heavy as it is only 2 lanes and usually full of PHX-TUC traffic. Only downside is 35MPH zone through Maricopa for a good 5-7 miles.

[Doc]

How about whatever route is decided upon, you contact the local police to let them know and ask their blessing/participation? I think they'd be much more inclined to help us if we gave them the courtesy of knowing we were coming through instead of just showing up with hundreds of cars and clogging everything unexpectedly.

[2010 SS RS]

definately contact the sherriff and get them to participate...we have a ton of comps attending maybe use their influence as well......thanks for the efforts to organize this whole thing Tag.

[TAG UR IT]

Originally Posted by Doc

How about whatever route is decided upon, you contact the local police to let them know and ask their blessing/participation? I think they'd be much more inclined to help us if we gave them the courtesy of knowing we were coming through instead of just showing up with hundreds of cars and clogging everything unexpectedly.

The cruise is going to be led and directed by Maricopa Sheriff's department. Lights and intersections will be blocked just as was done last year in Valdosta. We will be fine through low traffic areas, fewer lights, and speed traps will hopefully not be an issue. If we are going to be headed through smaller towns with different local police departments, I can only imagine that the local PD's would be informed.


In Valdosta, we took many single lane back roads that no one else was driving. It was nice and easy and also avoided many lights. That is our goal this year as well. Good scenery would be nice, but moving the pack is most important.

[GearHeadPeter]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

Take a look at post 12 and see if this is the one you were talking about.

Yes Tag that is the one I was talking about. Fearer2010SS I was on the 202 that went through Chandler this past weekend to go to the Chandler car show at Arizona Ave, and I didn't see any major construction. I am going to another car show this weekend in Chandler that will take me closer to the 101, and I will see if there is a lot of construction and report back.

Just to not confuse anyone, our freeways, especially the 202 is known by a few different names and would depend on where it passes through. From the I-10 through Chandler it is the 202 (San Tan) for the San Tan mountains, and once it goes past US 60 and into Mesa it is the 202 (Red Mountain) freeway.

With 300 plus cars the least amount of lights would be best for the police to block. Can you imagine as a local sitting at a light that is blocked for 300 plus cars. That would be like 30 minutes or more or for each light to get all the cars through. Just sayin it would be thoughtful not to inconvenience a lot of people if we do not have to.

[TAG UR IT]

That is exactly the point. Last year, it took 12 minutes to get all the cars through a single check point (or light). Could you imagine sitting there for 12 minutes watching nothing but Camaros go by you? ....wondering when is this going to stop?? That is why we have to try to do this the best way possible....and that is with police and w/out lights.

[TOMS1SS]

Originally Posted by GearHeadPeter

Yes Tag that is the one I was talking about. Fearer2010SS I was on the 202 that went through Chandler this past weekend to go to the Chandler car show at Arizona Ave, and I didn't see any major construction. I am going to another car show this weekend in Chandler that will take me closer to the 101, and I will see if there is a lot of construction and report back.

I completely forgot about this last night, must've been too tired.

http://www.azdot.gov/Highways/Projects/index.asp

Keep going back to the ADOT site, they show all the planned freeway closures usually a month or two in advance. I'm not seeing anything major along the 202 in the next couple months, they might have done what they needed to do at that 101/202 interchange.

[GearHeadPeter]

Originally Posted by TAG UR IT

That is exactly the point. Last year, it took 12 minutes to get all the cars through a single check point (or light). Could you imagine sitting there for 12 minutes watching nothing but Camaros go by you? ....wondering when is this going to stop?? That is why we have to try to do this the best way possible....and that is with police and w/out lights.

Tag, that is why I suggested as someone else did the route as it has no lights once on the freeway. The biggest prpblem will be getting from Firebird to the freeway and back again.