'sprint' to Houston . . .

tekenaar · 03-27-2009

The distance between Plano and Houston is 246 miles [398 Km], one way. Made an appointment at the German Consulate in Houston on Post Oak for a passport for 10:00 AM Thursday, 03/26/09, on Wednesday and decided it was a good opportunity to really test my 'sprint' engine's "road legs".

Packed all essentials, GPS Nav, 9mm and Radar/Laser jammer, needed for the trip on Wednesday evening and departed my house for Houston at 04:35AM yesterday. Trip started out in very foggy, quarter-mile visibility, windshield wipers 'on' conditions until well south of Corsicana, but that didn't affect maintaining a 3900-4100 RPM road speed . . . traffic is pretty light at that time in the morning, after all!

Made one stop for gas, 7.1 gallons, a little north of Huntsville, just to be on the "safe side", as I had forgotton to take my "emergency" 2.5 gallon gas can. Huntsville is real "Sam Houston" country that you cannot miss but know because of his 50-foot, snow-white statue on the east side of I-45 and perpetually bathed in high intensity light. Texans aren't much into doing things in a small way!

Dawn was just breaking on the horizon at about this time too and I was soon seeing the first vestiges of the daily North Houston AM rush hour. Turned west on the 610 loop at 08:05AM where the rush hour traffic was unfortunately, but expectedly, in "full bloom!" It took about 25 minutes to navigate these last few miles on the 610 loop to my Post Oak exit on the west side. The building where the German Consulate is, is only two blocks away from the exit.

Parked my little Kadett, stopped for a quick bite to eat in the second floor cafeteria and then went to the consulate at about 09:35AM. Only had to wait about ten minutes for them to finish with the previous appointment and was then ushered in to finalize passport application and "finger-printing", all done with an electronic scanner linked directly to one of their "passport" computers. Pretty neat and 'no inky fingers' . . . they scan both "Zeigefingers", index fingers.

Paid my money, asked for Postal delivery of Passport and was all done and back underway at 10:25AM. Other than a couple of patchy fog areas on the way back and another stop for gas, 7.2 gallons, the trip back was a smooth, 3800-4200RPM event that was music to the ears. I arrived downtown Dallas, where I-45 changes to US-75 at 01:35PM and proceeded north to take in a very much needed Starbuck's cappuccino.

Proceeded home and refilled my gas tank with another 8.8 gallons of 87RON, regular, gas. A quick recap of my 'sprint' to Houston and back is this:

Distance traveled - 492 miles
Highway travel time - 6:40hrs/min = 74 MPH
Gas used - 23.1 gallons = 21.3 mpg

. . . this is with a 3.18 rear end and a TH-180 . . . non-lockup. Not bad considering the speed, distance and the fact that a Kadett looks like a "brick" aerodynamically!

RallyBob · 03-27-2009

Originally Posted by tekenaar

Packed all essentials, GPS Nav, 9mm and Radar/Laser jammer, needed for the trip on Wednesday evening...

Only in Texas would this be considered 'essential'!

opelenvy · 03-27-2009

Very cool Otto. Good to see others not afraid to take long trips in their Opels.
I've got about a 5 hour round trip tomorrow to the Texas Mile. 5-speed is nice for these.

tekenaar · 03-27-2009

Originally Posted by RallyBob

Originally Posted by tekenaar

Packed all essentials, GPS Nav, 9mm and Radar/Laser jammer, needed for the trip !

Only in Texas would this be considered 'essential'!

. . . perhaps the HK, yes, but I strongly adhere to the Boy Scouts Motto in this case!

krewzer · 03-27-2009

Otto, I bet your Kadette is just aching to go to Sugar Land on May 2nd.

David McCollam · 03-27-2009

I personally prefer that, if presented with the need for a math lesson, we start with the multiples of .45! .45 x 8=trouble!

opeldean · 03-27-2009

otto: 74mph ave...wow...
by the way ...your gas can...what kind do you use? I think this might be a good idea on a long trip. i figure you would have some sort of non leaking,vapor containing,bullet proof thing.

tomking · 03-27-2009

Originally Posted by RallyBob

Only in Texas would this be considered 'essential'!

Well I live in Missouri and also consider it essential on road trips!

SpringGT · 03-27-2009

Otto, I make that same drive from North Houston to Dallas on a regular basis. I don't carry a 9mm, but I wouldn't leave home without my radar detection "electronic warfare" gear with me.
Most of that drive is uneventful, until between Ennis and I-20 on the south side of Dallas, then it is speed trap city. Several small towns with 6-8 radar cars working both sides of I-45 and sudden 10 mph drops in the speed limit on a new 6 lane wide interstate highway. I don't know if you have observed this, but I see it every time I go through there.

Maybe we can start a poll of our favorite speed traps.

The next time you come down this way, give us a heads up and we'll treat you to lunch.
Bob

opeldean · 03-28-2009

Originally Posted by SpringGT

Otto, Several small towns with 6-8 radar cars working both sides of I-45 and sudden 10 mph drops in the speed limit on a new 6 lane wide interstate highway. I don't know if you have observed this,

Maybe we can start a poll of our favorite speed traps.

Bob

My Vote " Belton Mo outside of Kansas City Mo" 162nd strreet exit on highway 71", there is a place ,as you leave town...the road is 2 lane and 45mph, then the road opens up to a NEW 4 lane ( as you leave town) .. and the speed limit drops to 35 mph for 1/4 mile. ..then they sit in hiding and nail out of towners... same as what you describe...ticket cost me $200 as I was doing 47 in a 35...being out of town...I didnt hire an attorney to reduce it to a parking ticket...like is done...now it sits on your insurance for year$.Its a racket.

My 21 year old daughter has had 2 instances with different violations..on both times,she pleady guilty ,paid double, and its changed to" parking tickets ,etc) ...seems dishonest in a way...go figure..each local jurisidction has their "own rules".

opeldean · 03-28-2009

Originally Posted by tomking

Well I live in Missouri and also consider it essential on road trips!

This would make a good poll

" what is essential for road trips"

03-27-2009	#1 (permalink)
tekenaar Cunning Linguist Join Date: Mar 2002 Location: Plano, TX 75074 Posts: 4,441 Real Name: Otto	'sprint' to Houston . . . The distance between Plano and Houston is 246 miles [398 Km], one way. Made an appointment at the German Consulate in Houston on Post Oak for a passport for 10:00 AM Thursday, 03/26/09, on Wednesday and decided it was a good opportunity to really test my '*sprint' engine's "road legs". Packed all essentials, GPS Nav, 9mm and Radar/Laser jammer, needed for the trip on Wednesday evening and departed my house for Houston at 04:35AM* yesterday. Trip started out in very foggy, quarter-mile visibility, windshield wipers 'on' conditions until well south of Corsicana, but that didn't affect maintaining a 3900-4100 RPM road speed . . . traffic is pretty light at that time in the morning, after all! Made one stop for gas, 7.1 gallons, a little north of Huntsville, just to be on the "safe side", as I had forgotton to take my "emergency" 2.5 gallon gas can. Huntsville is real "Sam Houston" country that you cannot miss but know because of his 50-foot, snow-white statue on the east side of I-45 and perpetually bathed in high intensity light. Texans aren't much into doing things in a small way! Dawn was just breaking on the horizon at about this time too and I was soon seeing the first vestiges of the daily North Houston AM rush hour. Turned west on the 610 loop at 08:05AM where the rush hour traffic was unfortunately, but expectedly, in "full bloom!" It took about 25 minutes to navigate these last few miles on the 610 loop to my Post Oak exit on the west side. The building where the German Consulate is, is only two blocks away from the exit. Parked my little Kadett, stopped for a quick bite to eat in the second floor cafeteria and then went to the consulate at about 09:35AM. Only had to wait about ten minutes for them to finish with the previous appointment and was then ushered in to finalize passport application and "finger-printing", all done with an electronic scanner linked directly to one of their "passport" computers. Pretty neat and 'no inky fingers' . . . they scan both "Zeigefingers", index fingers. Paid my money, asked for Postal delivery of Passport and was all done and back underway at 10:25AM. Other than a couple of patchy fog areas on the way back and another stop for gas, 7.2 gallons, the trip back was a smooth, 3800-4200RPM event that was music to the ears. I arrived downtown Dallas, where I-45 changes to US-75 at 01:35PM and proceeded north to take in a very much needed Starbuck's cappuccino. Proceeded home and refilled my gas tank with another 8.8 gallons of 87RON, regular, gas. A quick recap of my '*sprint' to Houston and back is this: Distance traveled - 492 miles* Highway travel time - 6:40hrs/min = 74 MPH Gas used - 23.1 gallons = 21.3 mpg . . . this is with a 3.18 rear end and a TH-180 . . . non-lockup. Not bad considering the speed, distance and the fact that a Kadett looks like a "brick" aerodynamically! __________________ 1960: ♥ '61 Rekord PII 1.7 3S 3.9 ♥ '69 Kadett LS 'sprint' 1.9 3A 3.18 1970: ♥ '70 GT 1.9 4S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.2SSD 5S 3.44 ♥ '72 GT 2.4FI 5S 3.44P ♥ '73 GT 1.9FI 4S 3.44 ♥ '75 1900 1.9FI 4S 3.44 1980: ♥ '85 Bitter SC 3.9FI 5S 3.44P 2000: ♥ '09 Solstice GXP Coupe 2.0 SIDI VVT Turbo 5S 3.73P Last edited by tekenaar; 03-28-2009 at 11:10 AM.

03-27-2009	#3 (permalink)
opelenvy Driver Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: Cedar Park, TX ('Burb of Austin) Posts: 1,179 Real Name: George	Very cool Otto. Good to see others not afraid to take long trips in their Opels. I've got about a 5 hour round trip tomorrow to the Texas Mile. 5-speed is nice for these. __________________ Born to Drive 73 GT Sport suspension, lowered 2", polyurethane bushings, Koni Reds, adjustable pan hard rod, 205-60/13 Falcons on 13x6 aluminum rims, Ported intake, custom cold air intake, sprint exhaust manifold, 2" free flow exhaust, 4-core radiator, Getrag 5-speed, Momo steering wheel, Saks heavy duty clutch, Euro style driving lights, tinted windows, seats from Acura Integra, 3 point retractable seat belts from a '75 Manta, flush mount aircraft style gas cap

03-27-2009	#6 (permalink)
David McCollam Member Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Texas Posts: 589	Essentials-Math lesson. I personally prefer that, if presented with the need for a math lesson, we start with the multiples of .45! .45 x 8=trouble!

03-27-2009	#7 (permalink)
opeldean 1000 Post Club Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Overland Park KS Posts: 1,999	otto: 74mph ave...wow... by the way ...your gas can...what kind do you use? I think this might be a good idea on a long trip. i figure you would have some sort of non leaking,vapor containing,bullet proof thing. __________________ Thank you members of opelgt.com for helping me on a 5 year reconstruction of the most beautiful car in the world Celeste: 1917,cc ,getrag resealed, 2liter Intake valves,ported,ISKY cam on solids,Opel forged rods,9.52 compression,total seal gapless,oil dam,RB gasket mod., DCOE side drafts,sprint,2in straight exhaust,pertronix,OMNI paint,SACHS clutch,OGTS & Kadette sway bars,Manta finned pan,3 V clock,Ball joints and Poly all... SAA-WEET! Last edited by tekenaar; 03-28-2009 at 11:05 AM. Reason: 76mph : 492/6.67 = 73.76

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03-27-2009	#5 (permalink)
krewzer Opeler Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Sugar Land, Texas Posts: 235 Real Name: Wes Thomas	Otto, I bet your Kadette is just aching to go to Sugar Land on May 2nd.

03-27-2009	#9 (permalink)
SpringGT Opeler Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 252	Otto, I make that same drive from North Houston to Dallas on a regular basis. I don't carry a 9mm, but I wouldn't leave home without my radar detection "electronic warfare" gear with me. Most of that drive is uneventful, until between Ennis and I-20 on the south side of Dallas, then it is speed trap city. Several small towns with 6-8 radar cars working both sides of I-45 and sudden 10 mph drops in the speed limit on a new 6 lane wide interstate highway. I don't know if you have observed this, but I see it every time I go through there. Maybe we can start a poll of our favorite speed traps. The next time you come down this way, give us a heads up and we'll treat you to lunch. Bob

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