Drive Planning

Planning a drive can be more fun than doing the drive itself. If you haven’t sponsored a drive, you are missing a good part of the pleasure of owning an LBC and being in a car club. The five basic elements to organizing a drive are as follows:

1. Determine a destination: It can be a place like a museum, a park, a restaurant, a tour of covered bridges, a quaint town or an activity event like the Winchester Speedway, etc. Generally speaking, the primary objective is a fun or scenic drive to get there. (Overnight events can be the exception). There does not have to be a destination. It could be a tuning around point. Naturally, outside events like parks, picnics or exploring a quaint town should be done in warm weather, whereas inside events like museums, restaurants could be done when it is cold.
   
   

2. Plan a route: Get a detailed map of the area, showing all the back roads (real estate offices or county engineering offices often will give them to you). Then get in your car and experience some of the roads that will ultimately lead to your destination. Write down times and details. An ideal driving time to a destination is perhaps one to three hours. You do not have to go far in distance, “as the crow flies”, as long as there are interesting roads on which to go back and forth. Try to find a potty stop somewhere mid-way, like a McDonalds, where there is parking for the convoy. Design your route to avoid congestion where the convoy will get strung out and split up with traffic lights, etc. by routing around them whenever possible. If the convoy is large, more than ten cars (that’s all that can normally make it through a light), it may be well to assign a second leader and break up into two groups.
   
   

3. Determine a Departure Time and Place: The driving time to the destination will determine the departure time. Allow a window of approximately one half-hour for everyone to assemble. The departure place should have adequate parking, a restroom available, and hopefully coffee & breakfast sandwiches.
   
   

4. Lunch Break: This can be your destination or a stop on the way to your destination. Get a prior commitment from the members to determine how many will be going. Check out a place which can handle the group at the time you schedule to arrive. Is there adequate parking? Moderate pricing and a varied menu are desirable. It is best to have made prior arrangements with the restaurant management unless it is fast food like Burger King, etc. If it’s a picnic in the park, make sure everyone knows to pack a lunch.
   
   

5. Plan a return route: Try to find an interesting return route, although sometimes reversing & coming back and retracing is as much fun as going. If time is short, the return route could be more direct. An option is to break and let everyone choose their own way home.
   
   

Remember that the whole point is to get out, drive your car, go somewhere different, and socialize with good people. No one will crucify you if your drive is less than perfect. We will all appreciate the effort. Get going, get busy, do some planning and create a fun time for everyone.