VCCA Home Forums GENERAL DISCUSSION General Discussions Tour Question

Being that I/we have not yet been on a tour, would I be correct that folks keep in touch with one another, during the tour, via cell or c.b.?

If c.b., and you're driving your 12 volt car on the tour, all if fine.

What does the guy do, who's driving his car with a 6 volt system ?

There are several solutions, however the most popular is to bring along a motorcycle or equipment battery that is 12-volt. It can be charged each night in the motel room with a small charger.

I have known several that use small hand held battery operated devices. Radio Shack is a good source. There are also sealed batteries that will not spill.

The tours we've been on, some use small walkie-talkies. The range is limited though. Every day we have turn by turn directions to go by in case the caravan gets separated. On occasion tour masters provide the street address or GPS coordinates of the venues we'll visit that day for those with GPS in their cars. I recently put a 6v to 12v step-up in my '38 so I can run my GPS when on tour. I strongly encourage you to go on a tour. I guarantee it won't be your last. The wife and I went on a Southern Fall Tour a few years ago that was based out of Grove OK as an experiment. We were firmly hooked. We've been on at least one tour per year, often two, each year since. This year we're signed up for the Happy Days tour in Ohio next month and we're looking forward to the SFT that will be based somewhere in Kansas this fall.

Some of the most fun on a tour can be " being lost with a whole group of followers". Cell phones seem to have replaced the CB as the method of choice for contact and some do have a GPS onboard. That's the guy you follow and be sure to get their cell number.

All the tours I have been on do not travel as a caravan. There may be two or three that travel as a group. We all have directions to follow. Traveling in smaller groups is more public friendly and less traffic problems. We can each travel at our own pace.

Not familiar with the 6 volt to 12 volt "step up". ???

Most of us that have CBs leave them in the tow vehicle as they have been replaced by the hand-held radio and cell phone. Quite a few use hand-held radios to communicate during the tour. CBs and hand-held radios have limited range but do work in remote areas when cell phones do not. You can buy a reasonably good hand-held at stores that sell hunting and fishing stuff including Wally World.

We hope to become involved this season.

And these "hand held radios" broadcast over the CB channels ?

The hand-held radios that most people use do not use the CB channels. CBs use a portion of the former 11 meter Ham band (27 MHz). Hand-held radios use a different frequency so the CB can not communicate with the hand-held radios.

Thanks fort clarification.

This is the one I bought. It won't handle a booming stereo but none of us have those anyway. It's listed as being for a Porsche or VW but it'll work on any neg ground vehicle. The same seller also sells positive ground units for those needing that application. I connected mine to the keyed side of the ignition switch & tied it to a lighter receptacle for my GPS to plug in to.

OK, very nice and thanks!

Bob,

Do not go on a tour. Here's the reasons:

a. You can visit the sites on your own and not have to wait to use the bathroom.

b. You won't PO the public who can't get around the "parking lot" the tour will undoubtedly create. (trucker's CB lingo for backed up traffic) It only takes two cars to create one.

c. Someone will break down and you'll volunteer to fix it, You;ll get dirty and greasy whilst the owner gives you instructions. Count on it.

d. Half the group will get lost. Mostly because the missus is reading the map upside down.

e. You will get stuck at lunch with someone who has no "on" and "off" button. They will not shut up and drive you nuts.

f. Everyone will try to share their pictures of their grangkids. You can fake an "ooh: and "aww" only so many times. Pretty soon they will catch you doing it when you're looking at a blank screen or rolling your eyes.

g. The food at the places will be institutional quality. It will remind you of the last time you were in the hospital or in jail. Jail food is better.

h. There will be too many missus's along. Most don't really want to go but your reputation with "Heavenly Helons" makes them want to keep an eye on you.

i. The tour will include sites that you visited just last week. How many times can you look at a ball of twine or a prarie dog colony? You get the picture.

j. You and the others will all think you could have done a better job of organizing the tour. You plan to volunteer to be the chairman next time but you won't and that will give you an uneasy feeling for not following through., especially if you have given voice to your misgiving within ear shot of others who still have the ability to remember such things.

k. There will be women along. They need to stay home and let the boys play. But nosiree they want to tag along and make life miserable for the guys. Some of them can't stand some of the others. There is a pecking order amongst hens so why would think a higher order of female beings would be any different.

I could go on but this has been my experience and so it is all I know about tours. It seems enough for me.

You've been warned.

Charlie

Note: I'm just pulling your leg.

Naw, you're not pulling my leg, and to show I'm a believer in what you say, the wife and I have now cut our passport to ribbons and decided to stay home and forget these tours.

After the wife read your comments, she decided, for both of us, that the tours are no place for us to be.

Thanks for your assistance.

Bob… you've broken rule #1. What gets said on the Chat Site stays on the Chat Site! Never show your wife anything from here! Next she'll find out how much these cars are costing you. Soon you'll be on an allowance!

Seriously though, the tours are great fun for everyone. I'd encourage you and the Missus to join us sometime. Charlie should too...

Charlie:

Soon as I got my 48, I figured out a way to keep the Missus from going to events in it with me. I just put a bunch of stuff in the truck that rattled REAL LOUD the first time she wanted to go with me. All the noise scared her so bad that now she refuses to ride in the 48. Problem solved!

Regards:
Oldengineer

"Next she'll find out how much these cars are costing you. Soon you'll be on an allowance!"

Brewster, now that's a valid point you make here.

HMMMMMM, better not show her THIS post, for certain.

The mind, at its best, with true engineering, as its basis.

I'm glad you two have sworn off tours. It will mean that two more deserving folks will be able to go. The Boss and I go on up to 7 VCCA tours annually. Just try to keep her from going! You will be glad she doesn't have a CHL, yet!

We will be going on three tours this year. That is what Chevies were made for. SEE THE USA IN YOUR CHEVROLET.

We attended many meets and tours over the years....the tours were the high point of the year for us. You really got to know the other members and they became family. Thats what I miss the most. Ever so glad we became tourng fans, memories that will last forever.

Chipper,

I wouldn't say that either one of is underserving of going on a tour. It is merely a choice whether one wants to participate or not. Nothing more.

What if only a few out of a local club can be accommodated. Is there going to be a selection committee to select the most deserving?

With all due respect, given that I said about just pulling his leg, that was an unwarranted and underserved comment. Was too!

Let's not take everything too seriously.

Charlie

Now, Now Charlie,
I didn't say "underserving" I said that others may be more deserving. That of course assumes that they want to go on a tour which apparently has at least crossed your mind.

Many of the VCCA tours reach capacity (limited by available rooms, space at places visited) fairly quickly. It is truly a shame that all that might want to attend a tour don't get to go for some reason. I would hope that all that want to attend a tour can do it. So far not enough people are willing to plan and execute (no that is not kill) a tour. Many of us that have worked on multiple tours over a nearly 20 year period are getting tired and dearly would like to help and train others so we can rest and enjoy.

My advise is if you think you might want to go on a VCCA Tour to let the organizers know ASAP. Ask questions if you have any. Talk to others that have gone on a tour or ask for a few names of folks that have. We typically find that one tour and most are hooked.