New Beetles Return to Roswell 2009

[CoriBug]

Originally Posted by usa bug 03

Cori be safe, I will call you on Thur and let you know where we are. We will be in Vaughn by noon 12:30 at the latest. Please let everyone know that, we should have 3 bugs and 1 van in our group.

Rhonda

Yes madam President! See you Thursday!

[marvins_dad]

Originally Posted by scarabY2k

Hey Antione, I'm leaving Jacksonville Wed A.M., and should get to Dallas around 8-9 p.m. When is the caravan leaving Abeline? I read that you said, it's best to get out of Dallas before the mad traffic. Throw me a bone on how to approach the traffic in your area- thanks

I would guess 9-10am would be safe to venture out...depending on where you are coming from in Dallas. I-20 will be pretty busy until almost 10am. Best get out of Big D before 7am or after 9:30 possibly. If you have access to a computer you can use google to see the traffic...or Dallas/Fort Worth Traffic Conditions to see how it is when you are leaving.

We are probably leaving around 10-10:30ish from Abilene, is my best guess. Trying to make it to Roswell by 4:30 for the press stuff around 5-5:30.

Are you hanging with TJ Wed night? If so 35 to 20 is a slow area in the mornings because of morning commutes of all the folks going into Dallas...practically a stand still from 7:30-9. I used to go against that traffic and be thankful that I didn't have to go into Dallas(south).

[uwharrie]

Anyone coming from the east via I40 be aware that the west bound lanes of the interstate will be shut down from 10 am possibly till afternoon while they remove a truck that hit the overpass. We sat almost 2 hrs in traffic yesterday right after it happened.

[turbos03]

I know it might be a little late to ask this but does anyone know the highest octane gas that can be had at the pump in New Mexico..???

[hestersu]

Like any place, it all depends on the altitude. In ABQ and Santa Fe and the mountains, probably 89, 90 or 91 will be the highest. In the lower elevations, you might be able to get 92.

Roswell is at 3573 feet above sea level. They are 300 feet lower than I am and the best I can get is 90 or 91. I suspect Roswell is no different. Much of New Mexico is higher than you may realize so you probably won't get much better than 91 if that.

Your car will run fine. I've run a 1.8t in NM several times. It will be OK.

[turbos03]

Originally Posted by hestersu

Your car will run fine. I've run a 1.8t in NM several times. It will be OK.

yeah I know my car will run fine, just wanted to know... I'm debating with myself over keeping my Revo software on or off for this trip...

thanks for the info...

[CoriBug]

we leave in about an hour! Just gotta load up Daisy!

[Duffy]

I have been riding along with Spacepod for two days now. I sure hope you guys and gals enjoy your ride thru Arkansas (r-can-saw). Each time I look at a new pic, yep, I've been there, but not this year. I do believe this was the year to go, but no bug yet. Enjoy and have a good time. I'm just looking forward to the trip next year, right?

[usa bug 03]

President Elect, have a safe drive today see you Thur.

Rhonda

[DannyRandomState]

On my way!!!!!!

See ya soon!

[HarlequinPixie]

Central made it to Oklahoma City around 6:30 tonight... weeeeeeeeeee!

I actually wanna steal the blanket that's on my bed at the Howard Johnson here. i really like it!

I think i left my brain up in the top of the St. Louis Arch, though. Since then, I've left my spare battery and charger for my camera in the hotel in Rolla, forgot my room key when i left for Best Buy\dinner tonight, then left my camera sitting on the table when leaving the dinner restaurant....

[HarlequinPixie]

Oh. and apparently, I got proof that Jerry really is an alien.

[Howie]

Just to update you guys, we are in OKC with about 10 cars, and picking up a few more here this morning. It's been a great trip, and cruising along 66 breaks up some of the monotony of the white line fever.

We have a great group, and I'm missing a couple people that said they were joining us; Dee and Randi. Hope things are ok. If we missed you maybe you can still get down to Roswell.

Pretty neat that we'll be in Roswell tonight!

Howie

[hestersu]

Dee is with Eastern. Remember the discussion with Stephanie? Dee lives in Little Rock and Eastern went through Little Rock. I believe they picked her up.

[hestersu]

I believe Randi's car pooped out - needs new engine. She will not be joining you.

[marvins_dad]

Made it to Abilene about 1am...thanks work!
Anyhoo, been in contact with Robert Turbos03, we will be meeting up shortly to head out Roswell way! Hopefully get into town before everyone meets up.

Marvin is doing fine pulling his trailer so far, only one tight turn and a pop, hope it was just the chains.

Aiden keeps telling me that I am driving "Mack's Trailer" because his car is in the back like Lightning McQueen. Cute!

I know...he's still such a baby...Marvin that is...

Snapped it while waiting for Pam to get the key to the hotel.

Also, saw this at the Uhaul place when I was getting my trailer. Too bad I didn't get a trailer with Roswell on it...I have an Arizona one.

[Oh Randi]

Originally Posted by hestersu

I believe Randi's car pooped out - needs new engine. She will not be joining you.

Yeah.

Finally got him up and running. But with all the money I've spent to get him that way, I spent my hotel and part of the gas money I had saved up.

I might beg my parents to let me go, just for one or two days. But they didn't want me to go in the first place. SO probably not.

[marvins_dad]

Looks like Al set them straight! LOL
And, look who got the front page picture...

Will this be the last gathering?

6/26/2009 12:11:00 AM Email this article • Print this article
A caravan of Volkswagen Beetles arrive at the Sally Port Inn Thursday afternoon, kicking off the 10th anniversary of the Roswell 2K New Beetle Car Show, which runs through Sunday. (Daily Record/Mark Wilson)
Will this be the last gathering?
Cid Standifer
Record Staff Writer

Rolling into town, the carabug was headed up by Howie Lipton in a blue Volkswagen New Beetle with "Follow Me!" painted on the front.

After checking his odometer, Lipton was able to say that he had driven exactly 2,845 kilometers, or 1,767 miles, to Roswell from his home in Canada.

"There's 2,000 miles of bugs on the windshield," he estimated.

The participants in Return to Roswell, a gathering for New Beetle owners, came from all corners of the Mainland, including, contrary to previous reports, Florida.

Many of the drivers came to celebrate the Roswell reunions of bygone years, and see old friends they normally only encounter on Internet New Beetle forums. The event began in 2000, but lapsed last year. Organizers decided to revive the trip for the 10th anniversary.

Brenda Sheets drove down from Alaska in her Beetle in 2000 and 2004, but this year couldn't make the time for the whole 9,000-mile round trip over land. Instead she flew to California, where she rented a Dodge Nitro for the drive to New Mexico.

"It's the square Beetle, not the round Beetle," she explained.

Others made the trip for the first time this year, like Al Stewart of Jacksonville, Fla., who drove more than 23 hours to reach the gathering.

"I've always wanted to go," he said. "Hearing that this might be the last Roswell, I wanted to definitely be in attendance."

The prospect that this might be the last Beetle convention hung over the gathering of dozens of New Beetles in the Sally Port parking lot on Thursday. There had been much discussion on the Internet about the convention's future. Some advocated holding the event every four years, like the Olympics, or even once every five years. But shutting it down altogether is one option.

Organizer Earl McCutcheon said that they would take a vote on it over the weekend.

Many of the conventioneers planned to take Friday to rest up, visit downtown shops - especially Hippie Chicks, whose vintage VW Beetle façade gives it a special place in the hearts of Beetle lovers - and wash their cars.

"Coming through Texas, they have some really big bugs in that state," noted Jerry O'Hara, who drove from Ohio, "and they have a tendency to really stick."

Saturday, The Beetlers will show off their cars in the parking lot of the UFO Museum and Research Center starting at 10 a.m. Then, between 3 and 3:30 p.m., they will form another carabug to parade to the Sally Port Inn.

McCutcheon said that owners of all Beetles, old and new, are welcome to take part.

"The old Beetles, that's where we come from," he said. "The shape is there, the sentiment is there, so they can be a part of it, too."

[Oh Randi]

Oh man, I hope there's another one!! Please don't cancel Roswell forever! I haven't gotten to go yet!

[SixChuter]

Originally Posted by Oh Randi

Oh man, I hope there's another one!! Please don't cancel Roswell forever! I haven't gotten to go yet!

We're doing it again in 2 years! You will love the trip.