RE: The PistonHeads American Dream Tour 2012

RE: The PistonHeads American Dream Tour 2012

Wednesday 14th December 2011

The PistonHeads American Dream Tour 2012

Join Petrolhead Nirvana in the US from September 29th to October 6th for our most glamorous tour of the year.



What will you see on this tour? Let’s start with an extensive list - Las Vegas, Hollywood, Death Valley, Route 66, The Golden Gate Bridge, Napa Valley, The Hoover Dam, Yosemite, Mojave, Beverley Hills, Malibu Beach, the Grand Canyon, Laguna Seca and the Calico Ghost Town. That enough for you?

All of these are must-see places when travelling to the West Coast of America, but this is far more than just a sightseeing tour. There's the Pacific Coast Highway, with mountains on one side and the Pacific Ocean on the other. There's Mulholland Highway, Angeles Crest, and the Eldorado and Joshua Tree National Park roads - all as good as anything you’ll find in Europe. We've also got a few surprises up our sleeves – as you will have come to expect from us.


The 2012 trips take us through three states: California, Arizona and Nevada. Every day brings something new. One day you have the Pacific Ocean, the next you’re in a desert. In fact, on day 6 we go from the over-the-top Las Vegas to the stunning (and hot) Death Valley, before ending up in a ski resort with temperature and altitude changes to match.

We include the hire of the cars in the price of this tour and even give you a choice from the  following:

  • Corvette Convertible
  • Dodge Challenger RT
  • Chevy Camaro SS
  • Ford Mustang GT Premium

All excess mileage and insurance is prepaid by us, so the only vehicle expenses will be fuel (really cheap) and tolls (very rare).

This is a trip you simply cannot miss, but it is limited to 15 cars, so if you don’t book up early then you will regret it until 2013...


Day 1 - San Francisco Airport to Monterey Bay - 109 miles
Arrive at San Francisco International Airport (SFO). You will be met at the hire car desk by your tour managers and allocated a car (to be shared between two people). Then it's a short drive over the mountains to Santa Cruz and then out to the beautiful Monterey Bay.

Day 2 - Monterey Bay to Santa Barbara - 255 miles
We begin the day with the first of our ‘up our sleeve’ treats: a visit to the famous Laguna Seca raceway to soak up the atmosphere. Driving south along the famous Pacific Coast Highway to Santa Barbara (southbound is by far the best direction for the PCH) there's plenty of time to pause and take in the sights, or we can just enjoy driving with each other in true Petrolhead Nirvana style. We’ll break off PCH to to check our sleeve again (we’ll keep this one a secret for now). Back on track, there are long sweeping bends and other more technical sections - and always a stunning ocean view. We end the day just outside Los Angeles at Santa Barbara, where we stay at a stunning beachfront hotel.

Day 3 - Santa Barbara to Barstow - 256 miles
The Santa Barbara, Malibu, Beverley Hills, Hollywood, Angeles National Park leg of the trip: the locations speak for themselves. We'll be enjoying the California air and revelling in the surrounding beauty. We may not be film stars but we'll be causing a stir as we meet with some of our local friends from the Ferrari, Lamborghini and Porsche owners clubs in LA on our way, driving along Mulholland Drive, passing Rodeo Drive and the Hollywood Walk of Fame, where we’ll have lunch at the Hard Rock Café. We then move on to view the famous Hollywood sign and, the highlight of the day, a 7,000-foot ascent on the Angeles Crest Highway.


Day 4 - Barstow to Las Vegas - 276 miles
From Barstow we head to the Calico ghost town to sample some real cowboy history, and then on to the 1.6 million acre Mojave National Preserve, which is the third largest National Park in the USA and home of the largest Joshua tree forest in the world. After a fun drive on Route 66 and the undulating back roads through the park, we head to the architectural wonder that is the Hoover Dam and then another highlight of the tour: our arrival in Las Vegas!

Day 5 - Rest Day or (optional) Las Vegas to Grand Canyon Skywalk - 250 miles
Las Vegas – a rest day – and where better to spend it? Our hotel will take your breath away. You can wander around the casinos, take in a show, or just soak up the Las Vegas atmosphere. Or you could join us for a drive to another wonder of the architectural world that is the Grand Canyon skywalk. Completed in 2007, this unique structure allows you to walk 70ft out on a glass walkway suspended 4,000ft above the canyon floor. There is also an optional helicopter trip to the Grand Canyon (register interest when you pay deposit, approx $450 USD per person). If you've never been to the Grand Canyon, these options are well worth considering.


Day 6 - Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes (via Death Valley) - 302 miles
Leaving Las Vegas, we head to Death Valley National Park which will be relatively uncrowded at this time of year. The park includes the best sleeve trick of all - Artist's Drive, a scenic loop drive through multi-hued volcanic and sedimentary hills. The 9-mile paved road is one-way with smooth tarmac, undulations and tight hairpins, and is like a mini Nurburgring. This is just one of the amazing areas of the park. We then have lunch and refuel at Furnace Creek on our way out to Mammoth Lakes, a beautiful ski resort, for our night’s stop.

Day 7 - Mammoth Lakes to Napa Valley - 300 miles
We trail along the Yosemite National Park, past Mono Lake, then head through the Eldorado National Forest in the Sierra Nevada mountain range with some amazing driving roads to enjoy. Finally, we emerge in the world-famous Napa Valley for a final night of revelry.


Day 8 - Napa to San Francisco Airport - 65 miles
Heading back towards the airport we cross the Golden Gate Bridge, a fitting ending to an amazing week and one that will change your mind about American roads and cars. Arriving at the airport we hand the cars back ready for our flight home.

What’s included:
Hire of one of our car choices with full insurance cover and extra mileage prepaid (however, subject to age restrictions, drivers must be over 25)

Bed and breakfast accommodation every night (7 nights)

Two tour managers in lead and chase cars

Loan of our Tom Tom sat-nav units with pre-loaded files

Loan of our licensed walkie talkies

Drivers packs with maps, route notes and useful information

What’s not included:
Return flights to San Francisco

Dinner, drinks, fuel, tolls and personal expenses

Optional helicopter flight to Grand Canyon

Gambling money for the Las Vegas Casinos!

What does it cost?
The price is £1599 per person - based on two people sharing a car and a twin or double room.

A £50 discount applies if you book before Christmas 2011, making the price £1549 per person.

The booking deposit is £500 per person.

If you would like to book your place or find out more, please call the Petrolhead Nirvana team on 0845 838 7363.

Author
Discussion

chunkymonkey71

Original Poster:

13,015 posts

197 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
I'd LOVE to do this!

It sucks being poor.

frown

Oddball RS

1,757 posts

217 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
chunkymonkey71 said:
I'd LOVE to do this!

It sucks being poor.

frown
+1


Sounds great.

DaveL485

2,758 posts

196 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Selling kidney on eBay.

brb.

cjgreaves41

106 posts

154 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Dam Still only 24 in September 2012! frown

cjgreaves41

106 posts

154 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
ooooo that and im skint

gmackay2

160 posts

194 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Sounds superb! Driven all that before on previous road trips, albeit in much lesser rentals??? driving But still awesome fun. biggrin

Bernie_78

244 posts

195 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Did a very similar run over the summer and due to a couple of reliability validation exercises (accidents) drove each of those cars - possibly some of the best roads and times in a car I've ever had.

Only downside is the route doesn't take you north into the Redwood forest area - some amazing roads north of San Fancisco but it'll be an amazing 7 days - and well worth that price!


lee st

5,077 posts

164 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Read this thinking cool I will do this next year got to the end and it say drivers must be 25. Why was this not at the top so i would not waste my time and get my hopes up. frown

ToryJosh

424 posts

166 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
lee st said:
Read this thinking cool I will do this next year got to the end and it say drivers must be 25. Why was this not at the top so i would not waste my time and get my hopes up. frown
Likewise chap frown, only got another 5 years to wait....

K50 DEL

9,227 posts

227 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Did almost all of this route as a small part of a 3 week US road trip a couple of years ago... I had a 350z roadster which was nice enough, but doing those roads in a 'Vette..... fantastic.

cooldude27uk

41 posts

179 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Oddball RS said:
+1


Sounds great.
+1

Sounds fab....

SlimJ

386 posts

228 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Very seriously tempted.

Been on a trip from LA to San Francisco, to Yosemite, Vegas, Grand Canyon, San Diego and back to LA over 3 weeks back in 2002, it was awesome!

Can only imagine what it's like doing it in a 'Vette! biggrin

79Cannonball

7 posts

148 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
Sounds like a fun trip. I've been on most of these roads and they are amazing. Now I just have to hit the Lottery in time for start.

AngryPartsBloke

1,436 posts

150 months

Wednesday 14th December 2011
quotequote all
chunkymonkey71 said:
I'd LOVE to do this!

It sucks being poor.

frown
being able to afford it and still not being able to go because of your age also sucks ;(

GTRCLIVE

4,186 posts

282 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
So If I have my own Corvette Convertable and can meet you at the start whats the cost ?? or is that not an option......

VerySideways

10,237 posts

271 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
GTRCLIVE said:
So If I have my own Corvette Convertable and can meet you at the start whats the cost ?? or is that not an option......
Hi Clive,
Certainly that's an option we'd be happy to discuss. Could you PM me your email address?

Mr GTR Steve

10 posts

253 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
If I don't do any of the other tours, I may be able to do this one - so much choice tho !!! Mind you driving an American Tank isn't exactly my idea of fun ! LOL

c4srmsims

242 posts

204 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
See the Adrenaline Collection...

http://www.hertz.com/rentacar/vehicleguide/index.j... Collection

Big E 118

2,408 posts

168 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
I did a very similar route over 15 days last year with a few days in SF, Monterey, Yosemite and Vegas. It was an awesome trip with some really great roads (especially in the Sierra Nevada mountains) with very little traffic off the main freeways.

Would really like to do it again on an organised tour like this but timescales this year don't fit, maybe next year!

ian mcwilliams

38 posts

174 months

Thursday 15th December 2011
quotequote all
After chatting to wifey and getting her to change her holiday dates for next year - I THINK I'M IN!!!!!!! Will call tomorrow for more details! YIPEEE!!!!!

(that's if there are any places left!)