63 corvette

Well done Jack, Well done!

Bob

Vogie

My vote for Jack to replace the guy that does the Mexican Dos Exes beer commercials. "The most interesting man in the world."

Bluestripe67

Dennis

Fawndeuce

Just got back from a couple of weeks of vacation and was anxious to see how you did on the last leg. Glad you got home OK, and thank you for all the great posts on your amazing trip.



Paul

Olustee bus

I have been without a computer for a week and have not been caught up to date on Jack's whereabouts. Glad he is home and getting back to a more normal life. I would imagine it is somewhat difficult to adapt after such an adventure. Probably some desires to keep traveling at times.

My wife and I were honored to have Jack visit us in Alabama. I think I was one of the early ones to be in contact with Jack about two years ago when he was reaching out and planning his trip. I could tell by his correspondence that he was planning well and he certainly seemed like a nice fellow. I felt very comfortable inviting him to our place and looked forward to it. From the tone of his correspondence, I felt sure he was gonna do it.

I want to tell this little story and Jack, please don't take offense. I had told my wife about Jacks trip from the beginning but she did not pay much attention. I reminded her of it again in June or July about it and told her he may come visit. I was looking forward to it.

She asked, "what do you know about this guy. He could be a serial killer for all you know!" I assured her that he was on the up and up and I told her he was staying with "forum friends" all over the nation. She talked to some friends and family about it.

After Jack had gotten to our house in Alabama, she got three calls, asking my wife if "the serial killer" had arrived. They were all laughing about it and having fun. The next day, no one called to see if we were ok. My wife called those who called the night before and let em have it. They called and asked if he was there but no one called the next day to see if we were ok!

Well, as everyone has said in this thread, Jack Panzica is a very pleasant, personable man. We, like everyone he met consider him their friend and was glad to have met him.

Jack, don't worry about Bertha oinkin all around the farm about your visit. She actually is very discreet for a pig. I know for a fact she has not oinked a word to anyone other than I, not even Beulah, the cow.

Derrick Reynolds

Well, I'm not a Civil Engineer, but a little Trig will turn the trick here. The world is about 7,926 miles in diameter at the equator (about 25 miles less from pole to pole, but we'll ignore that for the moment). This means that the radius of the earth is that number divided by 2 = 3,963 miles. If you picture the world cut away on a longitude line through Maine, with a line drawn from the center of the Earth to Portland (call this line 1), it would be 3,963 miles long (assuming the earth is perfectly round, which we are). Another line drawn from the center of the earth to the equator would also be 3,963 miles long (call this line 2). Now, the hard part, imagine a line drawn from Portland vertically down to line 2 so that it makes a right angle with line 2 (call this line 3). We know the length of the hypotenuse (3,963 miles) and the angle that line 1 makes with line 2, call it 43.5 degrees, so we can get the length of the line segment from the center of the earth to the point where line 3 intersects line 2 by taking the cosine of 43.5 degrees times the length of the hypotenuse = 2,875 miles. If you draw this on a piece of paper, it is easy to see that this is the radius at 43.5 degrees latitude, but I'm sure it's tough to imagine in your mind (at least it's tough for me). So, diameter there is equal to 2 * Pi * r = 18,062 miles. So, it would have been shorter to drive around the world!

Kerrmudgeon

I knew that.....

ricks327

He lost me on the third sentence! But Jack is THE MAN for driving as many miles that he did.

Rick

Jackfit

I am shaking a little, I will be OK, just have not got into the car in the last 5 hours. I am sure I will be able to not wake up with the keys in my hand.

Working hard on the statistics of fuel, oil , repairs, Looks like I may be on budget thanks to some very generous folks out there

Be back before end of night

Jack

vt65

Jack, time to change that avitar! ...you must have a better picture to chose from:

Larry P

Great story, the book should be
America in America's car.
Larry

midyearvette

wear your pants....

newbies may not get that one......

Jackfit

Hi, here are some fuel usage figures for you to look at:


327/350 L79 engine .060 over 300,000 miles on original engine new rebuild for trip

Stock Holly 4 bl.

Original drive train 3.70 rear and M20 wide ratio Muncie

All continuous 48 states driven through

Start in Cape Elizabeth Maine and Finish in Cape Elizabeth ME

08/02/2010 to 10/29/2010

Total Miles driven 19,284

Total Gallons of Gas used 1,222

Miles per Gallon 15.7

Total Cost Gas $ 3,822

Average Price/Gal $ 3.11


Oil / Grease / Filters / Plugs $304

Repairs on road $ 543

Repairs at home worn/trip $ 750


Total Cost Dollars for Gas/Oil/ Filters/Plugs $ 5,419

OR $ .28 per mile for 19,284 miles


Notes****

Engine only used 12 qts. of oil for 19,284 or about 1,600 miles a qt.

Two sets of plugs , at 9,000 and 18,000 plugs did not have to be changed, looked that good

Rubber bushings on many suspension parts may need replacing. Over 25,000 miles total on replaced parts

Parts replaced: fuel pump, haft shaft U joint, Flange alternator bracket welded and battery replaced, windshield cracked , insurance covered

Hope this helps all

Bluestripe67

WOW, not bad al all Jack. What was the highest price for gas and what was your lowest/highest for gas mileage? Dennis

TheSaint

What is this in litres so a European can understand it

chevyunger

Total km driven: 31035 km
Total liter of gas used: 4626 l
gas usage: 14,9 l/100km
total gas cost: € 2.140,37
exchange rate US$/€: 1,3947 (2.11.2010)

62fever

Jack,

Glad you made it home safe and sound and just a little worse for wear.

I think I can speak for many - but please do THANK your wife from "us" for "allowing" you to make the trip. While you obviously had great memories, her understanding gave us great memories as well.

Barron

Jackfit

Hi Barron,

A special thanks does go to my wife.

One, for only calling me crazy when I proposed this trip.

Two, for not having me committed for being crazy.

Three , supporting me and helping me with the calendar and packing

Four, for just being who she is and loving me being who I am

Jack

midyearvette

.....aww!...ain't love grand....sniff sniff.....

Bluestripe67

Hats off to your wife. Dennis and Judy