SmoknTires
Enthusiast
Let's put the past behind us, winter is over. Time to kick the tires and light the fires! Our Viper Club spring cruise is at hand and we have a wonderful plan to put some miles on those cars and enjoy the great climate in May. This cruise will also be special because it's a 1 OR 2 day cruise. Day 1 is the main cruise and focused on Kokomo, IN. Day 2 is focused on some must see activities while we're out there. You can choose to do either day, or both days! And that's not all, the IL VCA is going to completely subsidize the stops on this cruise (except lunch/dinner). This cruise will be free to everyone in attendance!
We’ll first be meeting at the Lincoln Oasis (Eastbound entrance on I-80 between 294 and the Indiana border). It’s a very convenient place for us to gather (it's the highway overpass w/restaurant, gas, and restrooms), but please allow enough travel time to get there, we plan to leave promptly at 8:30am!! We'll cruise the highways and make a stop along the way to stretch our legs until we reach Kokomo, IN. We'll eat lunch at Culver's before hitting our first cruise stop - the Elwood Haynes Museum! Elwood Haynes was responsible for the first horseless carriage and also the inventor of stainless steel. we'll tour this great museum until we head out for a little walk through Highland Park. This scenic 80 acre park is the "Crown Jewel" of the Kokomo Park System. Highland Park is also the home of "Old Ben", the giant Sycamore Stump, the Vermont Covered Bridge, and Kokomo Creek. We'll reconvene near the cars to head to our next stop - the Treasure Mart Antique Mall. This is a large venue for collectible and antique items - with over 70 vendors in a 25,000 sq-foot area! We'll peruse the shops until it's time to gather at our cars and head out to the hotel where most will be spending the night. Those not spending the night can still join the group on the last stop which is a very special tour and dinner at the Seiberling Mansion! We'll spend two hours here enjoying this interesting location and having one heck of a buffet feast.
Day 2 (Sunday - May 22nd)
For those who are staying with the cruise group (or arriving only for day 2), this will be a really interesting day because of the variety of stops we'll be making. We'll start by catching breakfast at the hotel in the morning. We'll check-out and leave the hotel at 9:40am.
Our first stop will be the Greentown Glass Museum which houses the prized glass from the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company. The factory burned down in 1903, however today we can still see educational and collectors exhibits at this museum. From here we leave for the Kokomo Automotive Museum! Here visitors can wander through Kokomo's automotive history, beginning in 1894 through the present. The museum's historic facades feature a 1930's gas station, the Haynes home, and a 1950's diner. Auto industry related displays and over 100 antique and classic cars make this a must-see museum for car enthusiasts. The gift shop offers Kokomo and automotive souvenirs. Our last stop will be very cool - the Grissom Air Museum! We'll stroll through aviation history from WWII through the Gulf War in a unique outdoor display at Grissom Air Reserve Base. At this indoor and outdoor museum we'll see many fascinating aircraft, examine aviation armaments, flight trainers, uniforms, models, photos, survival gear, engines, war prizes, and much more. You can even sit in the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom II jet fighter.
We'll hang out until 3pm before we corral the group and head home. But that's not all, a special back-roads route has been planned to really stretch our cars legs heading back!
Cost & Details
The cost for the entire cruise (except hotel & lunch/dinner) will be paid for by the IL Club (thank you sponsors!). Everyone still needs to register and send in a form, the registration form also does collect money for the Seiberling Mansion dinner. And for those doing both nights or needing a hotel - don't forget to make hotel reservations, we've arranged a special $79 rate at the Hampton Inn (2920 S. Reed Rd - (765) 455-2900). They will hold rooms for us until May 7th! Mention the IL Viper Club when calling.
Here are the details and registration form:
http://www.illinoisvipers.com/documents/2011/5-21-11 Spring Cruise 2011.pdf
As with every cruise I will remind you of our usual disclaimers... we generally cruise with the speed of traffic and each Viper follows the Viper in front of them. This helps make for some care free cruising without having to follow a map (though maps will be provided as well). It’s important to stay together, while the route has been selected to take us away from traffic where possible, let’s not allow too much traffic to break us up since we’re following each other with line-of-sight. Please remember to have your cell phone with you. We also encourage you to bring your walkie-talkie's since we use them to coordinate and chat during our cruise (channel 10-10). Sunglasses are always another good idea. Definitely don’t forget your camera and comfortable shoes! We request that all registrations are received by May 14th. Please get your registration forms in to us as soon as you can.
If you’ve never taken a cruise with the club, you don’t know what you’re missing. We’ve taken care of all the details, just come along and have fun. We’re looking forward to the day and think you’ll find this trip very enjoyable! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.
We’ll first be meeting at the Lincoln Oasis (Eastbound entrance on I-80 between 294 and the Indiana border). It’s a very convenient place for us to gather (it's the highway overpass w/restaurant, gas, and restrooms), but please allow enough travel time to get there, we plan to leave promptly at 8:30am!! We'll cruise the highways and make a stop along the way to stretch our legs until we reach Kokomo, IN. We'll eat lunch at Culver's before hitting our first cruise stop - the Elwood Haynes Museum! Elwood Haynes was responsible for the first horseless carriage and also the inventor of stainless steel. we'll tour this great museum until we head out for a little walk through Highland Park. This scenic 80 acre park is the "Crown Jewel" of the Kokomo Park System. Highland Park is also the home of "Old Ben", the giant Sycamore Stump, the Vermont Covered Bridge, and Kokomo Creek. We'll reconvene near the cars to head to our next stop - the Treasure Mart Antique Mall. This is a large venue for collectible and antique items - with over 70 vendors in a 25,000 sq-foot area! We'll peruse the shops until it's time to gather at our cars and head out to the hotel where most will be spending the night. Those not spending the night can still join the group on the last stop which is a very special tour and dinner at the Seiberling Mansion! We'll spend two hours here enjoying this interesting location and having one heck of a buffet feast.
Day 2 (Sunday - May 22nd)
For those who are staying with the cruise group (or arriving only for day 2), this will be a really interesting day because of the variety of stops we'll be making. We'll start by catching breakfast at the hotel in the morning. We'll check-out and leave the hotel at 9:40am.
Our first stop will be the Greentown Glass Museum which houses the prized glass from the Indiana Tumbler and Goblet Company. The factory burned down in 1903, however today we can still see educational and collectors exhibits at this museum. From here we leave for the Kokomo Automotive Museum! Here visitors can wander through Kokomo's automotive history, beginning in 1894 through the present. The museum's historic facades feature a 1930's gas station, the Haynes home, and a 1950's diner. Auto industry related displays and over 100 antique and classic cars make this a must-see museum for car enthusiasts. The gift shop offers Kokomo and automotive souvenirs. Our last stop will be very cool - the Grissom Air Museum! We'll stroll through aviation history from WWII through the Gulf War in a unique outdoor display at Grissom Air Reserve Base. At this indoor and outdoor museum we'll see many fascinating aircraft, examine aviation armaments, flight trainers, uniforms, models, photos, survival gear, engines, war prizes, and much more. You can even sit in the cockpit of an F-4 Phantom II jet fighter.
We'll hang out until 3pm before we corral the group and head home. But that's not all, a special back-roads route has been planned to really stretch our cars legs heading back!
Cost & Details
The cost for the entire cruise (except hotel & lunch/dinner) will be paid for by the IL Club (thank you sponsors!). Everyone still needs to register and send in a form, the registration form also does collect money for the Seiberling Mansion dinner. And for those doing both nights or needing a hotel - don't forget to make hotel reservations, we've arranged a special $79 rate at the Hampton Inn (2920 S. Reed Rd - (765) 455-2900). They will hold rooms for us until May 7th! Mention the IL Viper Club when calling.
Here are the details and registration form:
http://www.illinoisvipers.com/documents/2011/5-21-11 Spring Cruise 2011.pdf
As with every cruise I will remind you of our usual disclaimers... we generally cruise with the speed of traffic and each Viper follows the Viper in front of them. This helps make for some care free cruising without having to follow a map (though maps will be provided as well). It’s important to stay together, while the route has been selected to take us away from traffic where possible, let’s not allow too much traffic to break us up since we’re following each other with line-of-sight. Please remember to have your cell phone with you. We also encourage you to bring your walkie-talkie's since we use them to coordinate and chat during our cruise (channel 10-10). Sunglasses are always another good idea. Definitely don’t forget your camera and comfortable shoes! We request that all registrations are received by May 14th. Please get your registration forms in to us as soon as you can.
If you’ve never taken a cruise with the club, you don’t know what you’re missing. We’ve taken care of all the details, just come along and have fun. We’re looking forward to the day and think you’ll find this trip very enjoyable! If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to call or e-mail.
