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Off-Roading an Acura

Posted in Arizona, Legend, Road Trip on August 30, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer: 12,436


Are you crazy?   A luxury sport coupe is not meant to leave the pavement!

It’s time for a Friday Flashback.  At 315,845 miles in March, 2008, I took my Legend where no Legend had gone before.  Following is the write-up that I shared on the Acura Legend forums at that time after completing what I called an “Adventurous Sunday Drive.”

Hope you enjoy following along as much as I enjoy reminiscing about that fun road trip from years ago…

There’s a road I’ve been wanting to drive for a long time now.  It’s Arizona Highway 88, also known as the Apache Trail.  The road was constructed in the early 1900’s as a stagecoach route and at the time was the only link between Phoenix and the mining town of Globe.  It has since been bypassed by a more efficient route and is lightly traveled except by tourists.

Article – Scenic Drive:  Apache Trail

So this morning I got up at the crack of dawn and headed out.

The road is one of the curviest, windiest roads I’ve ever driven on and I was lucky to have it all to myself.  The first 20 miles or so are paved and go through some beautiful canyon passes.  At a summit, however, the pavement ends and the remaining 22 MILES of the road are unpaved.  That’s where the fun started.

I had a great time and never encountered another vehicle at any time during my drive — which was lucky because there were many stretches where it would have been impossible to pass.  The road was graded gravel for most of the distance, but the washboard was pretty bad and it kept causing my TCS to activate until I finally just turned it off.

There is one stretch of the road — called the Fish Creek Grade — where the road drops 900 feet within a mile.  From the web:

Steep-sided canyons, rock outcroppings and magnificent geologic formations are all along the road. Fish Creek Canyon is perhaps the most awe-inspiring section. The road hangs on the side of this high-walled canyon and winds its way along tremendous precipices that sink sheer for hundreds of feet below.

Here you can see this section of the road.  The view is pretty incredible once you’re down at the bottom.  You look up and realize how much of a drop-off it was.  This was one of the widest sections where I took the picture; the rest was strictly a one-laner.

Most of the guard rail is just wooden planks except for a few sections.  It’s a lot steeper than it looks!!

Awesome view of Fish Creek once you get to the bottom of the canyon.

Lots of huge saguaro catci along the road.

This little cave would be fun to hike in.

One of several one-lane bridges.

Can you find the coupe?  Again, Desert Mist is a great color for being camouflaged in the desert!

Just stirring up a dust cloud.

I had a little too much speed coming into one of the corners, and the car started going sideways on me in the dirt.  Then I decided the Legend wasn’t a rally car and decided to take it easy!

Great view from up top.


Approaching Roosevelt Dam, where 88 meets up with 188 and the off-roading is over.

Just past the dam.

When you finally get a view of the lake, it’s AWESOME.  The morning light was hitting it just right.

Today, my Legend has traveled another 200,000 miles since that eventful Sunday drive.  Next time I head for the dirt hills, I’ll hopefully take an MDX.  Though I’ve always had a special place in my heart for the 1996-1998 Acura SLX!

ILX Update:

I stopped by Acura North Scottsdale this week to see what was on the lot.  For the first time, I saw an ILX with a chromed-out set of the factory 17″ Premium package wheels.  Looks good!  This car was a 2.0 liter automatic model.

My ILX is doing well!  A few “current events” items:

  • About 2 1/2 months after taking delivery of my ILX, I have now finally seen a fellow ILX driver on the road!  On Saturday afternoon at 6 p.m. in north Phoenix (56th Street & Deer Valley), a Polished Metal Metallic ILX Premium passed me going the opposite direction.  Made my day!
  • In playing around with the push-button start, I realized that if the car’s moving and you hold the button in for 5 seconds or so, it’ll shut the car off even while you’re moving.  Good to know in case of emergencies.
  • My goofball friend Matt decided it would be fun to call his phone using my bluetooth system in the ILX while we were both riding in the car.  When he then answered his own phone from within the ILX, he was able to use the ILX speakers to amplify whatever he was saying into his phone.  Random!
  • I finally took the time to program my door locks so that they don’t always try to lock themselves when I’m driving, nor do they automatically unlock themselves when I turn the car off.  It’s handy being able to customize those settings.

Today I ran the ILX the lowest it’s ever gone on the fuel tank.  Range said 27 miles.  I started getting a “Low Fuel” warning when the range was in the mid-30’s.

It only took 10.4 gallons to fill up.

And then when I got underway again, the range shot sky-high to 457 miles.

I guess that means I’ll be getting 41.34 mpg on each of those 10.4 gallons I just added?

Nothing quite like a drive home from work, coming up on a 3-day weekend, with the right tunes blasting, an Orange Berry Blitz smoothie from Jamba Juice in the cupholder, and a classic Arizona sunset like this.

Big weekend adventures await.

Anybody else remember this classic 1987 John Candy & Steve Martin movie?

That’s a hint about what I’ve got up my sleeve for the next few days.  Tune in next time!

Have a great weekend.

12 Comments »

Mount Lemmon

Posted in Arizona, ILX, Road Trip on August 25, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  12,108


About 12,000 miles into my ILX ownership experience, I finally got the chance to put my new car’s handling to the test.  Last night, I took Alex the ILX to Tucson, Arizona for the first time.  Tucson lies about 120 miles away from Phoenix via Interstate 10 through the desolate desert.

The destination this time was Mount Lemmon, the highest peak of the Catalina Mountains in southern Arizona.  The Catalina highway leaves northeastern Tucson and climbs rapidly to over 8,000 feet in elevation while winding through some of the most technical twisty sections of road I’ve ever driven.  The view of Tucson – at night especially – is phenomenal from the lookouts.  Check out these curves:

Catalina Highway – during the day – is a sight to behold.  Many of the switchbacks are posted at 15-25 mph.

How about a windows-down, stereo-blasting, full throttle drive up the mountain… in the dark?

The contenders:

  • Will; 2011 Chevy Camaro SS
  • Matt:  2012 Nissan 370Z Sport
  • Tyson:  2013 Acura ILX Premium

Three very different automobiles.  And three very distinct powertrains.

  • Camaro:  420 horsepower, 6.2 liter V8, six speed automatic transmission
  • 370Z:  332 horsepower, 3.7 liter V6, six speed manual transmission
  • ILX:  201 horsepower, 2.4 liter I4, six speed manual transmission

Is this even a fair comparison?  Clearly the ILX was outmatched in terms of power and as a 4-door sedan is arguably the least-sporty car in this lineup.  Matt’s 370Z is equipped with a Nissan-exclusive “Syncro-Rev” feature that automatically matches engine RPM by “blipping” the throttle when downshifting through the gears.  The Camaro has double the ILX’s horsepower.  But on a road like the Catalina Highway, as we soon found out, it’s not all about displacement.  The ILX held its own against these two other vehicles by its sheer handling ability.

Huge pluses for the ILX:

  • Light clutch effort:  Easy on the left thigh!
  • Short throw gearbox:  The distance from gear-to-gear in the ILX is a lot shorter than I’m used to in my Legend.
  • Smooth shifts!  This car’s transmission can only be described as “buttery.”  I spent most of my time back and forth between 3rd and 4th gears, revving at 4-5,000 RPM whether climbing in elevation or downshifting during descent.
  • Brake power is more than adequate for any turns that come up as a surprise.
  • Flat cornering – I noticed minimal body roll.
  • Grippy steering wheel with thick rim and small diameter for easy maneuvering.
  • Nighttime visibility thanks to HID projector headlamps and foglights was critical during the 18-mile stretch marked as active ‘deer crossing’ and as a means of anticipating upcoming curves.

Twenty five miles of rollercoaster-worthy curves later, we arrived at Summerhaven which is the end point of the Catalina Highway.  The exterior temperature on my digital readout said 59 degrees – quite possibly the coldest it’s read since I got the ILX in June!  It was refreshing night up there.

Unfortunately, lighting was poor at the Windy Point lookout, one of the pullouts where we stopped and I snapped a couple of pictures.

What you can’t see in this picture is the great view of Tucson ahead of the cars.  Where was Will in the Camaro?  We were waiting for him to catch up.

🙂

After the mountain cruise, a late night dinner at BJ’s Brewery in Tucson.

A few other pics from the drive down are here.  These were taken at a midpoint between Phoenix and Tucson, in the now “ghost-towned” community of Picacho, so named for Picacho Peak which stands in the background of the below picture where a motel used to operate.

Incidentally, I stopped at this same location in my Legend in October, 2009 when the motel (though very run-down) was still standing.

Boarded-up restaurant.

Good grief!

Enjoyed the sign at the “Pet Exercise Area”:

On the way back home to Phoenix, I noticed that my range indicator said exactly 200 miles at exactly half a tank.

The Mount Lemmon run was a great driving experience and one that I hope to do again soon!

Wish I could’ve brought the 59 degree temps home to Phoenix with me.

12 Comments »

San Francisco, California

Posted in California, ILX, Road Trip on August 12, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX):  11,286

It’s been two months to the day since I got my ILX with just 16 miles on it.  It was time yet again to stretch the car’s legs and today’s return trip from the Bay Area was about 800 miles one-way.  It took almost exactly 12 hours.

Tracking back to earlier in the trip:

Saturday morning, I headed northbound on I-5 from Sylmar through what is known as the Tejon Pass, climbing to over 4,000 feet in elevation and then dropping sharply at a 6% descent grade to a small town at the base called Grapevine.  The 1955 Charlie Ryan song “Hot Rod Lincoln” has a reference to a kid racing a souped up Lincoln against a Cadillac on this grade.  The road has since been widened and straightened to make it less dangerous than it once was.  The ILX mastered the hill in 6th gear without even needing to downshift.

Back on level ground, the sun started peeking over the horizon and I set my sights on San Francisco.

That long downhill grade did wonders for my average fuel economy.  I reached an all-time high of 33.6 mpg.

Ouch!  Just when it seems like fuel prices are getting to be more reasonable, I paid this for 91 octane in Firebaugh.

After a visit to a friend in Brentwood and lunch in Walnut Creek, I paid a visit to an Acura dealership that has a special place in my heart:  Acura of Pleasanton.  My 1994 Legend that now has over 515,000 miles on it was purchased brand new from this very location in September 1994 when it had 288 miles on it.  The dealership is conveniently located off Interstate 580 so I swung by to grab a quick picture.

Here’s where I started wishing I would’ve parked inland and ridden the $5 mass-transit “BART” system into downtown SF:  16 lanes wide; total gridlock for 30 minutes waiting to get to the tollbooths.  Two lanes were moving at a decent pace, and of course they were the Fast Pass lanes which I wasn’t eligible for.  The toll is $6 from 5-10 a.m. and 3-7 p.m. on weekdays, $4 all other weekday times, and $5 on weekends.

Finally, some fresh (and I do mean fresh!  66 degrees!) air as I cross the Bay Bridge.  The bridge itself dates back to 1936 and is 23,000 feet long.  Other fun trivia (thanks to the Bay Bridge History site):

  • The bridge carries 102 million cars per year
  • The cost of the original bridge was $77 million in 1936
  • When it was built, the Bay Bridge was the longest in the world

Before meeting up with friends, there was something I just HAD to do first.  One of my favorite movies is the 1993 Robin Williams movie “Mrs. Doubtfire.”  This film was set in San Francisco, and I learned thanks to some investigative googling that the home used in the movie is in fact easy to find.  This became my second “movie crusade” in the ILX, since last month I drove to the Napoleon Dynamite house in southern Idaho.

Here we are:  2640 Steiner Street.  It’s been 19 years since the movie was filmed and the home looks exactly the same as it did back then.

(Small) screen shot from the movie:

Star-studded steps!

In typical San Fran style, the roads are steep.  Don’t forget the emergency brake here!

Here’s a screen shot from the movie.

And now with my ILX in the same place.

The home is at the corner of Steiner & Broadway streets.

Back the car into the driveway?  Sure, don’t mind if I do!  (Just long enough for a photo-op, of course).

Some other fascinating info about this home in this article.

San Francisco has an elaborate system of cable cars and zero emission buses.

The biggest challenge with getting around this area:  Finding a parking space!  I drove around for about 30 minutes before I found a location remotely close to where I would be spending the night.  Take a look across the street from where I finally ended up parking the ILX.  These cars are bumper to bumper!  It’s no wonder why most of the vehicles in downtown have battered bumpers and dented quarter panels.

My accommodations for the night on Duboce Street.

And reunited with a couple of old friends at Dolores Park for a great sunset overlooking the city as the cloud cover rolled in, followed by a night out on the town.

This morning’s departure:

First up, I found out from some quick mapping that I was only 2.3 miles away from the famous “crookedest street in America,” Lombard Street which I drove in my Legend in 2010. Here’s what the street looks like from a higher perspective/aerial view.

Since it was only about 7:00 in the morning on a Sunday, traffic was light and I was able to take my time creeping eastbound down the 8 switchbacks in the ILX and take a few pictures.

There was even a nice bystander near the bottom of the hill who snapped a picture for me!

Starting my long drive home now – what this picture truly fails to capture is the angle of the road!  Steep!  This is where the ILX “hill start” assist feature on the manual transmission comes in very handy.  When starting off with the clutch depressed, the car actually holds itself in place until you get going.  Fancy shmancy.

Much of today’s drive was on Interstate 5 in central California.  It’s flat farmland as far as the eye can see.  70 mph speed limits.

Los Angeles was about another 6 hours from San Fran, and Phoenix another 6 from Los Angeles.

Once I rose out of the LA metro area, I saw the one of my favorite signs–  “other Desert Cities” — on I-10 westbound.

Palm Springs, California.  Home of the San Gorgonio Pass Wind Farm.  There are 3,218 windmills out there.

Just after Indio, the temperature crept to a toasty 117 degrees and I began my descent to the desert plateau via I-10.

If only the temp would’ve cooperated and been 111 degrees for my 11,111th mile.

Turn off the A/C?  When it’s 117 degrees?  No, thanks!  The ILX handled the grade just fine.


Last stop of the day was at the Bouse Rest Stop, about 30 miles east of Quartzsite, Arizona.

Understandably, I needed to stretch my legs a little after having been in the car for over 10 hours at this point, so I read the Rest Area Guide.

Among the list of prohibited activities:  Vandalism.  Except, whoever developed this sign misspelled “vandalism” with an E.

Isn’t it ironic that someone took the liberty of vandalizing the word vandalism to correct the error?

Things that make you go, “Hmmm….”

And with that, I’m home sweet home and ready to relax.

It seems that every time I take this car on trip, I learn something new about it.  Here are a couple things I picked up on this time:

  • The turn signal indicator flashes at exactly the same speed as artist Juice Newton’s 1981 song (hey, it’s the same age as me!) “Queen of Hearts.”  Test it out sometime!  Great song.
  • The trip meters (of which there are two:  A and B) max out at 9,999.9 miles.  Since I never reset my meter “A,” it turned over to 0000.0 on me this trip.

Thanks for coming along with me to San Fran!

17 Comments »

Sylmar, California – First 10,000 Miles Completed

Posted in California, ILX, Milestones, Road Trip on August 10, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer (ILX):  10,105

Whoever wrote that song, “Oceanfront Property In Arizona” needs to look at a map!   No water in sight.  I’ve had enough of Phoenix’s blistering heat so it’s time to high-tail it to some REAL ocean air of Cali-for-nye-aye.  I’m just north of Los Angeles tonight off Interstate 5 in Sylmar, but tomorrow I’ll continue my journey northbound to sunny San Francisco.  Here’s what today’s trip looked like after departing from work:

Ten thousand miles have come and gone since June 12, 2012 (less than two months ago!) when I took the key to my 2013 Acura ILX from John Watts representing Acura’s Digital Marketing team.  It’s been a great ride so far.

The occasion happened on Interstate 10 westbound in Banning, California.

Ever seen pictures on the news of those crazy dust storms we get in the desert?  I drove through a mild one this afternoon.  Visibility here was actually pretty good.

It wasn’t until I got OUT of the dust cloud (below picture) that I realized just how bad the air had been in there.

*cough, cough*

Pit stop for a taste of the old west:  Desert Center, California.

The drive from Phoenix to Los Angeles is brutal, traversing several hundred miles of scorching 110-degree desert wasteland.

The town of Desert Center (though its current 204 residents hardly comprise a crowd!) got its start in the 1920’s as a small repair garage.  Following is an excerpt from Wiki:

A Model T truck was modified to serve as a tow car. Gasoline was pumped by hand from a 55 gallon drum. Lydia served food and refreshments to thirsty and weary travelers. In spite of the remote location 50 miles (80 km) in any direction from anything, the Ragsdales prospered. Ragsdale named his outpost ‘Desert Center’. In 1921, it was announced that the sand road running through Desert Center would be relocated about 5 miles (8.0 km) north, straightened, paved, and named US Route 60, a modern “high-speed” highway. Ragsdale abandoned “old Desert Center” and built a poured-concrete café in the adobe style with an attached gasoline station and a huge service garage. Across the road, a series of wooden structures were built, including a market (which at one time was the largest Coleman camping equipment dealer in the country), and a post office. He also built several cabins for travelers, and a large “plunge” (swimming pool) next to the café where travelers could escape the desert heat.

The cafe, as it turns out, is still standing but no longer open:

These old gas pumps are remarkably well preserved for their age!  For those wondering:  fuel price here is 39 cents a gallon.

A few other sights to see in this barren land.

And resuming my journey westbound, the sunset was spectacular as it always seems to be in the desert.

I’m still getting some great average MPG’s in this thing!


My first 10,000 miles in the ILX have been rewarding and fun.  The car has plenty of comfort, power, and technology to offer a traveler who’s looking to go the distance.  Tomorrow the adventure will continue to San Francisco.

Friday Flashback:

I was last in SF this past December 2011 for a concert, but the last time my Legend saw San Fran was in June 2010 when I traveled out there for a Legend meet. My car had about 428,000 miles on it at the time.

Great people – Legend forum members.

My good friend Sergio takes a look at the coupe.  He also took it for a spin at the time.

Bay Bridge in the morning fog.

I of course had to drive the car down the “crookedest” street in America, Lombard Street.  This 1/4-mile long, one-way stretch of road has 8 tight switchbacks.  I would’ve loved to skateboard down this thing.  Probably would’ve crashed and burned after the first hairpin.

Good memories.

Side note on the ILX in parting:

Now that the 2013 ILX has been on sale for a couple of months, more and more automotive journalists are publishing their reviews of the car.  Here’s one critique by Brian Cooley of C Net that popped up this week – a good amount of praise, especially for the tech features and drivetrain.  The ILX that Brian is driving is a twin to mine, outfitted with the 2.4 liter and 6-speed manual and finished in Silver Moon Metallic paint.

Sneak peak of what’s up tomorrow:

Next update will be after the SF trip is over!  Until next week sometime…

2 Comments »

Day 6 – Scottsdale, Arizona

Posted in ILX, NALM, Road Trip on July 29, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  9,204

Trip Mileage:  3,744

Home sweet home!

As much fun as it is to travel, I love the feeling of pulling back into my driveway after a few days away.  The ILX not only survived its 3,744 mile journey, it actually seems to be performing ‘better’ the more experienced it gets.  My gas mileage went to a record (for me) high of 33 mpg today.

Over the course of the last 6 days, Alex the ILX and I have traveled an average of 624 miles per day.  That’s a lot of seat time!  But I’m happy to report that the newest member of the Acura family does not disappoint.  It instead delivers all the amenities I’ve come to know and expect over the last decade of driving Acura vehicles.

This is a look at the total trip, with a pinpoint at each of my nightly stops.

And this was today’s final leg of the journey:

Good morning from Gallup, New Mexico.  Looks like we got a little rain overnight.

Just 20 miles westward, I celebrated a reunion with my home state.

I shifted gears into a new music genre just for fun.  Ironically, “Cadillac Ranch” came on.  Just yesterday I drove past Cadillac Ranch and blogged about it!

At Holbrook, Arizona, I left interstate 40 and instead sought out some back roads to get me back to the Phoenix area.  Town was pretty quiet on a Sunday morning!

The first part of the drive looked a lot like this on Arizona Highway 277 – wide open roads, zero traffic, and perfect weather.

So perfect, in fact, that I opened the moonroof and enjoyed some of the fresh morning air.

Soon I connected with Highway 260 which winds along Arizona’s “Mogollon Rim.”  This is the area where I took my Acura Legend camping last year.  Beautiful area!

Finally, I was home!   Perhaps worth mentioning here:  I’ve driven 4,292 miles since my last oil change and the “Oil Life” indicator on the dashboard still says 70%.  These highway miles must be pretty easy on a motor.

The first order of business was a CAR WASH!  The last thing I want to do when it’s 100 degrees outside is let all those bugs get baked on.

BEFORE

DURING

AFTER.  Tucked in for a rest after the long journey.

Thanks for coming along on the ride to Wisconsin with me and I hope to share more adventures in the coming months!

Time for some rest & relaxation here.  Cheers!

9 Comments »

Day 5 – Gallup, New Mexico

Posted in ILX, NALM, New Mexico, Road Trip on July 28, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  8,944

Trip Mileage:  3,484

I’m getting my kicks on Route 66!  Tonight’s motel is located on the historic highway which was completed in 1926 that linked Chicago with Los Angeles.  In fact, I’ve spent much of today retracing the original path of that road.

First thing I did before rolling out of Springfield, Missouri was re-create the picture that I took of my Legend from last year when I stayed at the same motel.  This was taken on July 21, 2011 on my way to the National Acura Legend Meet (NALM) in Morristown, New Jersey.

And this was taken this morning, on my return trip from Milwaukee.

The “Sooner State” welcomed me bright and early this morning.

It wasn’t long until after entering Oklahoma that I was driving on Will Rogers Turnpike.  But wait, nothing posted on the speed limit sign!

Some far-out destinations being reached on this trip.  Cuba (Missouri) yesterday, Miami (Oklahoma) today!

Ever seen a McDonald’s restaurant that spans the entire width of the freeway?

Fuel in Tulsa, Oklahoma at QT.  A little plug for my favorite gas station & convenience store here.  The bathrooms are always clean and large, the grocery selection is great, and the cashiers work fast!  I grabbed some veggies to-go.

Today’s tolls on Interstate 44, the Turner Turnpike, cost me a total of $8.00.  I’m going to save the receipts in the ILX’s glove box for souvenirs.

Once I landed in Oklahoma City, I hopped on I-40 westbound.

You know you’re in for a boring drive when the GPS indicates your next turn is in 535 miles!

At this point I still wasn’t sure how far I wanted to go today, but I set my sights on Amarillo for starters.

Elk City, Oklahoma is home to the National Route 66 Museum.   This was the first of many pit stops today that related to the “Mother Road” as you’ll soon see.

And here we go with yet another state – and this will be the last “new” state for this adventure.

That means that since the day I got the ILX on June 12th, it’s been to the following:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Colorado
  • Idaho
  • Illinois
  • Iowa
  • Missouri
  • Nebraska
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Oklahoma
  • Texas
  • Utah
  • Wisconsin

Not a bad list for a car that barely rolled off the assembly line in Indiana two months ago!

Next pit stop was the town of Shamrock, Texas.  Shamrock is home to the “U Drop Inn,” a Route 66 relic that’s been around since 1936.  The classic art deco architecture has been preserved and the building is now home to the Chamber of Commerce and a Visitor’s Center.

Wouldn’t it be nice if fuel was 34 cents a gallon?  I love that the “This Sale” digits can’t go above $9.99.  Who could ever dream of spending more than $10 on a fill-up?  Little did we know!

Not sure why this picture ended up looking squished but it makes me look skinnier than I really am!

Next up:  Amarillo, Texas.  I felt out of place without my cowboy boots.  There’s one tradition that I have every time I pass through this town, and it has nothing to do with western food.  Fazoli’s!  I love the unlimited breadsticks.  Wish this place would open back up in Arizona…

Cadillac Ranch is visible alongside Interstate 40.  This “work of art” consists of 10 Cadillacs buried in the ground, nose first, at an angle.  They were put there in 1974.  Graffiti is actually encouraged here.  The cars have been painted various styles over the years.

I got some 90 octane in Tucumcari, New Mexico.  That means on this trip, I’ve fueled up with 90, 91, 92, AND 93 octane.

Last Route 66 destination today was the Rio Puerco Bridge.  It’s located about 20 miles west of Albuquerque and parallel to what is now Interstate 40.  Back in the day (1933, to be exact) this was part of Route 66.  The timing was just right for a few sunset pictures when visited the bridge, so here are the shots I got of the ILX.

Thought this was a pretty fun sequence.

It’s great to know that I’m getting close to home and I’m still getting to know my new car better with each mile.  The car is a blast to drive and keeps me entertained for the long miles with its extensive technology and features.  I’ve had a few people on the interstate give me long looks as I’m sure some have never seen a 2013 ILX on the road before.  The finish line for this trip awaits tomorrow!

3 Comments »

Day 4 – Springfield, Missouri

Posted in ILX, NALM, Road Trip on July 27, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  7,980

Trip Mileage:  2,520

By now, you’ve probably figured out that I don’t sit still in any given place for too long.  I was greeted upon arrival at the NALM host hotel in Brookfield yesterday by Kevin (looking at his watch), “Okay, you’ve got ten minutes.”  It wasn’t far from the truth!  Fewer than 24 hours after reaching my destination in Wisconsin I was pulling up the anchor yet again and hopping back on the road.  Places to go, people to see.

I’m in Missouri now – chalk that one up to another “new” state for my ILX.  Here’s a recount of the day’s journey.

Kevin from Duluth, Georgia has this gorgeous Vineyard Gray Legend sedan.  He asked that I leave my mark on the car in the form of a signature. Sure, why not!  It’s not every day I get to write on someone’s car in permanent marker!

Trunk liner now immortalized (and devalued, probably).

Meanwhile, we readied ourselves for a photoshoot just down the road in Brookfield.  Tom from Connecticut gives the ILX wheels a quick wipe.

We take our photoshoots seriously!

Let’s get these cars lined up!

That’s more like it.  But wait — Student Driver!?  Yeah, I pulled out the magnets for a little photo-op fun.

Here’s the gang.  Great people, and excellent friends of mine.  All connoisseurs of fine Acura automobiles.

I may not have had a Legend at this meet, but these folks can still appreciate almost anything with an “A” badge on the grille.

Now a solo Legend shot for good measure.

Parting ways already – and on my way back to the southwest via Hwy 194 and Interstate 43 to Illinois.

Anybody else get a kick out of watching their reflection drive by in a tanker truck sometimes?

Central Illinois, somewhere off southbound Interstate 55.  This isn’t the El Paso you’re thinking of!  The distance from El Paso, Illinois, to El Paso, Texas is a whopping 1,396 miles.  That’s an adventure for another day (week)!

Normal, Illinois.  I didn’t dine at Woody’s.

I did, however, feed Alex.  He lapped up some 92 octane at $3.88 / gallon.

Finally some signs mentioning St. Louis – my next pit stop.

Discovery:  Those “Elapsed Time” screens in the driver’s information center can only accommodate 99 hours, 59 minutes of time.

St. Louis’ “Gateway Arch,” as seen from the 64 freeway.  This landmark stands 630 feet tall, making it the tallest man-made monument in the United States.  I would’ve loved to park the ILX in front of it for a picture, but alas I had a dinner commitment to get to.

This gorgeous 1995 Legend LS coupe belongs to my friend Dave who I met through the Acura Legend forums.  When I met Dave in 2005 at the first National Acura Legend Meet, his car only had around 50,000 miles on it.  Today at 130,000 it looks almost exactly the same.  This guy is meticulous and it shows.

And what better place to dine than one that appreciates ‘Legendary’ taste?  Lion’s Choice.

Thanks, Dave, for meeting up!

The Legend’s styling just never gets old.  Does anyone agree with me that it looks a hundred times better than that Prius next to it?

Westbound on I-44 for today’s final stretch.  Road sign announces Cuba straight ahead!

That’s right!  Cuba, Missouri.  Home to 3,230 people.

Now onward to Springfield we go.

Just when the road started to get a little boring, this song came on the iPod and I cranked it to full volume and got fully recharged.

Record-setting MPG average for me right here.

This particular motel in Springfield is a familiar place to me.  Last summer I stayed here when I was driving my Legend to New Jersey.  In fact, I parked it in this very same parking space where my ILX is sitting this very evening.

But what about that old 514k-mile Legend?  I’ve been asked by many.  Well, I received an updated status today along with the below picture.  The front end paint work is now complete, but needs reassembly.  From what I can tell, the paint work turned out nicely!

Good evening and until next time!

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Day 3 – Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Posted in ILX, NALM, Road Trip on July 26, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  7,394

Trip Mileage:  1,934

I’ve made it to my final destination in Brookfield, Wisconsin!  First time I’ve set foot in this state. Fewer than 48 hours after departing from my workplace in Scottsdale, I reached the finish line.  It’s a lot greener here than the Arizona desert that I’m used to.

The 8th annual National Acura Legend Meet is now underway and there are Acura enthusiasts coming from various parts of the country to participate.  Our ‘host’ hotel parking lot at the Quality Inn will be dominated by Acura Legends in the coming days.

For the first time since the event’s 2005 inception (Dallas, Texas), I left my 1994 Acura Legend LS coupe at home and instead made the trip in my 2013 Acura ILX Premium 6-speed.  It was a fun ride!  And, since I’ve got to get home to Arizona by Sunday night – it’s only halfway over.

This morning started off with an early departure from my motel in Omaha off Interstate 80.

I attempted to get into Kenefick Park in east Omaha to get an up-close glimpse at the Union Pacific Big Boy #4023 steam locomotive on display there.  I saw another one of the 8 remaining “Big Boy” locomotives this past weekend in Cheyenne, Wyoming so I thought it would be fun to have a look at another.  However, I learned that the park does not open until 9 a.m. so I was met with a closed gate.

As the interstate crosses the Missouri River, I entered Iowa but was unable to stop in time for a picture.

Lucky sevens!

Anybody know the max towing capacity of a Chevy Cobalt?  I think this guy has it figured out.  On a side note, I have to wonder what the state of Iowa is using on its roads in the winter to keep the snow away.  Even cars that are just a few years old are starting to rust out like crazy!  I saw a relatively new Mazda 3 with rusted out quarter panels and an Explorer that looked like rust had consumed its entire running board.

Cornfields… cornfields… and more cornfields.  Welcome to Iowa!

I’m really not a slob but this is what my ILX interior looked like for much of the drive.

Rest stop off I-80 in Iowa.

While pit stopped, a discovery.  When my iPhone is plugged in with a USB cable, if I try to watch a video I’ve filmed or received via text message, my iPhone “thinks” it’s being played via TV so I can’t see anything on the screen.  Tech people, any ideas?

The words “WORLD’S LARGEST” evoke excitement no matter what they’re in reference to.  It took every bit of willpower in my being to keep me from turning around at the next exit on I-80 and seeing what the “World’s Largest Truckstop” had to offer.

Welcome to the Land of Lincoln!

MPG’s just keep getting better. Thanks to some conservative driving (and 55-65 mph construction zones all through Iowa) I got the average to creep up to 32.3 miles per gallon.

Starting to get closer to Milwaukee!  It’s fun to see that blue dot creep ever closer.

Tollways.  I spent a total of $5.50 today on tolls on Interstates 88 and 39 in Illinois.

“Alex” the ILX gets his first taste of 93 octane fuel for $3.65 / gallon just south of Rockford, Illinois.  We only get 91 back home.

Starting to look pretty buggy up front.  Thank goodness for that clear bra I had installed a couple of weeks ago.

Signs for Wisconsin.  We’re getting there!

And finally – welcome.

Happy camper right here.

Just off I-43 and nearing my destination in Brookfield.

Intergalactic travels in the ILX!  Milky Way Rd!

Arriving at Quality Inn (thanks Kevin for the shot!):

And a familar sight upon arrival at the NALM host hotel:  Alan “Action Jackson” spit shining his 6-speed Sirius White Pearl Acura Legend GS which he drove all the way from Floral City, Florida for the occasion.  This guy’s a trooper and his car looks phenomenal for having just over 200,000 miles on the odometer.  I may very well have the lowest-mileage vehicle at NALM this year…

On another interesting note, it wasn’t until I pulled into the hotel parking lot that I even saw another Legend this trip!  And no ILXs.

I reunited with some friends of NALMs past and had a great evening.  The humidity here is killer!

Alan from Florida was the first to do a little test drive.

My buddy Tom from Connecticut also took the wheel of the ILX.  He’s a former Legend owner but currently driving a 2006 Acura TL 6-speed.

Waseem from Detroit giving his immaculate 1990 Legend LS sedan a bath.

Here’s Ben – I’ve known him since the first NALM in 2005.  This guy presented me with the a special souvenir today – a custom machined titanium shift knob commemorating my Legend’s 500k mile accomplishment.

Pictures don’t do this thing justice – it’s engraved with my name and the Acura emblem, and enclosed in a custom made acrylic case.  Thanks Ben – this is awesome!

Finished out the evening with dinner.  Pictured here with Kevin (my biggest fan) and Chris (hosting this year’s NALM).

(Another) Ben – this one from San Francisco – arrived tonight too.  This guy is apparently as crazy as I am!  His 1992 Legend LS coupe has been to the last several NALM events regardless of distance.

This is what I love about the Legend (and Acura in general) community – its people.  It doesn’t matter that I showed up in something other than a Legend at today’s meet.  It just matters that I’m here.

Tomorrow, more festivities await and I’ll begin my return trip to Phoenix, though traveling via a different / more southern route.  My nightly destination will depend on what time I break away from Brookfield.  Tune in tomorrow night to find out!

Over and out.

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Day 2 – Omaha, Nebraska

Posted in ILX, NALM, Road Trip on July 25, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  6,858

Trip Mileage:  1,398

I did it!  While it wasn’t a record-setting mileage day in my driving history, it was still a long one.

Omaha is the largest city in Nebraska with a population of just over 400,000 people.  Little did I know, too, that Omaha is the birthplace of what later became known as the “TV dinner.”  Thanks, Nebraskans for giving us that!

My day started off very early – 5:30 a.m. local time, hopping on I-25 northbound from Santa Fe with the highway to myself.

Welcome to Las Vegas!   Las Vegas, New Mexico that is.  No gambling allowed here.

Beyond Vegas, I-25 climbs up toward the CO/NM border and I finally got a chance to exercise some smooth-shifting skills.

Made it!  One more state added to the list.

Are we having fun yet?  I think so.

You’d think the Rockies would be a bit more… rocky?  Reality is that the eastern side of Colorado is actually pretty flat.

Just north of the CO border, I diverted from the interstate and instead took to the 2-lane backroads for the next several hundred miles.  Hwy 350 paralleled the train tracks for awhile.

You know you’re in a remote place when you get zero service.  And zero data.  Thank goodness I was in a reliable car!

Thought this was a ‘cute’ name for a little one-horse town in the middle of nowhere off Highway 71.

Where 71 meets 70 in the town of Limon, I thought I’d fuel up…

… but I quickly learned that the only gas station in town only had two grades of unleaded fuel:  85 and 87.

Neither is acceptable for Premium-sipping ILX so I continued on.

These windmills off 71 reminded me a bit of Palm Springs.

And… just when I got some good momentum going, a construction zone held me up for about 15 minutes.

Giving me time to stare at that “A” a little longer.

Here we go – Woodrow, Colorado.  ZIP code 80757 and not even enough going on to warrant a Wiki page longer than two lines.  Here we have the ILX posed in front of the ultimate all-in-one:  Post Office, General Store, and Coffee Shop.

I took this picture for my friend Woody.

Finally I got back to an interstate, I-76 at the town of Brush, Colorado.  Check this out:  The “Brush Hair Company.”  Doesn’t that just seem fitting?!

Fueling up!

Right at home behind the wheel!

And, another state conquered.  Thankfully there was a family pulled over here so I enlisted their services in getting a picture for me.

Omaha awaits!

Hwy MPGs are rated at 31 on the window sticker – I’ve consistently been getting better than that.

Gothenburg, Nebraska is teeny town on I-80 in central Nebraska whose only claim to fame is that it’s home to an original 1854 Pony Express station.  I’d stopped here many years ago in my Legend on a cross-country adventure, so I figured I might as well take the ILX there, too.

Foreground, 2013 Acura ILX.  Background, 158-year-old Pony Express station.

Transportation has come a long way since the days of the Oregon Trail.  Which, by the way, was my favorite computer game in elementary school!

Nebraska is one continuous construction zone.

Finally, arriving at the Motel 6 off I-80 in Omaha.

And a visit from my Sioux Falls, South Dakota-based friend Dawson who I met via the Acura Legend forums.  This guy has gone through 4 Acura Legends and a couple of Integras.  I let him take the ILX for a spin and he had fun with it.

When all other restaurant options fail – Denny’s is always there for you.

So how did it feel to spend over 14 hours behind the wheel of the car today?  I feel like I need to go for a run around the block!  I get stir-crazy from sitting in one position for such an extended time.  I’m a little fatigued, too, but this has less to do with that KIND of car I was driving but rather the fact that I was IN a car the entire day.

Thankfully, tomorrow’s final stretch to Milwaukee, Wisconsin is “only” about 8 1/2 hours of drive time, and fewer than 600 miles.  Piece of cake!

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Day 1 – Santa Fe, New Mexico

Posted in ILX, NALM, Road Trip on July 24, 2012 by tysonhugie

Odometer:  5,976

Trip Mileage:  516 miles

Let the games begin!  My voyage to the National Acura Legend Meet’s 2012 event in Milwaukee, Wisconsin is underway.  I’ve just finished checking in at a luxurious Motel 6 in New Mexico’s capital, Santa Fe.  I’m only about an hour north of much-larger Albuquerque and sitting at about 7,200 feet elevation in the mountains of northern New Mexico.  Can’t wait to see the sunrise up here.  So far, so good.

I’ve now added another state to the list of ‘conquered’ destinations.  That means, my ILX has now traveled through:

  • Arizona
  • California
  • Idaho
  • Nevada
  • New Mexico
  • Utah

Here’s what today’s trip looked like.

Beginning mileage:

The afternoon departure from work in Scottsdale, Arizona as the trip begins.

It didn’t take long until my ascent from Phoenix to the mountains of northern Arizona was accompanied by some ominous looking storm clouds in the distance.

Rainy times on Interstate 17 northbound nearing Flagstaff, Arizona.  Thankfully the ILX is well-equipped with Michelin all-season tires that kept the ride stable.

A lot of these grades are steep as the road climbs from Phoenix area’s 2,000 feet elevation to Flagstaff’s 7,000 feet.  I was able to leave the car in 6th gear and it held its speed impressively.

Shout out to my friend Ryan for sending me on my way with a mix CD that I rocked out to!  Today’s 7 hours in the car went by in a flash thanks to lots of mobile audio entertainment.

Now on Interstate 40 eastbound.

Even in an age where iPhones and GPS systems have made travel “on the fly” so easy, there’s still something I absolutely love about having a printed paper map.  Besides the one I got from Google Maps, I also bought a $13 road atlas from Flying J this evening.  A must-have.

The open road of Interstate 40 eastbound in northern Arizona was pretty deserted for a Tuesday afternoon.  Some blue sky peeked through the clouds at one point.

This has got to be one of the oldest operating DQ’s out there.  Holbrook, Arizona.  My friend Kevin and I ate at this DQ last year on my way to NALM 2011 in Morristown, New Jersey.

A very rainy arrival into the “Land of Enchantment” at the Arizona – New Mexico border.

And a rainbow awaiting me not long afterward.

There’s just something about these desert skies at dusk!

Two fuel stops today – Holbrook, Arizona, and Albuquerque, New Mexico.  The ILX is doing great and I’m feeling refreshed and ready for another long day of driving tomorrow!

In other news:

I walked out of Supercuts on Sunday to find a twin (or at least sibling!) in the parking lot in Scottsdale.  Next to my car is a 2012 Acura TSX Special Edition, finished in the same Silver Moon color as my ILX.  It’s also powered by the same 2.4 liter, 201 horsepower 4 cylinder motor.

Yesterday, I had the door latch recall on my car taken care of.  It was a quick and painless ordeal.  Acura has done a great job of communicating this to customers and promptly making replacement parts available.  I was glad to get this done before my journey started.

If you’re into motorsports beyond just luxury cars, check out the Fall Fuel Fest.  My brother Bentley’s business is called H&S Performance and specializes in diesel pickup performance upgrades.  They’re sponsoring an all-day event at headquarters in St. George Utah with motocross, diesel truck pulls, and dyno events.  Guaranteed to see some high horsepower engines over there.

Heard the name Gunther Holtorf?  This guy’s story is inspirational!  500,000 miles in a Mercedes SUV, hitting nearly every continent in the globe over a 23-year span.  The photographs that accompany his story are awesome.  Check out this video.  My favorite line:  “He drives like an old granny!”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-18910560

Guess it’s time for me to start shipping my 500k-miler overseas to give this guy a run for his money!

Up next:

Below is what I’m going to attempt tomorrow.  14 hours drive time, 883 miles from here in Santa Fe to Omaha, Nebraska.  Can the ILX do it?  Can I do it?

Tune in tomorrow night to find out.

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