Best towing RT from Southern D1 to Epping

I will be pulling into Epping to work by noon on Thursday. (Not sure where I will be, either Safety or staging lanes)

If anyone is still looking for rooms last minute I have a discount code that will get you a room near the Manchester airport at the Country Inn & Suites Bedford for $70/night. Published rate is about $120. A bit of a drive, approx 35 miles on 101, but all highway.

If anyone needs the code feel free to shoot me a PM.

[Eric Merryfield]

Originally Posted by Greg Barsamian

BP's directions are probably the best to take. HOWEVER!
Once you get into Sturbridge Mass at the Jct of I-84 and I-90 be careful.
The Sturbridge State Police Barracks is at that exit, follow Bob Don's suggestions regarding the unmarked vehicles.

If you choose to take I-290 east (Get off I-90 at the Auburn exit instead of paying more in tolls to the Westboro/RT495 North exit) it will bring you thru the city of Worcester, and right into I-495 North at the Hudson / Northboro Mass line.

I would suggest as BP did, and stay on RT 495 North to Rt 125 North (Plastow NH exit)
and follow Rt 125 North for 20 miles to Rt 101 east, (There's a 24 hour Wal-mart at that junction) Get on Rt 101 east for just 1 exit . Get off at the "Dragway exit", take a left over the bridge and into New England Dragway's parking lot!

We'll be driving this route tomorrow to attend the ASRA double header, and will follow up with any detours next week!

BTW Tom, I sent a sample of the pocket Dzus tool to S&W
Greg

I would agree with BP's directions, I have done all three crossings of the Hudson to and from the south, I have done Garden state to tapenzee, gone past the tapenzee once and picked up 90, and of course done the GW bridge upper and lower. Its always sort of a crapshoot.

Things to take note of for the towing crowd that hasn't gone north:

If taking the garden state, fill up at the last rest area and you should make it to the track without stoping again......gas isn't cheap at all in CT.

If going 84 to the pike, right after you get on the pike and pass the state police barracks there is a rest area with a Mcdonalds. It will be your last rest area if you are taking 290....which I do.

495 if taking to the 125 exit right north of me here in Andover are the bridges that cross the Merrimack, the first two aren't bad, but the dip on the third and last bridge going north is the worst, it is really bad going south from the track....

Once you get up to the 101 exit on 125 you will find what may be the best options for a racetrack in D-1 whatever you may need or hanker for when you are at the track which is 1 exit up like two miles......a Mcdonalds, a burger king, plenty of gas stations.....mobil one with a touchless, I think there is a market basket now too, of course the Walmart, etc etc etc. Keep in mind that New Hampshire is tax free, also bottle deposit free for the adult and pop beverage drinkers.....

Safe towing everyone.

See you next week.

Eric

[david ring]

Traffic on I-95 in CT can be brutal, particularly between the state line and New Haven, plus the road in places is in awful shape.

[FINESPLINE]

Originally Posted by david ring

Traffic on I-95 in CT can be brutal, particularly between the state line and New Haven, plus the road in places is in awful shape.

Much better way to go is 287 to 684N to 84E . You avoid 95 in Conn. which at any given moment can be a disaster.

[Greg Barsamian]

Originally Posted by Eric Merryfield

I would agree with BP's directions, I have done all three crossings of the Hudson to and from the south, I have done Garden state to tapenzee, gone past the tapenzee once and picked up 90, and of course done the GW bridge upper and lower. Its always sort of a crapshoot.

Things to take note of for the towing crowd that hasn't gone north:

If taking the garden state, fill up at the last rest area and you should make it to the track without stoping again......gas isn't cheap at all in CT.

If going 84 to the pike, right after you get on the pike and pass the state police barracks there is a rest area with a Mcdonalds. It will be your last rest area if you are taking 290....which I do.

495 if taking to the 125 exit right north of me here in Andover are the bridges that cross the Merrimack, the first two aren't bad, but the dip on the third and last bridge going north is the worst, it is really bad going south from the track....

Once you get up to the 101 exit on 125 you will find what may be the best options for a racetrack in D-1 whatever you may need or hanker for when you are at the track which is 1 exit up like two miles......a Mcdonalds, a burger king, plenty of gas stations.....mobil one with a touchless, I think there is a market basket now too, of course the Walmart, etc etc etc. Keep in mind that New Hampshire is tax free, also bottle deposit free for the adult and pop beverage drinkers.....

Safe towing everyone.

See you next week.

Eric

For those opting to take the Plastow exit Rt 125N from Rt 495N to the track,
2 miles up Rt. 125 in the DeMoulas/Market Basket Plaza (Opposite Bank Of America) is the NH State Liquor Store & Wine outlet!

For those that want to $ave on fuel, travel 2 more miles north on 125 past "Plastow Motorsports" to the Irving Fuel station (there's a "Dunkin Donuts" inside)
BIG rig's can easily get in and out of for gas & diesel fuel at "lower NH prices"!
Fuel yesterday was $369.9/ gallon & diesel was $3.89.9/gallon

and for those with shorter tow vehicles, traveling Rt. 125, there's a well-known short-cut that we use to get to the track.(2 miles)
Just past the Stratham Tire company at the "Blinking Lights" take a right on North Road, this will take you past 3 Ponds Campgrounds and thru the Rockingham County Complex (20 mph at the complex) it cuts directly across Rt 101 and into the New England Dragway facility.

Again the "short-cut" should only be used for "smaller" Truck /Trailer/ Motorhome combo's!

[Bryan Worner]

I'm going to Columbus. Let's see, how do I get there? Oh yeah, take 76(PA Turnpike) west to I 70 west to exit! A little over 5 hours or so of driving. Simple!

[Greg Barsamian]

Originally Posted by Bryan Worner

I'm going to Columbus. Let's see, how do I get there? Oh yeah, take 76(PA Turnpike) west to I 70 west to exit! A little over 5 hours or so of driving. Simple!

Good Luck at National Trail Raceway Bryan, alot of "Class racers" will be at New England Dragway next weekend!

[Dave Casey]

Tom said he was traveling at night, that is a good idea as far as traffic, because with a good weather forecast fri pm and sat am , there will be beach traffic.

I go there regularly and always us 125 north, it is shorter and there are good places to gas up and get groceries on the way.My rig is 68 feet long. Yes there are some stop lights, if you hate stop lights, take the 95-101 route. There is a walmart at the junction of 101 and 125, going north on 125 you go under 101 and it is on the right. Greg is right on as far as the gas/diesel stop(Irving). The road is being worked on there, but in non rush hour times it is a ok, I went thru fri night and this morning and did fill up at the Irving. I think it is open 24 hours, diesel around the back of building, easy access 385/diesel. 10-15 miles to track, there is also a shell on the left just before 101 that is 385.

As far as the southern part of the trip, it depends on time of day. In the middle of the night, if there is no night construction, I would go 95 to 91 to 84....,that route is less hills ,,, but most of the time I would go 287, tappan zee, 684 , 84 , 90 , 290 , 495,125n. There are more than one 125 exit, take the last one, it is split for north and south (you want north)and I think it says haverhill,ma and plastow,nh on the exit sign. all these roads have some issues, but that is the way it is every where I go.

While you are up here, take a ride to the coast and see the sights

[pentastarrail]

To reiterate what was said:
While planning your trip do NOT plan on stopping in Connecticut for fuel.
$4.39 as of this morning vs. $3.89 in New Hampshire (Mobil stations).

Connecticuts Governer just raised the fuel tax on July 1.

Have a safe trip.

[X-TECH MAN]

Originally Posted by pentastarrail

To reiterate what was said:
While planning your trip do NOT plan on stopping in Connecticut for fuel.
$4.39 as of this morning vs. $3.89 in New Hampshire (Mobil stations).

Connecticuts Governer just raised the fuel tax on July 1.

Have a safe trip.

Just HOW could all of the people who live there vote in someone like the Govenor of Connecticut when gas and diesel is already more expensive than most can afford unless you drive a "Skate Board" ? Wake up people. I would hope that NO ONE would buy gas in that state and put a choke hold on that crap.