TAR POLL - Z'Loth's Trip to Vegas

[Mark Holtz]

Well, if my count is correct, August 7th kicks off the polls for the 12th and final leg of the Amazing Race. However, it will also be the evening that I will prepare for going to Vegas for the weekend for Classic Gaming Expo (http://www.cgexpo.com/). That means that while the final polls will go up, the posting of results on the web site will be delayed until I return to Sacramento, CA.

So, what's the final twist? Simple. Try to guess when I end up in Vegas. Should be fairly simple to figure out, except for a couple of factors:

* I'm driving, not flying to Vegas.
* No, I'm not telling you the route I'm taking, although I'm sure that MapQuest will give you some ideas.
* I will be driving solo.
* I don't have a GPS unit.
* My car is in excellent condition. It will have a oil change and such the day before.
* The last time I was in Vegas, I was ten years old, and it was a passthrough on a family trip.

Go ahead, and ask away some questions. I may not give straight answers though. The poll, however, will have you predicting when I will arrive at the hotel in Las Vegas.

[timf]

We'll obviously need to know what time you plan on leaving. Also, will you be making any stops along the way?

But frankly, I don't see the need for these polls that have nothing directly to do with the game.

[Lee L]

Are you taking you car to a quick lube place or to a mechanic you trust? If it is a quick lube place, just make sure they put the drain plug back in, fill the car with oil and make sure the old oil filter gasket does not stick to the block. Otherwise, it might take longer than you thought. ;)

[Mark Holtz]

timf: I need to make at least two stops along the way for fuel. If all goes well, I plan on departing at around 5 AM. With my luck, iIt'll be more like 6. ;)

Lee L: A quick-lube place that I trust. Hot, I plan on carrying a ice chest, a bottle of 50/50 radiator fluid, some oil, and a cell phone.

timf: Unlike DBSTalk Survivor, the final poll will most likely consist of one question: WHO WILL WIN THE AMAZING RACE? I have added enough twists to make this game interesting. So far, I have given away four DVDs.... none of which were announced previously. It fits in with a particular theme: Get from point A to point B. And, there will be no spoilers on the boards. Heck, even I'm not sure when I'll get there.

[Mark Lamutt]

What part of Sacramento do you live in, and what hotel will you be staying at in Vegas?

[Maniacal1]

Have you used your Fast Forward yet?

[Mark Holtz]

Mark: More like Roseville. It's at the same hotel that is holding the Classic Gaming Expo.

Manicial1: The Fast Forward would be southwest airlines.

[sorahl]

You need to follow all local road laws in the process of reaching your pitstop.....
:)

[Mark Holtz]

Because of the length of the trip, I fully expect to do three pit stops.

[Mark Holtz]

Why make a poll about a trip to Vegas? Why NOT? After all, I have to figure out how to get from point Sacramento to point Vegas. Since I will be driving... solo... on a route never taken taken, relying only on maps and direction, well....

At least I'm looking forward to CG Expo (http://www.cgexpo.com) and staying at the hotel where the convention is held (and hopefully, without any speeding tickets). The poll will be divided into half-hour slots.

Scoring is as follows:
* The standard ONE POINT for just voting.
* If I arrive in the half-hour slot which you picked, you get THREE points. (i.e. I arrive at 7:15, thus the people voting in the 7:00-7:30 PM slot would get 3 additional points)
* If, however, you picked the slot immediately BEFORE or AFTER the arrival slot, you get ONE point. (i.e. I arrive at 8:25. The people voting for 7:30-8:00 PM and 8:30-9:00 PM will get one point)

When will the poll close? It may be Thursday evening prior to heading to bed, or it may be Friday morning prior to leaving. If you have any questions, feel free to post 'em, however, I may answer in riddles.

[Ray_Clum]

Scoring is as follows:
* The standard ONE POINT for just voting.
* If I arrive in the half-hour slot which you picked, you get THREE points. (i.e. I arrive at 7:15, thus the people voting in the 7:00-7:30 PM slot would get 3 additional points)
* If, however, you picked the slot immediately BEFORE or AFTER the arrival slot, you get ONE point. (i.e. I arrive at 8:25. The people voting for 7:30-8:00 PM and 8:30-9:00 PM will get one point)


Is that 3 and 1 points over and above the 1 point for voting?

[Mark Holtz]

Correct. I always give one point just for voting.

[Maniacal1]

Guys, one of us has to be standing next to an Amazing Bathmat to say "Welcome to Las Vegas" when Z arrives.

[Mark Holtz]

.... and do a imitation of Phil.....

[JBKing]

Do you drive fast? :D

[Mark Holtz]

I have no shoes made out of lead. So, I tend to be around the speed limit.

[Danny R]

heh heh... I was wondering how in the world you would get any of those times in, when I realized I had typed in Las Vegas NM rather than NV into my map tool. ;-)

[Mark Holtz]

Well, the route to Las Vegas, NM would take me past Las Vegas, NV..... as I wave to it with my left hand.

(thinks quickly) Okay, I'm taking my hand brace.

[Mark Holtz]

Yawn.... I'm up.... I'm up.... I'm closing the poll....

[Mark Holtz]

Official ruling: And I got to the hotel at 6:25 PM. :eek2: Details to follow, since I just got home.

1,500 miles traveled since I left Friday at 6:30 AM.

[Mark Lamutt]

Damn...missed it by 5 minutes... :)

[timf]

Looking at the distances, it was obvious Z'Loth would arrive at one of the earliest times unless he drove really slow or took long stops. I didn't say anything earlier because I didn't want to give people hints, but it was really only a question between the before 6pm and 6-6:30 ranges.

[Mark Holtz]

Well, I was off by 3 hours, and I KNOW what route I was going. I was looking at the map and going "US Route" + red line (2 lane highway) = Speed Limits of around 55 MPH. Boy, was I wrong. Exiting one town, within a quarter mile stretch, there was the following signs:

* Speed Limit 45
* Speed Limit 55
* South US-95
* Speed Limit 70

Actual speed: 80+ MPH.

And, remember, I never took this route before. In fact, I haven't done much traveling before, but plan on doing some more now. I'm going to write up a full trip report later.

Mark.... you still get one point.