FYI FORD MustangSteve's Ford Mustang Forum / Mustang Death Valley Challenge

**Posted by MS** 6/05/2022 11:11 AM

Just thinking for future fun stuff.

Anybody interested in a classic Mustang Death Valley summertime challenge run? We would all meet up and drive through it. Not for the guys that won’t drive more than 50 miles…

What are your thoughts? Willing to try it? I know nothing about the route… open for discussion.

Prove that you built your car to really drive it.

Maybe another time, do Pikes Peak, which several of us did on a bash caravan on the way to Montana.

**Posted by Bullet Bob** 6/05/2022 2:20 PM

Count me in. Even though I grew up in SoCal I never spent any time in DV. I did drive through from Pahrump, NV to Us 395 (East to West) in December, 2010 to meet up with Barry (65 5.0 Vert) at his place in Mammoth Lakes. I 'spect it would be warmer in the summer. We could also include a BB2 visitation in this.

Last edited by Bullet Bob (6/05/2022 5:29 PM)

**Posted by BILLY WALTON from GEORGIA** 6/05/2022 2:23 PM

I would love too.

**Posted by Bullet Bob** 6/05/2022 2:24 PM

As for Pikes Peak again. I will come and bring a rope for all the dripping pot fans who don't understand about carb tuning. That would exclude RV6 'cause I know he understands....lives at 8200 and always carries his jet kit.

Last edited by Bullet Bob (6/05/2022 2:25 PM)

**Posted by Don** 6/05/2022 3:43 PM

hummmm mini bash in Vegas, drive around in the desert ,, ok but leaving wifes in the casinos will be (for me) the most expensive trip ever. Ha

**Posted by 50vert** 6/05/2022 5:03 PM

We've done DV more times than I can count ... well, more times than I have fingers. It's probably Leonie's favourite place in the world. Only place I've ever seen a real coyote chasing a roadrunner, think he caught it.
If I had a chance to do it in a stang, I'd do it.

**Posted by Bullet Bob** 6/05/2022 5:28 PM

50vert wrote:
We've done DV more times than I can count ... well, more times than I have fingers. It's probably Leonie's favourite place in the world. Only place I've ever seen a real coyote chasing a roadrunner, think he caught it.
If I had a chance to do it in a stang, I'd do it.

Well Barry, you could probably ride with me 'cause I doubt seriously if Jean would be interested....she hates heat.

**Posted by rpm** 6/05/2022 6:15 PM

I'd do it just to hang out with jew guys. I'm not too fur from DV, but never been there. I mean, why would a guy from Bako got to any place that's much hotter? Pikes Peak is a bucket lister.

Cliff Claven trivia: The highest (Mt Whitney) and lowest spot (Death Valley) in the lower 48 are 100 miles apart. You're welcome. Test at 11:00.

**Posted by Nos681** 6/05/2022 7:55 PM

Dianne said she’s game if Vegas is involved.

Nearest Lowe’s is about 100 miles away here in U.P.

**Posted by MS** 6/05/2022 8:01 PM

Now, just convince somebody in the vicinity to help host a bash.

**Posted by Rufus68** 6/05/2022 10:22 PM

Bearing Bob wrote:
I'd do it just to hang out with jew guys. I'm not too fur from DV, but never been there. I mean, why would a guy from Bako got to any place that's much hotter? Pikes Peak is a bucket lister.

Cliff Claven trivia: The highest (Mt Whitney) and lowest spot (Death Valley) in the lower 48 are 100 miles apart. You're welcome. Test at 11:00.

Add to your test that Mt Whitney rises only 10,075 ft from the lowest point around it's base. So standing at the bottom you would only see a mountain 10,075 ft tall. While Mt. Rainier rises 13, 210 ft from the lowest point around it's base. So looking at the mountains from the ground and Mt. Rainier will look over a half a mile taller. Even the world's second tallest mountain, K2, only rises 13,189 ft from the lowest point around it's base. Mt. Rainier would look even taller than K2.

**Posted by boss347convertible** 6/05/2022 11:39 PM

I have spent time in Death Valley and Panamint Valley four wheeling, dirt biking, exploring, and last May we drove our Model T's approximately 600 miles to and through Death Valley and Panamint Valley. Today the temperature was 104F and will only get hotter. I would suggest a trip no later than late May unless you really enjoy the heat.

Death Valley/Panamint Valley have limited services with fuel at Furnace Creek, Stovepipe Wells and Panamint Valley Resort. Those stops also have lodging, albiet limited and rustic at Stovepipe Wells and PVR. Cell phone service is sporadic at best and I would not count on having cell service. Camping in both valleys is spectacular and worth consideration.

A fun route might be through Barstow (alternatively Las Vegas depending on where you want to begin) via I-15 to Baker, then north on 127 to 190 to Scotty's Castle if the road is open, then back to 190 through Stovepipe Wells to Emigrant Canyon Road (depending on condition) into Panamint Valley and out via Wildrose Road through Trona to Lone Pine returning 395 south to I-15.

The Model T's required 4-5 days to make the trip, while modern cars can make the trip in a day if necessary; however, Death Valley/Panamint Valley are worth taking your time and exploring. I will join you on this adventure if you decide to go.

The motorcycle photo was taken at the peak of the range separating Death Valley and Panamint Valley in November and I prefer those higher elevations during the summer months. Both valleys have many mines and there is old equipment and vehicles always about.

**Posted by MS** 6/06/2022 7:21 AM

Great info, boss!!!
Where are the pics?

**Posted by Bentworker** 6/06/2022 8:43 AM

I drove through DV in January. Awesome spot, drove past the Borax mine, walked around on Badwater basin, and stayed at The Ranch at DV. A very desolate harsh environment. Absolutely beautiful. Lots of elevation change, some good roads, some look like asphalt bacon.

I don’t think I could talk the wife into it during the summer months. My ride has no AC and very little sound/ heat insulation. If I went I would have a camelback or something similar to sip off of while driving, boatloads of water, food, ice and some sort of satellite communication device like a Garmin InReach, pop up shade tent or three…

It will be a hell of an adventure. As long as everybody survives the heat it might even be fun.

**Posted by red351** 6/06/2022 10:02 AM

Bullet Bob wrote:
As for Pikes Peak again. I will come and bring a rope for all the dripping pot fans who don't understand about carb tuning. That would exclude RV6 'cause I know he understands....lives at 8200 and always carries his jet kit.

Well Bob, we did PP on the way to Montrose with a dripping pot red car, but it made it. No real problem except Bonnie and I both needed to go to oxygen bar. We were a little more than weak in the knees and then it snowed closing the road so back to the bar we went. A little beer at the bar would have help.

**Posted by boss347convertible** 6/06/2022 10:25 AM

MS wrote:
Great info, boss!!!
Where are the pics?

I tried to post photos multiple times, to no avail. I will email some photos to anyone who can post.

**Posted by Raymond_B** 6/06/2022 10:27 AM

Depending on the date I might volunteer to be a support vehicle in my 2019 F-150. None of my hotrods would survive the trip

**Posted by RV6** 6/06/2022 11:20 AM

I'm in! The last time we was in DV we flew in. When we departed we stayed low to log some time flying below sea level.

**Posted by rpm** 6/06/2022 12:46 PM

RV6 wrote:
When we departed we stayed low to log some time flying below sea level.

Hmm... I'm guessing that doesn't happen too often.

**Posted by HudginJ3** 6/06/2022 7:04 PM

Hmmm, interesting. last time I was in DV, I flew in too, in the middle of summer. Flew to a mine in the middle of nowhere. The owner of it had to navigate. We landed on a road and taxied up to it. It was so hot the AC would not work. It didn't cool down till we got up to 18,000 ft. back to Tucson. I really need to get my radiator system to work. Im not to impressed with a 4 core aluminum radiator. The 427 Ford radiator worked great. ??????
It would be a great trip if we spent the night up in the cool air of Sequoia National Park.

Last edited by HudginJ3 (6/06/2022 7:18 PM)

**Posted by Bolted to Floor** 6/07/2022 11:10 AM

Did a quick search for summer temps!!
Averages for June-110, July-116, and August-114

"Death Valley is famous as the hottest place on earth and driest place in North America. The world record highest air temperature of 134°F (57°C) was recorded at Furnace Creek on July 10, 1913. Summer temperatures often top 120°F (49°C) in the shade with overnight lows dipping into the 90s°F (mid-30s°C.)Feb 5, 2022"

OK, I’m starting to wonder about the mental sharpness of some of you!! Driving from a place that's hot to visit in a place that's just as hot or worse….. the cars may hold up better than us!!

It could be a fun trip. The Mustang has made it through Houston traffic in August without boiling over so it might be good. If the AC quits, Sheryl would be flying home.

**Posted by HudginJ3** 6/07/2022 2:19 PM

Phoenix, Gila Bend, and Yuma often get up to those temps. But not as often as DV. It is rather hot!!! And not fun. Average means a little hotter or a little colder. This year it’s going to be hotter.

**Posted by Rudi** 6/07/2022 2:27 PM

A woman from the next town over from where I live recently passed away in 104 f temperature on a hike down into the Grand Canyon.
You may need one of those leaky water bags that hang in front of the rads.

**Posted by lowercasesteve** 6/07/2022 2:58 PM

And how are those early Mustang cooling systems going to hold up in that kind of heat with the A/C running full blast?

**Posted by Bullet Bob** 6/07/2022 4:35 PM

lowercasesteve wrote:
And how are those early Mustang cooling systems going to hold up in that kind of heat with the A/C running full blast?

That's the question....let's find out. I tested the Heap in LV at 120 or so a couple of Junes ago. Got stuck on I15 coming into town for about 1/2 hour, with the AC on. Car got up to about 210 before traffic started moving again.