Haulin' Overload: 2258 miles, Insomniac schedule, grueling work hours, FUN!!!

FullThrottle

Active member
Joined
Jul 23, 2006
Messages
7,583
Reaction score
17
Location
Washington
Haulin' Overload: 2258 miles, Insomniac schedule, grueling work hours, FUN!!!

I'm back from the land of California and the yearly odyssey to CA Extreme. I decided to do the trailer load again this year, I scored some cool games and moved some gems for other people along the way. Lots of work, but equal gratitude and all around happiness on the trip.

Ahead is 30+ pictures, its mainly my trailer load shots since if I wasn't driving I was busy doing something and forgot to snap pics. The story follows with the pictures associated on that post, meeting up with other arcade nerd homies, some funny sidelines and awesome grails scored!!!

The quick stats:
2258 miles round trip, trailer pickup to trailer dropoff.
10 Days
11.4 mpg overall average with 6x12 trailer fully loaded.
52hrs 20min driving time CAX and trip orientated.
$550 in fuel costs
198 gallons consumed
$388 6x12 U-haul ramp trailer rental for 10 days.

I'd been getting ready for a month to leave, a day late and problems getting moving on the voyage. Finally, in front of my house ready to take off! Heading down for the load are games for other people in CA. The games starting out were CHICAGO COIN TWIN RIFLE E.M., GYPSY FORTUNE TELLER MACHINE, SMASH TV, GAUNTLET, DOMINO MAN, FOOD FIGHT, BUBBLES...

CAX09-1.jpg


CAX09-2.jpg
 
Last edited:
Finally down to California the next day and meeting up with 8bitNintendo/Chris to pickup my Daytona USA twin! I'm stoked as hell since I have a twin set already. After I'm done setting these baby's up I'll have 4p Nascar action in my housecade!! ArcadeJunkie/Taylor was there, but somehow managed to avoid my camera shots. We loaded the trailer and the games wouldn't fit! We had to unload the trailer again and tip both Daytona machines on end in the trailer to gain the extra inches we needed. DOH!!

CAX09-3.jpg


CAX09-4.jpg


CAX09-5.jpg
 
A stop along the way in Vallejo to drop Smash TV off, then off to Hayward to drop off the EM shooter and the Tarot card reading machine.

Finally unloaded at the show and early morning grub eating session, I catch Avidgeek using the new fangled hand dryer in the bathroom. Damn hippie blow drying I usually hate it but these things actually worked pretty damn good!

CAX09-6.jpg


CAX09-7.jpg
 
3 long nights of arcade work and bullshitting. When I plug the Daytona USA set in the morning for the show it started smoking and disabled one side of it! Sadly, me tipping them on end in the trailer likely jossled all the shit down onto the boards and power supply. Frankly I'm lucky that one of them is still working!!

I was so damn busy I hardly took pictures of the show itself. I was meaning to stand on top of the Daytona's and do a panoramic view of the entire show but it slipped my mind.

Big thanks to all the following who helped along my voyage to score, store and all around help transport or procure machines for me!!

Avidgeek - As always, you are da' man. Very fun to hang out yet again, I wish that the 1k mileage didn't seperate us so we could roll the machines around. Enjoyed sharing a room with you, not in a Phet way. Thanks for getting and storing and bringing up my cabs for me!

ArcadeJunky - Thanks a million! This guy was a trooper all the way through, and hooked me up on some good deals!! Helped me load and unload multiple times, gave me room and board, and out ate me on Biscuits & Gravy 2 to 1! We've only hung out for a few days but it feels like I've known you years! LOL, you remind me of the loggers out here in WA! :D Your hospitality and humor was greatly appreciated, can't wait until next time!

Mrbill2084 - Dude, you hooked me up with my all time grail cabinet... Finally, I have a damn Quantum!!! I'm speachless. Dinner/Breakfast was cool to shoot the shit with the group and hope to hang out more in future trips.

8bitNintendo - Chris is a damn workhorse, I can't believe he put up with all the loading of the trailer and never once bitch! Thanks for the hookup on a few new driving games, I couldn't leave California until I picked up his Cruisin USA upright and both Daytona's.

DogP - Thanks for the muscle, always great to hang out and b.s. and those ultra late night meals!! Not often when the East and West coast comes together, much props for making the trip out.

Josie - It was a blast to hang out and show you some of the more oddball games that were fun. That VARKON was simply bitchin' and it was great tag teaming the games! The cookies were delicious and I enjoyed them!

Savit4ltr, XXI21, Bill Carlton - Always a great time hanging out with you guys!! Thanks for the Battlezone tips Brian, I can feel it in my balls that my scores will go up! :eek:

Ron Chan & Brad the Sac. pinball guys were very cool to meet and help out with their finds I could deliver like a stork. The dinners were good and the games were fun, top notch collectors and families that were totally bitchin' and great to kick it with!

I know I'm forgetting about a dozen people but this is getting damn long without some pictures!!
 
My truck loaded late night almost ready for the voyage home. The cubevan is acejedi's machines which were simply awe inspiring. It was awesome hanging out through the show and all the old jokes! Gotta meet up sometime soon for some Time Traveller, I CANNOT BELIEVE THAT I DIDN'T PLAY IT AT THE DAMN SHOW!!

CAX09-8.jpg


CAX09-9.jpg


CAX09-10.jpg


CAX09-11.jpg
 
Last edited:
i was about to post "pics or it didn't happen" about the Quantum then you posted pics.

bastard. but i can't hate you 'cuz your mom's so nice.
 
My handtruck broke finally all these years and games later, the wheels were hilarious to say the least to anyone who saw them!
Yes, Avidgeek is as crazy as me! He even bought the clone to my truck but bigger, badder and with a damn lift... BASTARD!!!
Sarge my Co-pilot and alarmclock.

CAX09-12.jpg


CAX09-13.jpg


CAX09-14.jpg


CAX09-15.jpg
 
Last edited:
Karl, you are damned amazing! I wish I would have spent more time hangin out this year. Now that you have a Quantum, I am really going to have to make a road trip and check out your collection. Post pics of the house whenever everything is inside.
 
Taylor, awesome again hooking up and hanging out. Everything you helped with was totally teh shiznit man!! I can't believe that I had to leave 2 of the cabinets behind!!!

I GOT STUCK HARDCORE IN TAYLORS DRIVEWAY. SERIOUSLY, IT TOOK ME 10 MINUTES AND ABOUT 10,000 MILES WORTH OF WEAR ON MY TIRE, 60 LBS. OF GRAVEL SPRAYED AND ABOUT A YEARS WORTH OFF OF MY CLUTCH. I NEARLY DIDN'T GET OUT, DIDN'T EVEN KNOW WHAT TO DO!! THANK GOD I GOT OUT, SORRY ABOUT YOU TANK TREAD MARKS THROUGH YOUR DRIVEWAY!!

CAX09-16.jpg


CAX09-17.jpg


CAX09-18.jpg
 
And... as a great finish to the long drive home and some skin to look at, this girl came by my house while unloading the trailer and played some Gansta' EM!!!

CAX09-HOMECOMING.jpg
 
can you even walk in your house anymore? i mean, i know it was a bit tight at times but...
I have cleared a path through the new shit now. I need to do some work on one of the Daytona's but I'm still arranging the shit outta it trying to fit all my driving games since I have a Cruis'n USA upright I picked up along with the Daytona's which I had planned for. The Race and Hard Drivin' cockpits are to make one really nice one for my driving room and for others to get some parts they need. I may sell one as a whole since I now have 4 cockpit race/hard drivin' machines now.

Quantum is a hell-cade but I am going to do a full restoration and documentation on it as I go along. Its #233 and is Jamma. I've aligned the parts I need and am very excited to get this baby going. I played it about 5 or more hours at the show and love it even more! I'm glad its not a grail that turns out to be a prick tease in the end. Cabinet is in really good shape for being converted and kicked around, it will again be bitchin' soon!!

I cleared most of the room I needed before I took off to Cali, so it wasn't that bad. Its more of figuring out how to arrange things now and still have a 2ft. minimum walkway at all times.
 
The twins... reunited and it feels so good! They wouldn't both fit in the closet without taking the trim off the edges, but they fit like gloves and were almost purpose built to tuck in along the wall of the back arcade.

ICECOLDBEER-1.jpg
 
I'm currently looking for Neon beer signs and any kind of car advertising, poster and street signs to accompany the new arrivals. Any locals please let me know if you know where some cheapies are kicking around.
 
Karl, you are an inspiration to us all. Arcade machines have never made random bikini chicks to wander into my place.

Oh, and your Rampart has been working hard down here.
 
Back
Top Bottom