That dreaded long drive to pick up a game....(Do you mind driving long distances?)

Long trips are no problem as long as the game is a sure guarantee. I don't think I would ever risk taking a long drive for a game that could get swiped at any moment.

The game is already paid for through Ebay/Paypal between two people with 100% feedback so it's pretty much a locked deal. But that brings up another topic idea... buying a game without seeing it in person which adds another formula of stress, especially with the price that the game I'm getting commands, lol.
 
My first two games were from ebay. Times were different then. I think people were alot more truthful with their description. I did it before finding out about auctions. I was lucky. Both in good working condition.
 
I drove from new orleans to illinois for a tron and dkjr but i was going there for 4 days for my job...does that count? Also did the same thing, new orleans to north carolina for work and picked up a secret service pin and a dig dug.

To drive specifically just for a game? 8 hrs round trip (n.o. to houston) twice...once for a donkey kong and the other for a gorgar. A 7 hr round trip twice, n.o. to jackson, miss. for a non working dk....and also a working joust. An 8 hr round trip n.o. to florida for a non working stunt cycle (my grail).

An 8 hr round trip within the state for a working stargate and sinistar.
 
Last edited:
Two hours = El Paso. Six hours = Dallas.

I was born in Midland. ;)



Were you driving 200 miles per hour to elpaso?

Last time I drove to elpaso it was 4-4.5 hours.

If you're from here and haven't been back in a while, it's easy to forget how much it sucks being in West Texas for going out of town

I live in Midland, seriously long drives to anywhere;

One way: 2.5 hours to Abilene, 6 to Dallas, 2 to Lubbock, 5:15 to Austin, 5 to San Antonio, 4 to elpaso, 6 to Oklahoma City, 4 to Amarillo, the list goes on... and there's nothing but desert or grass in every direction
 
I rather enjoy a good road trip (the games gotta be worth it though).
Ive done several game runs to California and back which is normally 5-6 hours each way when you count stoping for gas etc. If your quick about loading and not hanging round too much is an easy 12-14 hour day just to pick up a game with a few stops for food and gas. Even did one once with Nethawk86 where it was over 24 hours and we stopped in multiple locations to pick up games. The key on the longer trips is to get an arcade buddy to go with you. Time flies by when you have someone cool to talk to.

Substitute Nethawk86 with jawhn, and 100% this.
 
I recently drove alone 2000 miles round trip from Ga to KS to pick up a pair of Nascar Motion games that I won on ebay. You just can't find these games anywhere it seems.

I couldn't get anyone to uship them and sti was crazy expensive. So, I bit the bullet & did it myself. 28 hours of staring through the windshield. UGH! I honestly don't know how truckers can do their job. The boredom would make me crazy in a week. It cost me about $950 in fuel (8mpg) and hotels (2 nites).

Looking back on it... I would NOT do it again because the games had a ton of problems that weren't disclosed in the listing. I spent as much time fixing them as I did driving to get them. There is a certain satisfaction playing a game that you really worked hard to get and then equally as hard to get working.
 

Attachments

  • 26114114_1785787571444869_1476208877725978581_n.jpg
    26114114_1785787571444869_1476208877725978581_n.jpg
    86.2 KB · Views: 62
  • 24131299_1751914921498801_6694450114526827366_n.jpg
    24131299_1751914921498801_6694450114526827366_n.jpg
    221.8 KB · Views: 50
Last edited:
I recently drove alone 2000 miles round trip from Ga to KS to pick up a pair of Nascar Motion games that I won on ebay. You just can't find these games anywhere it seems. 28 hours of staring through the windshield. I honestly don't know how truckers can do their job. The boredom would make me crazy in a week. It cost me about $950 in fuel (8mpg) and hotels.

Looking back on it... I would NOT do it again because the games had a ton of problems that weren't disclosed in the listing. I spent as much time fixing them as I did driving to get them. There is a certain satisfaction playing a game that you really worked hard to get and then get working.

Wow, props!

giphy.gif
 
I normally don't do long drives to get games. My previous most was maybe an hour each way and that was rare, but one weekend my wife was out of town so I took the kids (5 & 3) with me on my game run to pick up a Wrestlemania pinball. It was fun, we went through Wisconsin Dells. It was about 4 hours each way, but we stopped and ate at places we normally can't eat at and really made a nice day trip out of it. Normally I dread a drive to get a game, but this time I actually enjoyed it and it was a positive for me. Made the pickup that much sweeter making family memories.
 
OP, what is this mysterious last and final game for your collection? I didn't see you mention it, unless I missed it (possible).
 
Road trips are what keeps me going in this hobby. Love the hunts and love grabbing local friends to tag along with. I'll be up the whole trip having a good time.
 
Were you driving 200 miles per hour to elpaso?

Last time I drove to elpaso it was 4-4.5 hours.

If you're from here and haven't been back in a while, it's easy to forget how much it sucks being in West Texas for going out of town

I live in Midland, seriously long drives to anywhere;

One way: 2.5 hours to Abilene, 6 to Dallas, 2 to Lubbock, 5:15 to Austin, 5 to San Antonio, 4 to elpaso, 6 to Oklahoma City, 4 to Amarillo, the list goes on... and there's nothing but desert or grass in every direction

Yeah you're right. I forgot that drive is longer than I remember. I do drive fast when I can though.

Desert and grass everywhere... but it's kinda relaxing to me.

There was an awesome steakhouse in Pecos. I forgot the name of it.
 
I drove 8 hours round trip last weekend for an empty, half-MAME'd cabinet. Space Duel #914 is a real survivor as far as cabinets go with nearly perfect side art and marquee, but the board, harness, power supply, control panel and monitor were long gone.

attachment.php
 

Attachments

  • Space Duel 914.jpg
    Space Duel 914.jpg
    234 KB · Views: 192
When I first started collecting shipping was $150 through Pilot Air, but when the shipping prices went up I did the road trips for games I really wanted like my Tapper, Berzerk, and Flash Gordon pin which were from 5-7 hours round trip. Now that my collection is complete, I don't have to worry about it. The only other game I would ever buy is a dedicated Mr. Do if a local collector 15 minutes from me ever sells it. :D
 
I delivered some games I sold a few months back, where I went from Vegas to two locations in the LA area that couldn't be further apart. And because the trailer I rented got a flat tire outside of Hesperia, it ended up being about 10 hours round trip. But since I brought my daughter and my dad, it actually turned to be an awesome road trip.

I appicate the drop of of your Pole Position. Been restoring it to it's original glory. Just rebuilt the whole pedal assembly. Almost complete. My daughter loves the game. lol :)

Hell,I drove 14 hours each way to grab my Donkey Kong. 6 hours is like a trip to the McD's drive through. lol
 
Last edited:
OP, what is this mysterious last and final game for your collection? I didn't see you mention it, unless I missed it (possible).

Tapper. And it's a complete disaster inside. First time I ever bought a machine sight unseen from ebay, never again. Not sure if I'm going to try to unwind everything that's wrong with it, cut my loses and sell it as-is, or part it out.
 
Yea! I still have the window sticker and build certificate to it as well! I've actually had three Lightnings (a 2000, 2003, and now a 2004)

Nice! I have a 2002 Lightning that I have owned for almost 15 years. I've done quite a few arcade hauls with that truck. It now has 56K and just gets taken out on the weekends.
 
I always stay within 4 hours one-way. I had a Honda Fit that I would use to haul pins or smaller games, and although very reliable and fuel efficient, it would get very uncomfortable after anything more than a couple hours of driving. I could feel my sciatic nerve screaming at me. It has since been sold because it was simply too uncomfortable for long trips. I ended up buying a nice used Infiniti G35X as my daily driver to replace it. Much comfier and a lot more fun to drive, but can hold zero games, boo.

My normal game hauler is a 2000 Toyota Tacoma with the inline 4-banger. It has zero testicular fortitude and only 2wd, but comfy enough for long trips and has been exceptionably reliable. I have taken it to the bay area on numerous occasions to deliver/pick up games with zero problems, mechanical or spinal. On the downside, it was an ex-route operator truck and has 357,000+ miles on the odometer. Still runs like a clock but reeks like... well... an ex-route operator truck with 357,000+ miles on the odometer. Whenever I hauled machines to CAX or PAGG, I ended up smelling like a pack of Marlboros with a hint of dank warehouse funk by the time I got there, and I don't smoke cigs. Can't say I don't love the truck for what it is though.

BUT, that will all change in this week, as I am finally biting the bullet and picking up a new Tacoma TRD Sport double cab with the 6' bed to replace both vehicles. I anticipate the long trips being much more enjoyable very soon. Can't friggin wait.

This post cracked me up! Having worked for an operator back in the early 80s(who was a truck driver by trade), your reference to the smell of the truck brought back old memories. :D

I appicate the drop of of your Pole Position. Been restoring it to it's original glory. Just rebuilt the whole pedal assembly. Almost complete. My daughter loves the game. lol :)

Hell,I drove 14 hours each way to grab my Donkey Kong. 6 hours is like a trip to the McD's drive through. lol

I'm not sure what it is about Pole Position that kids love. Maybe it's because they really can't "go off the correct path" of the game? My old friend's kids love it, too. Which I thought was kinda bass-ackwards because it's timed. But then again, you get xxx number of seconds no matter what. With "3 lives" games, it can literally be over in less than a minute if you fuck up right.
 
Back
Top Bottom