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Thread: What is the American Drive-In?
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10-12-2010 #1
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What is the American Drive-In?
The “authentic” drive in restaurant has proven to be elusive for the teams today. Adam and Rick managed to find a great example after searching through multiple towns and burgs.
Meanwhile, Albert and Danny have concluded that Sonic is the new “all american drive-in” because every place they went they could count on a Sonic being close by.
During their search, Albert and Danny did uncover multiple Diners that come very close to the spirit of the challenge. (we wonder how many times they “just had to” sample some of the food at these spots)
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10-12-2010 #2
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OK, I've got to go next year just to be the photographer and improve the photos! ;)
Teasing guys. Looks like fun.
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10-12-2010 #3
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Sonic is the chain restaurant in many cities .
The Varsity in Atlanta is great and has curb service too ..Jeff Tate
U.S.A.
"The best thing about participating in these events is that you get to hang out with a group of intelligent like minded people who live to achieve things in their lives. You won't find a lazy, mean, or dumb bone in their bodies." Bret Voelkel, RideTech
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10-12-2010 #4
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critter any better it'd be illegal pal..... Jeff this was a real tuff challenge surprisingly enough.... We found a location in the morning up by Chattanooga but felt it wasn't perfect (much like team one). This was followed up with further web searches that reveiled a perfect candidate in Scottsboro.... Unfortunately this economy took it's toll on that location and we arrived in Scottsboro to no dinner and a re-developed property alltogether....
The biggest realization was America has for the most part lost it's iconic "Ma and Pop" drive in dinners.......Carbon Kustoms Limited
A.K.A. Albert from Toronto
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10-13-2010 #5
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There is an A&W Drive-in on Hwy 411 in Madisonville , TN.
I pass it on the way to Pigeon Forge.
I've stopped to eat there a couple of times .
It's not a Mom 'n Pop , but at least it's a drive -in ..Jeff Tate
U.S.A.
"The best thing about participating in these events is that you get to hang out with a group of intelligent like minded people who live to achieve things in their lives. You won't find a lazy, mean, or dumb bone in their bodies." Bret Voelkel, RideTech
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10-13-2010 #6
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Hear that Jeff but the spirit of the challenge was to find the Ma and Pop type place and Sonic was everywhere else......
Carbon Kustoms Limited
A.K.A. Albert from Toronto
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10-13-2010 #7
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Drive in's are an American icon that has been taken over by the big boys--Sonic, A&W and the other food chains that draw us on a daily basis. The Mom and Pop stands are now far and few as Albert and I found. From Lookout Mountain, Ga to Huntsville, Ala these folks have basicly nothing to remember the old days. And thats such a shame. If ou go back to classic movies like Hollywood Knights and American Graffitti , you can see how much they were a part of American Hertiage. Like muscle cars and our Pro-touring club..we must move to preserve these thigs that are part of our lives and hertigae. If you are fortunate enough to have a drive in..show your support and suppoert and American icon. I do thank sonic for at least trying to do that, even though its a chain.
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10-13-2010 #8
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Albert is right about it being hard to find. When we drove to NC this spring to see my new grandson I made a point of taking secondary roads and trying to NOT eat at chains. I can find diners but actual drive ins were non-existent. We still have a few around my part of the world but Arkansas is always way behind the times.
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10-13-2010 #9
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While not a drive-in , one of the best hometown places I've eaten in a long time was "The Snappy Lunch" in Mt.Airy , NC.
It is the popularly mentioned place in the Andy Griffith Show and it really exists in Mt. Airy ( Andy's hometown )
The fried porkchop sandwich with tomato , onion , slaw , and bbq sauce is one of the best sandwiches I've ever eaten..
I mention this because it is one of those hometown culture places that has survived .Last edited by JEFFTATE; 10-14-2010 at 09:33 AM.
Jeff Tate
U.S.A.
"The best thing about participating in these events is that you get to hang out with a group of intelligent like minded people who live to achieve things in their lives. You won't find a lazy, mean, or dumb bone in their bodies." Bret Voelkel, RideTech
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10-13-2010 #10
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Yeah, our drive-in didn't have the stalls I was expecting to find like Sonic does.
My FIRST thought was the Varsity, in downtown Atlanta, Athens or even Norcross, but I was expecting to find that quaint, old-timey drive-in somewhere along our way.
Google wasn't our friend either, seeing as the "other" drive-in I wanted to visit turned out to be a trailer on the side of the road in Blue Ridge, GA - a town we passed through on the way home.
While we weren't as successful as I had hoped, the premise of the Road Tour Express really is pretty awesome. Hanging out with a great friend for a day as well as playing around with some technology to which I wouldn't typically have access. Ya can't beat that with a big stick!
My biggest issue was the learning curve on the Ipad, and secondly was the lack of Verizon coverage in some/most of the small towns we were visiting. Like I said in another post, we lost a long "update" that I did right after we left the drive-in which pretty much contained the story of the owner, drive-in, some history, etc. That's a shame, as it was really the reason we did this!!
Overall, I give it an "A" and will do it again if I have the chance!!!Adam
1985 S10 - LT1 + T56
1964 Chevy II 4-Door - LS1 + T56
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10-13-2010 #11
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Adam I hear you buddy,,,, we almost lost our images in day one and the really cool places to visit off the beaten track tend come with the baggage of limited populations... This of course results in limited coverage,,,,,, but hey we can forge into the dark zone and appear on the other side with fun to share.....
The tour has certainly be a " BLAST" to be a part of and anyone that can grab even a single day would be well advised to jump in with both feet,,,, you won't regret it I assure you....Carbon Kustoms Limited
A.K.A. Albert from Toronto
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10-13-2010 #12
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Bring it closer to Arkansas! OK, Tennessee isn't that far but I have no vacation left. Too bad, since I'm an IT guy who owns an Ipad and has his own mifi hot spot. And did I mention I was a newspaper photographer for 20 years. Man, gotta get my car set up for next year. But they probably won't take me.
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10-13-2010 #13
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Critter yank some buddies together and send in a route that works for you,,,, ya never know you might be the next team in the Road Tour Express....
Carbon Kustoms Limited
A.K.A. Albert from Toronto
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10-13-2010 #14
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Maybe next year. Got a couple of guys in mind, and one woman. She drives mine like she stole it from me.
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10-13-2010 #15
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Perfect Critter, my wife and Brian's wife almost signed on for a leg of this tour .... Pull it together if you can,,, you won't regret it!!!!
Carbon Kustoms Limited
A.K.A. Albert from Toronto
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10-13-2010 #16
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Man, this sounds like so much fun. Wish it was headin' west ...
Mary Pozzimpozzi . . . '73 Camaro RS, '69 Camaro SCCA/Trans-Am vintage racer, and a 1989 R7U 1LE Players Challenge car.
"STICK, you B*TCH!!!!!!"
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10-14-2010 #17
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Someone say " Go West Young man"
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10-14-2010 #18
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It's too bad y'all aren't near Augusta. The Sno'Cap Drive-in is still open.
http://www.snocapnorthaugusta.com/GeoffP
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10-14-2010 #19
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I'm gonna have to go on a quest for Drive-In Restaurants and Hometown Restaurants too.
Maybe I'll research a coffee table book or something .
" Hometown Diners and Drive-Ins of the South"Jeff Tate
U.S.A.
"The best thing about participating in these events is that you get to hang out with a group of intelligent like minded people who live to achieve things in their lives. You won't find a lazy, mean, or dumb bone in their bodies." Bret Voelkel, RideTech
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10-14-2010 #20
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Dang, that would have been a good one.
Originally Posted by GeoffP
It's too bad y'all aren't near Augusta. The Sno'Cap Drive-in is still open.
http://www.snocapnorthaugusta.com/
I found one in Toccoa, but like Augusta, it was just too far east. Our "short" trip took all day as it was.
Adam
1985 S10 - LT1 + T56
1964 Chevy II 4-Door - LS1 + T56
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