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September 2012 | Issue #9
Take one great road. Add one fantastic collector car. Stir. Enjoy. Repeat.
American Collectors Insurance is about to embark on an exciting new adventure, and we want collectors like you to come along for the ride.
You see, we’re about to start production on a series of web videos featuring some great American roads and classic cars. And you’ll be able to do more than simply watch — you’ll also be able to help us choose what roads we showcase. You could even be part of the on-screen action!
The title for the series is “American Detours,” and here’s the basic format of each show: Our crew will visit a great American driving road and drive it with an American Collectors customer. Along the way, we’ll stop at some great sites and even visit with a few automotive experts.
To help get things started, we’ve chosen the location of our premiere episode, the historic Brandywine Valley in southern Chester County, PA. Its rolling hills were once the site of revolutionary war battles, but now are home to countless museums, B&Bs, and historic buildings.
Where we travel next will be entirely up to you. We’ve selected a dozen great driver’s roads and will put them to a vote in the coming weeks to see which ones we should highlight throughout our first season. The series will steer clear of the routes that everyone’s heard of and been to, preferring to discover “hidden gems” that see a little less traffic than their more famous cousins.
We’re hoping to provide inspiration for your next tour or a “scenic route” to tack on to a car show weekend. We will count on your input to decide which deserving, yet often overlooked, byway will receive some long-awaited attention. What’s more, we’ll be giving out prizes to randomly selected participants, so be sure to vote when the time comes and tell your friends.
Here’s a sneak peek at which roads will be up for your vote:
US1 (Florida), Miami Beach to Key West
Part of US1, Seven Mile Bridge has been featured in numerous movies and car ads.
Texas Hill Country
Texas Hill Country has a wide range of geology and culture from sophisticated Austin to remote and dusty ranches. It includes several very significant car collections and is the place to be for American barbecue.
Route 33 north of Ojai, California
Route 33 is rich with beautiful views of oceans, mountains, and canyons. What more can you ask for in a scenic drive?
Arizona 87, Scottsdale to Sedona
From the valleys of Phoenix to the piney heights, Route 87 climbs more than a mile high, twice.
Iowa Route 6, River-to-River Road
Iowa’s Route 6 was the first completed segment of what became the first transcontinental road.
Monongahela National Forest/Route 39 West Virginia
Route 39 in West Virginia is a great driving route with over 100 miles of highlands and curves.
Las Vegas-area ride
From the 8,000 ft elevation of Mt. Charleston, down to the Las Vegas Strip, this ride has everything you could ask for from a desert tour.
Creole Trail, Texas and Louisiana
Gators! Airboats! Gumbo! Creole! Seriously, does this one need an explanation?
Wichita Mountains, Oklahoma
Home of some of the last and best prairie lands, this trip through the Wichita Mountains combines endless straightaways with desolate and rugged hills.
Housatonic River Run, Connecticut
As you ride due north through Connecticut, classic New England is everywhere. And even better, we’ll be trying to make this drive during the fall foliage season.
Bonneville from Orem, Utah
Make your way north to Rt. 80 and the speed limit becomes 80 mph, and locals only consider that a suggestion, not that we condone that sort of thing.
Neah Bay, Washington
Take a trip to the most northwesterly point in the lower 48 and ride along the shore before cutting inward for a taste of the Olympic range.
Watch for announcements and voting opportunities at the American Collectors Facebook page. If you don’t already have a Facebook account, maybe this will be the thing that gets you to join! We look forward to starting our American Detours journey with you soon.
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