Inside Springfield - 2005 International Rally

[Pahaska]

Originally Posted by j54mark

The rally site is on FR 112, about 3/4 mile from FR 119.

From US 65, I'd still go on up to I-44, then east to the next exit (744). But you could get off at the 744/Kearney street exit, then go east on 744 about two miles to FR 119.

Mark

Your description matches the map in my Blue Beret. I was planning on getting off 65 onto 744/Kearney and coming in that way unles someone tells me that those roads aren't suitable. I saw no need to get on the interstate given that the other roads are numbered roads.

[j54mark]

Originally Posted by Pahaska

I was planning on getting off 65 onto 744/Kearney and coming in that way unles someone tells me that those roads aren't suitable. I saw no need to get on the interstate given that the other roads are numbered roads.

Either way, your last mile or so is on county numbered roads - and they are fine too, just typical narrow blacktop roads.

744 is a perfectly decent road (it is old Route 66), but it can't be an extra 3/4 mile to go around by I-44 and it dumps you out RIGHT THERE where you need to go on down to the rally site. No need to make the sharp right hand turn off 744 on to FR 119.

To try and clarify something, the 744/OO/FR 119 intersection is a simple north/south east/west intersection. From the intersection going east it is OO. Going south it is FR 119. Going back west to US 65 or north to I-44 it is 744.

Mark

[j54mark]

Update -

It is with great sadness I must report the closing of DaVinci's Pizza. He is preparing a new full service Italian restaurant, but in the meantime....

Mark

[j54mark]

According to this morning's Springfield newspaper, resurfacing is about to begin on I-44 between the 744 exit and the Strafford exit, just east of Springfield. This is the area of the International Rally.

The plan is to close one lane at a time for resurfacing. This will slow and back up traffic considerably during much of the day. For those of you coming from the east on I-44, you can pick up the south outer road easily at the Northview exit, six miles east of the Strafford exit, and take it directly to the turn on FR 119. Coming from the west, if it is really moving slow, you can exit at US 65 then go south less than a mile to Kearney/744, then back east to FR 119. If you are arriving on US 65, it may be best to take the Kearney/744 exit rather than getting on I-44.

This may create local traffic jams for trucks trying to get onto US 65 or I-44, especially early in the morning. If so, you can easily use the paved local roads to go south to Chestnut, then back west into Springfield. There are local maps available at the rally.

Mark

[johnbaker]

Mark,

Thanks for the heads-up, we planning to arrive mid-day Tuesday, June 28 but we may try to depart Dallas on Monday and hit Springfield late morning on Tuesday.

[InsideOut]

I'm here...it's HOT and Panera Bread has free WiFi and air conditioning! Guess where I'm lunching ~

Shari

[maxandgeorgia]

Shari, welcome to our neck of the woods. . .and yes, rally-time is HOT this year in Missouri. We are in the 90's and climbing--with humidity as the whipped cream topping. Hope you enjoy the rally and get to see some of our great Ozarks. We had hoped to drive down to Springfield this weekend and "look around," but our son ended up in hospital this week with awful stomach virus, so we are staying close to home. Stay cool, and enjoy

[Tarheel]

It was hot but the 30 amps was nice. We used the eathernet connections inside the expo and found it to be quite satisfactory, wyfi would have been nice in both the hotel and the expo. The hospitality was outstanding, we really felt like they wanted us there.

[jordandvm]

Maybe next year's rally in Salem, OR will be cooler. We've had temps in the high 70's/low 80's (ideal for a rally) this year in the Willamette Valley. But it can be warmer.....no guarantees.