A Day with Will – NY2LA

This story starts in Richmond, Virginia and ends back in Los Angeles, California. It takes place in the places in between. The states along highway 80 ranging from New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Iowa, Nebraska, Wyoming, and Utah. Then on to highway 15 through Utah, Arizona, Nevada, and California.

The places in between. The places like Lima, Ohio, where I saw this Ford Thunderbird camped out and waiting for its owner at a closed Ford dealership. A sign in its window with the owner’s phone number and name. California plates long expired on it’s bumper. Was it an omen? I picked up Joey Redmond in Lima, Ohio after driving down from Buffalo, New York. In Buffalo I met up with Dax and Elissa. Whom I had not seen since graduating from Bowling Green State University back in 2006.

Joey is a great road trip partner. He drives fast, travels frequently, and has good taste in music.

The car for the adventure is 2010 Mitsubishi Lancer Ralliart Sportback. That is the longest name for an automobile I’ve heard in a while. All jokes aside, the Ralliart is a great platform. It has the same 4B11 motor and all wheel drive as the more expensive Lancer Evolution – with a smaller turbo and flex piping instead of hard innercooler piping. On WORKS motorsports dyna packs the lil blue shoe made 220hp. Not bad for dyna packs and all wheel drive.

Always representing Medium Monster – Ricky Chu and I’s production company.

When we hit Iowa, the temperatures were very low for October – close to freezing. The next day, we found that there was a dusting of snow on the ground. Word on the weather channel was that points ahead on our drive had recieved more snow.

Nebraska’s state police were a bit bored and decided to pull over us while Joey was behind the wheel. The officer ended up letting Joey shoot the radar gun and check out some of the equipment in his squad car.

On the second night, we made it to Cheyenne, Wyoming. Where there was already seven inches of snow.

The Ralliart’s AWC – Snow mode made it easier to drive in the icy conditions.

So did sunglasses. I let Joey borrow a pair I picked up on he trip – it really helped during the white outs. Check out the reflection of the road ahead and how white everything is around the car.

Taking a break in Wyoming -the amount of snow was impressive.

Descending into Laramie, the snow lightened up to a dusting again. The clouds were epic – white fluffy clouds pushing some of the dark storm clouds further east.

Utah.

Joey shooting some pics of the Ralliart off of an exit in California I-15.

Thanks BFGoodrich and Mitsubishi for giving me the chance to drive back from the east coast!