IMHO - go around the city. TZ bridge and 287 all the way here.

I intend to be there.

Tom

82 SD
86 SDL

jim - I think you mean I-287 S ? I was thinking also Tappan Zee to I-287 S to 202 - It may be a bit farther mileage wise than the GWB/NJ Tpk/I-78 way but probably more of a scenic Sunday drive, don't you think!

What I do is take ct 15 south to 287 west to the Tappan Zee-

Bob

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

Bob,

CT 15 is the Merritt Parkway and turns into the Hutchinson River Parkway in NY right? I take that quite often, and actually drove home from a family event on Saturday that way. Like I said, I am flexible. I just looked at the map and saw where 202 in NJ is, and I had in my mind that 202 ran East to West, not North to South. It appears to parallel 278 South though, and 278 is a main road I am pretty familiar with from past excursions to the area.

It looks to me like if you continue on 287 for a few miles you hit 278 S/Rt 17, and can take that down to exit 22 or 22b, where you get on 202/206 N and it takes you to Peapack Road. I assume the park is there and the entrance is obvious. If I can't find it I will roll the window down and listen and smell for those Diesels. I have never driven 202 and if it is more scenic and not local traffic with lights and things, it should be a good choice.

Like I said, I am open to suggested routes if those of us coming from New England want to travel together. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

Mccann:

Lets consider the the Second Derivative Donut Test

At what point during the donut eating/ socializing are you having the most fun? In other words where is the eating pleasure / socaial stimulus the greatest? This point is known as the Donut Inflection Point. It is after this point the function shifts.

If f '(x) is increasing, then the function is concave up and if f'(x) is decreasing then the function is concave down. To determine whether the derivative is increasing, we take the second derivative.

So the test proves its advisable that the donuts should be Krispy Kremes and not Dunkin; due to the greater eating pleasure. Thus prolonging the inflection point, and forcing gatherers to stay, eat, and socialize longer before the inflection point, at which, the day begins to wind down.

l8r,
James

__________________
James

85 300SD 285k
Charcoal Gray/Grey MB-Tex

79 300CD 142000mi "Rabenshwarz"
Black / Black MB-Tex, Burlwood Int. TOTALLED - 10/24/02 --

Jim, yes CT 15 is the Merritt pkwy which leads right into the Hutch
then it's a rh exit onto I-287 west to the Tappan Zee


these are the mapquest generated directions from I-87/I-287 Suffern NY:


9: Merge onto I-287 S. 44.01 miles

10: Take the US-202/US-206 exit- exit number 22- towards BEDMINSTER/PLUCKEMIN. 0.35 miles

11: Turn RIGHT onto US-206 N/US-202 N. 0.70 miles

12: Turn SLIGHT LEFT onto US-206 N. 0.67 miles

13: Turn SLIGHT RIGHT onto CR-523/LAMINGTON RD. 0.21 miles

14: CR-523/LAMINGTON RD becomes US-202. 0.49 miles

15: Turn LEFT onto CR-512/PEAPACK RD. 0.29 miles


+++

__________________
1984 300D Turbo - 231k....totalled 11/30/07 RIP

JPL,

I concur on the KK selection.

As for the bell curve of donut-induced--psycho-social-euphoria, the top of the curve is the real promised land. Or, as it is known down at the local precinct (the donut Mecca), "peaking."

There is no I-278 in New Jersey. The only one I am familiar with is The Brooklyn Queens Expressway in NYC, which is I-278, but that is very south of you.

287 is a great highway, especially up north. EXCELLENT road to speed on I used to travel it about 120 miles a day.

Guys, I was not looking at the map and used to drive this route in the mid 80's to get to 78 to go to Phillipsburg. I just mentally attributed it to 78 instead of looking. The road used to not connect to 287 in NY, and on my 1994 Rand McNally it still shows as a discontinuous interstate from the intersection with 202 in Montville to the NY section of Interstate 287. It is 287 in NJ going South. Sorry for the confusion. Jim

__________________
Own:
1986 Euro 190E 2.3-16 (291,000 miles),
1998 E300D TurboDiesel, 231,000 miles -purchased with 45,000,
1988 300E 5-speed 252,000 miles,
1983 240D 4-speed, purchased w/136,000, now with 222,000 miles.
2009 ML320CDI Bluetec, 89,000 miles

Owned:
1971 220D (250,000 miles plus, sold to father-in-law),
1975 240D (245,000 miles - died of body rot),
1991 350SD (176,560 miles, weakest Benz I have owned),
1999 C230 Sport (45,400 miles),
1982 240D (321,000 miles, put to sleep)

I'm planning to be there too. Not sure if my wife and daughter will come along or not. I'll be approaching from the west, but I do know that I-287 is a great road on which to speed. I even had a new-style Porsche 911 flash its high beams behind me to get me out of the passing lane The fact that traffic moves at 75 mph + helps a lot too.

I've seen some very cool cars along this road, including several Ferrari's, and all kinds of MB's, including the first E500 I had ever seen. The E500 was smoke silver; I wonder if it belongs to anyone here? Either CT or NY plates; I forget.

Attached Thumbnails

 

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

Count me in as well. As it stands now my neighbor plans on coming with his own Mercedes (300SD), provided he finishes the body work his car needs. If he doesn't get that done, I may have him drive my SD up. I'll be coming up in my TD.

__________________
1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Wow, Robert, this is amazing, take a look at my picture, does that radio tower look familiar?

This was taken just before 9/11 on 287 in my old 83 300D, I think around exit 55 headed north.

Any more?

Turbodiesel, I must confess copying your location for that pic. I recognized the tower when I first saw your picture, and had my wife snap the pic of my speedo. I was a bit too chicken to try snapping it myself, because the old SD gets a bit light at high speeds. (Lift?)

It looks like I'm turning about the same rpm's at 85 mph as your '87 does at 100 mph. Yes, I am envious. It must be that we both like the sound of our engines at 3800-3900 rpm.

Anyway, I am looking forward to meeting a bunch of you people, and seeing a bunch of cool vehicles. My SD may turn out to be the messiest car of the group, between the pound or two of change on the center console, and my kid's toys all over the back seat....

__________________
Bob Roe
Lehigh Valley PA USA
1973 Olds 88, 1972 MB 280SE, 1978 Datsun 280Z, 1971 Ford T-Bird, 1972 Olds 88, 1983 Nissan Sentra, 1985 Sentra, 1973 230.6, 1990 Acura Integra, 1991 Volvo 940GLE wagon, 1983 300SD, 1984 300SD, 1995 Subaru Legacy L wagon, 2002 Mountaineer, 1991 300TE wagon, 2008 Murano, 2007 R320CDI 4Matic 52K, some Hyundai, 2008 BMW 535xi wagon, all gone... currently
2007 Honda Odyssey Touring, 2014 E350 4matic

So far it looks like about 15-20 folks will be showing up !

This gets more exciting as the Big Day draws nearer.

I was talking to someone in my office about where we are meeting. It may be interesting to note that Far Hills is a very peculiar little place. The population is small (under 1000) and has many guidelines about housing starts and alterations to existing structures. The zoning, I'm told, is extremely strict. I am told that you cannot build a new structure on anything less than 10 acres of land. Also I heard real estate is expensive. Of course, this is all hearsay from someone who was looking to purchase a home in that area. I wonder what reactions our clackedy-clack convoy may stir from the local folks.

BTW Mccan: I cannot locate a Krispy Kreme that is convenient to the journey, so we may be limited to the less than optimal, but still very effective, Dunkins

l8r,
James

__________________
James

85 300SD 285k
Charcoal Gray/Grey MB-Tex

79 300CD 142000mi "Rabenshwarz"
Black / Black MB-Tex, Burlwood Int. TOTALLED - 10/24/02 --