<VV> Grades

[Rick & Janet Norris]

> The design limit is 6% but exceptions are granted. Many truckers (my son 
> is one) consider Sandstone Mountain on I-64 near my hometown of Beckley WV 
> to be one of the hardest to negotiate. Watch your rear-view mirror for 
> fast approaching trucks with smoking brakes on this stretch of interstate. 
> Following is an exchange I copied from a trucker website.   Wade Halsey

I love Sandstone Mountain! Drove it twice a week for about 6 months when I 
was working in Va. Always a truck stuck in the emergency gravel pits. 
Sometimes I saw a group of people looking over the side where a section of 
guard rail was missing. Big ass wreckers working in tandum pulling what was 
left of a tanker back up the drop off.
I had a Dodge Shadow then with the Mitsubishi 3 litre V6 and a five speed. 
Good little quick road car. It would embrass a 5.0 Rustang at the light if 
he wasn't paying attention. For entertainment I would set the cruise on 80 
at the bottom and see if I could top the mountain without having to release 
it. Did it many times and no tickets. Lucky!

Chugging up Fancy Gap mountain on I-77 In Va. with my 360 Dodge truck, 
trailer and V8 Vair on board was a good test.

Flat Top mountain on I-77 N. in WV is another good one. Going up the grade 
is deceptive and long. Has a flat section part way up for a breather.

Rick Norris