[Richard Wilson]

Just a few thoughts here. Skyline Drive is a fee based road with toll booths at each end maintained by a private company. The Blue Ridge Parkway has free access for it's entire 469 mile length. The BRP is maintained by the National Park Service Division of the US Department of the Interior. Check out their web sites. There are many inexpensive Blue Ridge Parkway guide books and maps available through the National Park Service or your local bookstore. These would be invaluable in planning a tour. As has already been mentioned, there are only at most 3-4 places actually on the BRP to buy gas and zero repair shops. You should plan to exit the BRP for gas, food or car repairs. This might be several hundred yards or several miles. Also if you break down you have to go through the National Park Service to have a rollback come get your vehicle as the BRP does NOT allow commercial vehicles. This is a big time high dollar fine. Be sure your vehicle has good steering, good brakes and good engine cooling. The BRP is a scenic, curvey, steep up hill and down hill, narrow roadway with no room to pull off the road except at the overlooks. Speed limit on the BRP is 45 MPH with most tourists driving about 35 to 40 MPH with NO passing allowed. Be sure to watch out for all of the bicyclists going about 10 MPH or less, especially in the blind curves. The BRP is the perfect road to drive your Model A or early V-8 in my opinion. Good luck with your tour!