March Drive - Saturday March 22

[Vezna31]

Morgan and I found some great roads this morning and I've already incorporated them into the next drive. I'm thinking March 22. Let me know who can make the date.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

the 22nd looks like the only day for me, and that run looks great Vinny can't wait to hit those roads again it will be nice hitting them first thing in the morning so we'll have less folks on the road, Couser Canyon Rd got real hairy aroud a few blind turns and on coming traffic (we hit that road really hard for not knowing it)

[Vezna31]

The plan is to meet at the Arco station at the Deer Springs Rd exit off the 15 at 7 AM.

[s2kx2]

Where is this in relation to our normal meeting spot off of 15 / 76?

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by s2kx2

Where is this in relation to our normal meeting spot off of 15 / 76?

Just a few miles south.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

here it is on google maps

http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&hl=e...6,0.31929&z=12

[chazdawg35]

Hey Dudes,I can make it got that weekend off!Checked out a motel in san marcos that seems cool.Geting up at 6am will be easier 100 miles closer.LOL Let me know

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

Originally Posted by chazdawg35

Hey Dudes,I can make it got that weekend off!Checked out a motel in san marcos that seems cool.Geting up at 6am will be easier 100 miles closer.LOL Let me know

not too far from San Marcos we can meet up and head out to the meeting place together

[chazdawg35]

Hey Dude so you guy's are still going.Cool I'm trying to get some people in the L.A. area to come with me.Do you know where the ramada inn is in san marcos?Is it a cool area?Trying to stay somewhere not to up there in price.Can't wait to meet the southern crew.LOL

[satisaii]

When I go, I just get up early and drive out there. At that time of day it does not take long.

But the drive back sucks.

[chazdawg35]

Was thinkin' about hangin fri & sat night I need a road trip dude.Are you going?

[satisaii]

I have not made a decision. Been a while since I went on this drive.

I have a track day on the 18th, and the cost of that might keep me at home for a while. Gas is getting expensive.

[chazdawg35]

I know dude gas prices suck!But I haven't been driving there and looking forward to checkin' it out.So where do you race at?

[satisaii]

Going to Laguna Seca. I use 100 octane in the track car, and I bet I burn through 12 gallons on that day. I am guessing that will be ~$80 for that, plus gas for the tow vehicle, plus the hotel room....

Maybe I should sleep in the truck.

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by satisaii

Going to Laguna Seca. I use 100 octane in the track car, and I bet I burn through 12 gallons on that day. I am guessing that will be ~$80 for that, plus gas for the tow vehicle, plus the hotel room....

Maybe I should sleep in the truck.

I'm going to be using 100 octane too. I'm figuring on spending close to $100 on it, plus the cost of the trailer and 900 miles of gas in the Sequoia pulling the trailer, and a hotel room for 4 nights. Going to be a $1,000 trip for me.

[satisaii]

Are you going up early, or staying late?

Plus you have a better excuse than I do for being in that area.

This went from being cheap thrills to an expensive hobby.

I think you need to add in the cost of new tires after that week. Think you will still be able to do the drive that weekend?

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by satisaii

Are you going up early, or staying late?

Plus you have a better excuse than I do for being in that area.

This went from being cheap thrills to an expensive hobby.

I think you need to add in the cost of new tires after that week. Think you will still be able to do the drive that weekend?

I'm going up early on Saturday and staying the weekend with Jen for our anniversary. The rear RA-1's will be shot after this track day. The fronts may have some life left. I'll have to use the Goodyears for the March 22 drive. I'll be a bit more loose (wouldn't you say, Morg??), but I think they are pretty predictable. It comes more from over-powering out of turns and kicking out the rear rather than over-cooking the entry and putting myself in trouble.

[satisaii]

If I have the S2000 back together, and am not too busy, I may come out for the fun. May be the last chance I get with it for a while. Looks like I am going to be doing some major work to it.

[chazdawg35]

Hey Dudes can't wait to go!I just got some yokohama s-drive tires they seem cool.A week ago I also had an ACT clutch and lightweight flywheel put in too!I was told to give it 500m to break in,bye the time I get to the drive it will be ready to go.Satisaii if you want to cruze down let me know.

[satisaii]

Are you not spending the night?

It is hard for me to plan right now. I have some hot projects taking my attention, and I might have to work that weekend. The joys of being self employed. Heck, I probably should not be doing the track day, but I planned and payed for that a long time ago.

[chazdawg35]

I was thinkin' about your idea of leaving early so I would miss the fri night traffic.The I5 at 5:00 is not the hot set up.

[satisaii]

I just think it is easier to get up, grab some coffee, and hit the road. It seems like it takes me about 1.5 hours from my house, and I don't speed (too badly.) Add in about another 30 minutes from Simi to my I5 exit, and you are still not too bad.

But, I wake up fast and can be on the road 10 minutes from the alarm going off.

[Vezna31]

I personally have a 50 miles drive to the meeting point and am usually 10-15 minutes late. The meeting time is 7. I get there 7:10 or so and we leave by 7:30, so you have a little bit of time to play with.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

I have less then 20 min drive and I'm always 15-20 mins early LOL and thats stopping for gas and hitting the ATM

[chazdawg35]

Well I think I'll try leaving at 5am and spend sat night just to kick back in the motel room and have a beer after the drive.How long do you guy's hang out for?

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by chazdawg35

Well I think I'll try leaving at 5am and spend sat night just to kick back in the motel room and have a beer after the drive.How long do you guy's hang out for?

Usually, we leave by 7:30 and we get to Julian by 9-9:30. Breakfast is usually an hour or so. We'll leave Julian and do the route in reverse, so you can expect to be done by 1-1:30. The drive back is usually a bit slower. I know I don't drive as hard as I do first thing in the morning. I am usually home by 2:30 and that's a 55 mile freeway drive for me.

Once we finish the drive, we don't usually hang out. Everyone is normally pretty tired and like I said, for me the total drive is more than 250 miles, so I am usually pretty beat afterward.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

yeah, I go home and take a nap LOL

[chazdawg35]

Well thats cool I just kick back at the motel.I was checkin' the area out and seen a steakhouse near the motel.I'll be checkin that place out for sure.Do you guy's know any cool places down there?

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

whos all going? I know I'm going, I may have someone riding shotgun with me don't know yet

[s2kx2]

Looks like I may be "tenative" for the 22nd, I may need to drive Ortega to the Tamiya model HQ that morning to pick up a pair of my models on display at Tamiyas US headquarters. Seems they have closed down their US building and moved to a smaller one. More to follow.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

AHHH, thats sucks

[chazdawg35]

I'll be there hope the weather is nice.I like to cruze with the top down if it's not to cool.Haven't found a new girlfriend yet so I'll be drivin' solo! LOL

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

hey Vinny and John take a look at Black Canyon Road off of Mesa Grande looks like it would be a fun drive

[Vezna31]

Looks like we'll have to loop around because it ends up at San Ysabel Truck Trail which is a dirt road, but I'm game to take a look at it.

Actually, pulling up Google Maps and usually satellite imaging and gettingas close a photo as possible, Black Canyon looks like a dirt road. You can easily see the centerline on Mesa Grande, but the pavement is different color (maybe dirt) and I see no centerlines. There seems to be a lot of glare coming off the satellite picture. It's too tough to tell. Next Saturday, we can slow down and take a look at it. I see where we can loop around and come back out to Mesa Grande.

Nope...the loop around is definitely a dirt road. We can loop around on Hallyeyaaw Lane, which looks to be residential and then take Black Canyon back up.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

I saw that but everything I've looked up says its paved thomas Bros says its paved also, I hope it is on google earth when you look at it from the side in #D it looks hell'a fun

take a look at Boulder creek road down off the 78 next to Julian

and if we make a right off wynola road (a little passed farmer going into Julian)on to vulcan and hit that loop that looks like it may be a nice one too

[s2kx2]

So is this still on. Vin you gonna be back for this?

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by s2kx2

So is this still on. Vin you gonna be back for this?

I am going to try really hard. I cracked a front rotor on the track today and my Goodyears are cording after my 40 mile drive on Carmel Valley Rd twisties yesterday with Jen. I am going to order new rears and front rotors now and get them on as quickly as I can. I'll post if I can't make it. I may have to borrow my father-in-law's BMW.

[HELL_ON_WHEELS]

that sucks Vinny, you can always go shotgun with someone, but I'm going even if its by myself

[Vezna31]

Originally Posted by HELL_ON_WHEELS

that sucks Vinny, you can always go shotgun with someone, but I'm going even if its by myself

Yeah, what I might do is borrow the BMW to drive up, then ride shotgun with someone. I can't lead and beat on my father-in-law's car. Jen is working Friday night, so she might ask her dad to use his car and I would drive Jen's SUV up and then ride shotgun.

[s2kx2]

So Vinny, you could ride with one of us (if I do not go to Tamiya) Saturday ... Oh don't even think about using whichever "S" I don't drive LOL