Toyota GR86, 86, FR-S and Subaru BRZ Forum & Owners Community - FT86CLUB - Saturday 3/23 DRIVE: Last chance to drive "The Most Dangerous Road in California"

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Saturday 3/23 DRIVE: Last chance to drive "The Most Dangerous Road in California"

Well we had a super successful meet and drive today, we had 18 cars total join us for a drive down Hwy 1 along the coast and then some twisty back roads! It was a beautiful day and we had a great time with everyone who came.
Please post up your photos and videos if you got them! :D :D :D

--- start original post ---
As discussed in the general NorCal DRIVE thread, we're going to do one last drive through the infamous and scenic Hwy 1 at Devil's Slide/Devil's Grade before it closes for good and is replaced by the Lantos Tunnels which are scheduled to open on Monday 3/25. Then the drive will continue south and through some other fun 'n twisty roads.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC David (Post 804158)

Let's meet Saturday 7:30 AM at the Starbucks at 1227 Linda Mar Shopping Center, Pacifica, CA. Depart at 7:45AM. How's that sound to everyone?

The route will take us down Hwy 1 through Devils Grade, and we'll do some back roads and end at Page Mill Rd and Hwy 280, near Palo Alto. I'll go over specifics and hopefully have some maps to hand out day of. The route I'm hoping to do will have some very twisty sections, and there will be bumpy sections which are going to be fine for cars on stock suspension and moderately lowered cars, but slammed cars will have trouble. If we get more than 6 cars, I'll plan another route that will start and end at the same place, but be more hospitable to a larger group.

Quote:

Originally Posted by SC David (Post 807812)

Should get to Hwy 280 by about 11am, but let's say noon to be safe...time goes by fast when you have a couple of stops along the way.

For those who care to meet up with us after the drive, we'll try to be at the Park-and-Ride lot at Page Mill Rd and Arastradero Rd by 11:45am. That's just off 280.

Rollcall:
1. SC David
2. PMok
3. BigFatFlip
4. JohnAyySays
5. Overland'n'5thGEN
6. overlookedx
7. Clipdat
8. Kamakanani0
9. SBX
10. JackSmiley
11. M&MHwy9
12. Kiteless
-
14. Msnicoleeee
15. crouchingpinoy
16. Fizzle
17. SnakeEyes
18. Sleeper WRX
19. dun3 (maybe?)
20. Darweezy (maybe?)

---

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMok (Post 809254)

(Why is it so dangerous?) ... the constant rockslides and erosion would close off the access to that area and leave people "stranded" or facing a very long detour to get in/out of the area. Plus there's mention of reckless drivers who took the turns too fast and "drifted" into the opposite lane or off the side of the cliff into the sea.
:eyebulge:
So yeah let's take it easy out there on this part of the cruise, we are just going to enjoy the sights and take it in one last time before the road is closed for good. They say it will eventually be repurposed for a hiking and cyclist park but this weekend may be the last time you'll be able to drive on it.

---

Devil's Slide, from Wikipedia:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...california.jpg

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Photos and videos from the drive/meet! :D :D :D

EPIC video/movie trailer by Kamakanani0:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=8pTsRCe1m7c"]ft86 NorCal Club drive Hwy 1 Halfmoon bay / back roads towards Page Mill - YouTube[/ame]

final version by Kamakanani0!
[ame]http://youtu.be/TasAvT5jf9g[/ame]

Video by overlookedx! :

Quote:

Originally Posted by overlookedx (Post 847449)

Alright I finally decided to host the video on my own site, since youtube sucks and I spent some time editing this video. Enjoy:

Click here for video

Alameda meetup location is the Starbucks lot on Webster & Atlantic.

Haha I love the title. Sounds like a very epic drive! Can't wait! And I don't have to be anywhere til late afternoon so I won't be cutting out early this time.

Alameda meets at:

Starbucks
720 Atlantic Ave Alameda

Quite a headline you got there P, lol. I read it in a Clarkson voice "The most dangerous road <pause for dramatic effect> in the wuuuurld...errr...California"

We should all meet up at one area since we are all going to be taking the same way. Just an idea(:

I love the idea!

But I don't like driving a dangerous road with a bunch of RWD sports car piloted by drivers that I don't know their experience/maturity level. I've seen these things end badly before.

I guess my message is everyone stay safe and responsible!

I'm in for Saturday as well - meet up with you guys in Pacifica since I'm coming from SF.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip (Post 809420)

Quite a headline you got there P, lol. I read it in a Clarkson voice "The most dangerous road <pause for dramatic effect> in the wuuuurld...errr...California"

haha yeah I can totally imagine him saying that.

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere (Post 809515)

Well said. Like I said we'll just be cruising and taking in the view there. But yeah the "dangerous" part is quite a bit of hyperbole driven by media coverage. I've driven this section plenty of times and at a reasonable pace it's just like plenty of other parts of Hwy 1... twisty and beautiful. Only there's the added element of rockslides or the road eroding away from under you at some random moment. :D

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere (Post 809515)

Well said, let's be careful out there folks!

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMok (Post 809631)

Only there's the added element of rockslides or the road eroding away from under you at some random moment. :D

How much does 12 FR-S/BRZs weigh again? :D If we're coming from Pacifica and south bound on 1, we'll be on the cliff side :eyebulge:

I've pushed the wife for dinner Fri at Sam's. This talk about Devils got me picturing one last photo op with the iconic PCH landmark. It won't be the same without it next week.

Drive safe and slow! Those with passengers, don't be enticed by your passenger saying "honey, look at that...".

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMok (Post 809381)

12A. SBX :D

Hah! Awesome! :thanks:
/SXB

Now is a confirm cannot come. Have fun guys and keep your eyes on the road and not the beautiful view.

enjoy the ride everyone! I'll be stuck at PAX East in Boston

I'll be in the bay area this weekend. Put me down as maybe, this should be fun.

So I pretty much am 100% just have to get the alarm turned up to make it. Get my drive cherry busted.

sent from a Galaxy SIII...

Quote:

Originally Posted by BlaineWasHere (Post 809515)

Definitely agree with that sentiment! I used to go on the Stanford meet/drives (pre-EuroSunday) and there were serious accidents nearly every time. I stopped going after seeing two people wipe out, including an older guy roll an S2000 off a cliff. Not pretty.

Since then, I've gone on dozens of drives with more intimate groups of enthusiasts, mainly in the BMW community, and many of the E30s, E28s and E34s in these group drives were of similar capability to the FRS/BRZ. Relatively slow, well handling cars, and everyone respected their cars and their driving abilities and we were always fine. We even had some drives with 20+ cars. The problem with the Stanford drives was that you had exotics mixed in with sports cars, and when the sports cars tried to keep up, the drivers were often going far beyond their limits, hence the wipeouts.

Looks like we'll have a fairly large turnout on Saturday, so I'll be keeping the pace lightly spirited on twisty back roads, but conservative near anything resembling civilization.

My rules while leading are to always go slow through blind turns, always slow down if there are other vehicles in sight, always slow for cyclists, only pass cyclists on straights, and always stick to posted speed limits in towns. I expect everyone else to abide by those guidelines, and to leave plenty of follow distance between the car ahead. All of these rules are pretty much self explanatory anyway, and they're unspoken guidelines that we've all followed on past drives. :thumbup:

For those who care to meet up with us after the drive, we'll try to be at the Park-and-Ride lot at Page Mill Rd and Arastradero Rd by 11:45am.

http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8099/8...f4d76aaf_b.jpg
EndLocation by davidbushphoto.com, on Flickr

I'm going to send out PM's to people who are on the list right now. If it's Friday morning and you haven't received a PM, let me know!

Great job David. Great set of rules. Establish the ground rules pre-drive and you shouldn't have a problem. Someone familiar with the route should also take the tail. Do like Cartman and say "respek my authority" :)

Hot Lava checking in. Just saw this, can I make a last minute RSVP? I may bring a passenger if I can find anyone who wants to wake up early enough.

Anyone wanna caravan to Pacifica from the Fremont area? I can think of a few places with big parking lots we can start from. Maybe The Hub in central Fremont?

-- Jason

Cool! We'll try and make it!

I might cross paths with ya'll at some point, but no way I'll be anywhere at 730AM on a Saturday.

Wow this is gonna be a big group. Well done SC David with setting the guidelines early in the mass PM. We will have to have another drivers meeting before the drive tomorrow, like PMok did for the last one. Last drive everyone was being civil and not going over their limits, lets make this a good drive!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiteless (Post 811055)

If you are going to go over 92 a bunch are meeting in Hayward at the 880/92 intersection at the Chase bank lot.

Sent out some more PM's. Gonna be a big one tomorrow!

I'll be there, but will need to cut out at about 10:00.

Awesome. Linda Mar is like 5 min away from me! Count me innnn! I do have to leave early though for work at 11.

I probably could make this.... But my 6am mon-fri mornings won't allow me to. I relish my saturday sleep in's... But I'll sit on it for the next few hours and contiplate.

Quote:

Originally Posted by eklipz98 (Post 811163)

I might cross paths with ya'll at some point, but no way I'll be anywhere at 730AM on a Saturday.

come out and join us at the final meet point around noon! I'm sure a bunch of us will go for lunch together.
:happy0180:

Im convincing my gf to go w me. Pleaseeeeeee pray for me lol!

Posted this in the general drive thread, but I gotta skip out on this one unfortunately due to family plans. Def gonna try to make the next one. Have fun everyone, and drive safely!

Quote:

Originally Posted by clzzical (Post 812527)

Posted this in the general drive thread, but I gotta skip out on this one unfortunately due to family plans. Def gonna try to make the next one. Have fun everyone, and drive safely!

bummer, we'll see you next time! not to worry as the weather improves we will certianly have more drives to come...

oh and a reminder to all... some of these curves can bite you! LOL

Page Mill hairpin:
http://i78.photobucket.com/albums/j1...ps6220a98c.jpg

Put me down as a maybe!

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kiteless (Post 811055)

I can meet you at Fremont Hub at 6am.

Do you mean meet up at Fremont then catch up with the Hayward/CV folks? I was planning on meeting up with the Hayward group, Im coming from Newark

Rick

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darweeezy (Post 812764)

Put me down as a maybe!

cool will be nice to get a bunch of cars rolling from Hayward!

we're gonna meet at Chase bank parking lot on Jackson St just before the 880/92 junction. 6:30AM

Just a tip - coming into Pacifica, try to take Sharp Park Road to 1 ... it's fun.

You can get there from 280, just take Westborough exit. It gets good after Skyline drive.

Quote:

Originally Posted by PMok (Post 812775)

cool will be nice to get a bunch of cars rolling from Hayward!

we're gonna meet at Chase bank parking lot on Jackson St just before the 880/92 junction. 6:30AM

Last minute change of plans. I'll have to catch up with you guys at the next one.

Everyone have a good night and see you in the morning!

Got home just now to find my printer is out of ink. If anyone cares to print out some copies of the route tomorrow, that'd be great. Either way, we'll survive though. Pretty straight forward route.

See y'all in the morning!

Goodnight see everyone in the morning

If anyone has FRS type radios/walkietalkies please bring them :D

Seeya all soon!