Mines Rd Dry Run for Spring Meet 2013
 

In our quest to make sure we have a memorable and successful meet, a small group got together yesterday to search for a couple of spots to have our obligatory group photos. Mines Rd is definately a nice drive but the challenge is to ensure that we have a scenic backdrop that can accomodate 30+ cars safely. The group agreed that 2 stops for photos should suffice - photos are nice, but our cars are meant to be driven!

A few observation from yesterday's dry run:

Our proposed drive time (2 - 2:30pm) is ideal. The route is almost free and clear of bicyclists since the majority of them tend to come earlier in the day.

As PMok mentioned, there are no gas stations on Mines Rd, we suggest everyone have a full tank of gas when you arrive at the meet.

The road is nice with very minimal pot holes, but we highly enourage everyone to keep all safety nannies on (VSC/TRAC). Even though the road is lowered car friendly, there are a lot of loose dirt and gravel.

The road has a few blind spots and turns that needs to be "played safe" due to proximity to cliffs. We identified these locations and will make sure the group is aware.

Bring extra drink/snacks with you. Weather is expected to be warm and the only stop selling food is about 25 miles away (The Junction). This is also the only stop with restrooms so we encourage using the facilities at the lake before we depart for the drive.

Walkie talkies are nice to have to communicate with the group, but we encourage the radio chatter to a minimum. We found ourselves talking about random stuff along the way (yes Jessie, that guy looked like he works out lol j/k). In other words, lets try to keep radio communication for safety alerts and announcements.

That's all I have for now. Plato, Bryan, Jessie, Mike & Chris: feel free to add more things I missed.


Survey/scouting crew:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...pse7eb76e8.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...psdc38d2df.jpg


Potential 1st stop for group photo:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3705a3b4.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3d357646.jpg


Potential 2nd stop for group photo:

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps51f7eb5e.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps06fdfb86.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps4c3083ac.jpg


Last stop (The Junction) where south bay group can continue on to Mines Rd, central valley group can head east to I5 and the east bay group can turn around and head back to Livermore.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...ps3b48a515.jpg


From left to right: (back) Jessie @MyRx, Plato @PMok, Bryan @BigFatFlip, (front) Mike, Rick @crouchingpinoy & Chris @overlookedx

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m...psfb2b4001.jpg

Rick

thanks Rick for the nice pics and covering most of the details! :thumbup:

a few more safety points, which I am sure most of you that participate next weekend will not read here, so I will also bring these up at the driver's meeting before we depart:

- think of this as a group cruise/photo/film op and not a chance to test out your [tires/springs/coilovers/new shift knob/whatever]. Also not the time to switch off your traction control and see what it feels like for the first time. When we have a group of 30+ cars traveling together as a caravan, this is not the time to experiment with something new. Please do that on your own in a safe environment without risk to others. If we observe any unsafe driving we will ask the offending driver to leave and possibly ban them from participation from any future events.

- you will need to be completely alert when you drive this road, or risk serious injury or damage to yourself and others. Both hands on the wheel, watch for oncoming traffic at all times, watch for cyclists and motorcycles. Not to state the obvious but you should not be on the cell phone talking while you are on this drive (unless you are a passenger). Cell phone coverage in this area is not very good anyways.

- As Rick mentioned there are a lot of blind corners, and a few tight turns. Please take it easy on these roads if you have never driven on it before! Please no tailgating, leave several car lengths between you and the car in front of you during the drive, as you may have to brake suddenly without much warning.

- Passing. If we encounter bicyclists on the road please pass them cautiously, give them lots of room, and only pass when you have a clear view of the road ahead and are sure you will not hit oncoming traffic while doing so. This means not passing in a blind corner or hairpin, which may require you to slow down to a crawl and wait behind the cyclists until it is safe to pass. Be ready to do this, and be ready to slow down when others in front of you do the same.

- Passing cars. It is almost inevitable that you will come up on slower traffic (either other vehicles or part of our group) who will "hold you up" and require you to slow down. There are not many safe passing areas on Mines Rd. So please be courteous to other drivers and just chill out if you get stuck behind someone. We will have a few stopping points, so if you feel like you are (or will be) holding others up, please let them start ahead of you and take a position further back. We are cruising, not racing! Let's not create a bad name for our group by being one of those rude, reckless and dangerous car clubs. The last thing we want to see is people getting hurt or vehicles getting wrecked. Both happen on a regular basis on this road, and these rules exist to keep it from being YOU or one of us.

- If you have a FRS radio/walkie talkie please bring it, as we will announce (as much as possible) any hazards we see along the way.


here is a Google Maps link to the route, with the stops planned along the way for those who like to plan ahead or pore over details. :)

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?msid...92674,1.100006

Thanks for the great shots Rick! Bring you hiking boots next time so you can get up those cliff faces ;)

well done guys

again for the novice drivers, this is not a race

last thing we want to happen is your car falling down a cliff

http://i1053.photobucket.com/albums/..._gt86/0001.jpg

the driver did not survive so consider yourself warned!

Well put P :thumbsup:

Rick

We should also make sure that if you don't have a walkie talkie, you should follow someone who does, so that if a hazard comes up the car with the walkie talkie can warn those behind with their hazards or turn signal indicating which side the hazard will be on. Especially if we do staggered starts, or there are large gaps in between cars.

Sent from my Galaxy S3

excellent point. I plan to bring some kind of colored sticker that we will put on the back window of radio cars -- everyone who does not have a radio should look to follow a car with a radio.

Damn JR, that photo is sad on many levels.

Has it been mentioned that there are no other roads/turnouts/streets/alley on Mines. It is physically one road. So if you happen to lose site of the car in front of you, do not feel compelled to gas it to catch up. Only cross street you will encounter is The Junction but your leaders will have already known to slow and wait. Also, your leaders will know to make sure that during parking or pulling over, that your entire car is off of the whiteline and completely onto the shoulder.

just one more point... please don't feel obligated to go on this drive if you don't feel up to it, are tired from partying all night, under the weather, don't want to get your car dirty, whatever. Hope you can at least join us for the first photo stop, but seriously, if you are not 100% ready to drive with us there is no pressure, just chill out at the park or cruise home after the first stop. Our NorCal 86 DRIVE crew will have many more drive events this summer as the weather becomes perfect and so don't feel like you will miss out -- just join us another time! :thumbsup:

So when is this drive? It is close so if I am not working I want to join.

sent from a Galaxy SIII...

Very well said @PMok! Thank you for taking the time to lay out the rules and expectations of next week's drive. :respekt:

Next saturday 4/27

Tsk tsk.. *stock tires! :D Seriously wwtt(what were they thinking?):bow:
Anyways, tragic loss, shouldnt laugh I guess.. At least he went happy..

Nice I should be able to make it.

sent from a Galaxy SIII...