NorCal (Bay Area) DRIVE Chat Thread

[funwheeldrive]

Is there still a drive going on tomorrow?

[tainted86]

I'm going no matter what! I say just meet at the chevron in winters and who ever shows up shows up...

[Pwolf]

Yep drive is on. 9am at the chevron in winters. @all_aboard you coming?

[all_aboard]

Originally Posted by Pwolf

Yep drive is on. 9am at the chevron in winters. @all_aboard you coming?

Unfortunately, I can't. :'( I'll drive in spirit with you guys.

[Pwolf]

Originally Posted by all_aboard

Unfortunately, I can't. :'( I'll drive in spirit with you guys.

Booo.

Should plan that big sur drive some day.

[funwheeldrive]

I'll try and make it-

Edit- woke up too late. Have fun.

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Pwolf

Yep drive is on. 9am at the chevron in winters. @all_aboard you coming?

Awww, just saw this. I think I'll still go, been a while since I've driven to lake berryessa, but will probably be coming from the other way.

[Pwolf]

Good drive today! I even mounted the GoPro outside of the car with the suction cup mount!

The drive wasn't completely uneventful though:



This is Joe Dunigan with the California Highway Patrol. He saw us pulling onto Pope Canyon Rd, on our way out of Berryessa, and when he didn't see us further down, he assumed we were speeding pretty fast. Long story short, he caught up with us (because we slowed down) but no tickets were written. Just a short, respectful, talk. While I did admit to him that I was going a little fast, he was understanding about the capabilities about the cars we were driving. The main take-away, like I (we) always try to remember: to be cautious and mindful of other drivers and bicyclists and drive within your means without putting anyone else in danger.

After a handshake and a thanks, we were back on the road enjoying the backroads of Napa.



May or may not post video of the drive... depends how lazy I am, lol.

[Pwolf]

Pictures

[PMok]

Took an impromptu drive Sunday morning... reaffirmed my belief that the back side of Mt. Ham (between the Observatory and the Junction) is one of the best drives in the Bay Area.







[ame]http://youtu.be/fjmpiHsrrMI[/ame]

[Re~Mix]

Hey guys, I made a dedicated thread for this but you are the active bay area drivers....

______________________________________
Polling opinions here. Last year my girlfriend rented me a GT-R for my birthday and I took it down HWY17/HWY9, up HWY 1 across 84 La Honda to Skyline. By far my favorite spread of driving roads and the usual haunting grounds.



She has warned me ahead of time that this year will include another rental car (HELL YESS )... Question is, should I explore the East Bay roads? Pickup is near 101/237 area.

I will have a mileage limit of 200 miles, show me your recommendations! Please keep in mind I like to keep traffic and the police to a minimum, curves and excellent roads to a maximum!

[BigFatFlip]

Originally Posted by Re~Mix

Hey guys, I made a dedicated thread for this but you are the active bay area drivers....

______________________________________
Polling opinions here. Last year my girlfriend rented me a GT-R for my birthday and I took it down HWY17/HWY9, up HWY 1 across 84 La Honda to Skyline. By far my favorite spread of driving roads and the usual haunting grounds.

She has warned me ahead of time that this year will include another rental car (HELL YESS )... Question is, should I explore the East Bay roads? Pickup is near 101/237 area.

I will have a mileage limit of 200 miles, show me your recommendations! Please keep in mind I like to keep traffic and the police to a minimum, curves and excellent roads to a maximum!

First question: When is your girlfriend free? I'd like her to have lunch with my wife so they may discuss birthday suggestions for me

Second question: Club Sportiva?

Third question: How did you like your drive around the coast? I ask because the freeways you've done last year are relatively a lot nicer (read: smoother) than your typical east bay twisty.

If you are looking for something nice and smooth so you may enjoy your exotic, I'd actually steer you away from the east bay and suggest the north bay, around Mt. Tam (panoramic hwy, ridgecrest, etc.). But if you must do east bay, can't beat Redwood rd, Pinehurst, Grizzly Peak, etc. If you are even willing to go further east, I'd do a loop by Tesla Rd. -Patterson pass-Coral hollow. Any further, and it sounds like you might be coming up to your 200 mi limit.

Happy driving!

[Re~Mix]

Originally Posted by BigFatFlip

First question: When is your girlfriend free? I'd like her to have lunch with my wife so they may discuss birthday suggestions for me
Second question: Club Sportiva?
Third question: How did you like your drive around the coast? Iand it sounds like you might be coming up to your 200 mi limit.

Thanks for the suggestions!

Hah yes, she is definitely a keeper and I'm not sure she can keeping improving year over year. Club Sportiva is the outfit, prices are reasonable off-season and weekdays if you consider what you are actually getting and not getting (car payment, maintenance, insurance, storage, etc.).

Last years drive in the GT-R was phenomenal. You cannot beat HWY84 and Skyline. I started down HWY9 in the GT-R but it proved a little too tight to have fun in the GT-R so I blasted (quite literally) up HWY1 and back over La Honda. Key is to do it on a weekday morning, traffic was sparse.

My goal is to have 2-3 routes planned and make a game-day decision once I know what the car is (HP, size, MT vs paddle). I will likely scout a few routes over the coming weekends, but Skyline & 84 are the go-to favorites. I also have the car for 24 hours, so two smaller routes is possible...my biggest regret last year is not squeezing some extra seat time in!

[PMok]

Originally Posted by Re~Mix

Hey guys, I made a dedicated thread for this but you are the active bay area drivers....

______________________________________
Polling opinions here. Last year my girlfriend rented me a GT-R for my birthday and I took it down HWY17/HWY9, up HWY 1 across 84 La Honda to Skyline. By far my favorite spread of driving roads and the usual haunting grounds.



She has warned me ahead of time that this year will include another rental car (HELL YESS )... Question is, should I explore the East Bay roads? Pickup is near 101/237 area.

I will have a mileage limit of 200 miles, show me your recommendations! Please keep in mind I like to keep traffic and the police to a minimum, curves and excellent roads to a maximum!

Honestly, for a GTR or some other high-powered car the roads you picked are probably the ideal ones. Hwy 9, Hwy 1, Hwy 84, Skyline. With a stop at Alice's to eat and show off haha. The roads in the East Bay are probably better suited for smaller/more nimble cars like BRZ, FR-S, S2000, Miata, Elise etc.

But if you want to try something different, I would suggest a variation of the route I just took yesterday up and over Mt. Hamilton in San Jose. See my pics and video about 3 posts up. Drive up to the Observatory with care, the roads are narrow and one mistake could send you (or whoever you hit) clean off the mountain down a steep cliff. Stop at the observatory, enjoy the view and take some photos. Then the fun part is the drive down the other side towards the Valley. The roads here are wider and more forgiving and it's an amazing combination of curves and scenery. Stop at the Junction bar & grill for lunch, then turn around and head back the way you came. Depending on what day and time you go there may be a lot of cyclists and other traffic, but if you can go on a weekday it should be pretty much deserted.