NorCal (Bay Area) DRIVE Chat Thread

[PMok]

DRIVE on the morning of July 4th... where do you guys want to go? To the coast? Not sure what might be open for lunch if we want to make a stop somewhere...

[finch1750]

See you guys tomorrow. Ill.post in the morning when Im omw to prove I woke up lol

Originally Posted by PMok

DRIVE on the morning of July 4th... where do you guys want to go? To the coast? Not sure what might be open for lunch if we want to make a stop somewhere...

Alice's is open until 4 according to their Facebook post

[finch1750]

On my way

[Clipdat]

We are here waiting for you!

Originally Posted by finch1750

On my way

[PMok]

It was another fun day of driving with friends today out to and around the Junction. Mines Rd is still a bit gravelly in some spots but certainly enjoyable. We also hit up most of Del Puerto Canyon and that also is fun despite the abundance of potholes and other obstacles.


So tentatively the drive on July 4th will be a morning cruise. Start by meeting at Alice's for breakfast, they open at 8AM. After breakfast roll out at 9AM or so, if you don't want to join for breakfast be there by 9. We will pick a route from there, out to the coast and cruise along Hwy 1 for a bit. Perhaps end up back towards Half Moon Bay, from there people can take off wherever they'd like or go for lunch together somewhere.

[Veloist]

Since I always have work on weekends I never get to join you guys, but I'll be there on the 4th!

[Clipdat]

Well, the second consecutive week's early Sunday morning Mines Rd run (now with bonus Del Puerto content) went great today!

When I made the post about the drive yesterday, I didn't expect a big turnout at all. Figured it would just be me, Finch, and PMok. At 8:35am when I rolled past the meetup point to pull into the 7-Eleven to fuel up, I looked right and saw several cars already waiting! Filled up with 10 gallons of my new favorite brand gasoline and rolled over to join my fellow punctual drivers.

Immediately I was energized and excited to see some new cars and faces that I've not seen before on drives that I've hosted/attended! An Ultramarine 2013 FR-S!? You don't see many around with this rare color, especially not sporting gold RPF1s with MPSS tires! Then, a stunning Firestorm red twin with perfect wheel fitment - gorgeous multi spoke hyperblack 18s! Last but not least, an absolutely slammed S14 240sx with the requisite HKS Hi-Power angled cannon exhaust. Love that look!

Since we were patiently waiting for El Presidente to arrive, I had an opportunity to briefly chat with the owners and learn a little about their rides as I mentally prepared for the drive ahead of us. And by mentally prepared what I actually mean is me eating a glazed old fashioned doughnut and one of these delicious "Rip Van Waffles" things. Wow, that thing was awesome. Try it, you'll like it.

Finch arrived and we decided who would lead, and then after a brief radio check we departed for Mines. The road was gloriously clear for the most part with the exception of a few cyclists here and there and one SUV that courteously let us pass as soon as they could turn out. I really appreciate when slower traffic pulls over at the soonest available opportunity to let our group by.

Saw remarkably less wildlife on this run versus last week when I saw a deer, two rabbits, multiple squirrels, birds, and even a turtle crossing the road. However, I did run over a lizard this time I think, and I also had a close call with a giant buzzard that decided to take flight as I came around a left hand corner in one of the single lane sections. This thing was massive and it was struggling to gain lift in time to avoid me! It ended up crossing directly in front of my windshield - probably missed me by what felt like 6-10 feet or so.

We arrived at The Junction and took a break for a photo op and to discuss where we wanted to drive next. I don't ever get tired of the group photo shot next to the row of mailboxes! Classic. Another enjoyable sensation is driving the ~45 minute blast down Mines with engine roaring above 4k RPM, wind noise blowing, and RE71s making their trademark howl - and then switching the car off and stepping outside into near silence. For someone like me who lives in a dense urban environment, the complete LACK of sound is always quite a shock and takes a few minutes to get used to.

Firestorm FR-S and slammed S14 drift machine (hope to see you guys at future drives!) headed back to San Jose via Mt. Ham and the rest of us decided to hit up Del Puerto Canyon Rd. This road has never been the greatest as far as condition (or corners/layout, imo), but it seems to have gotten even worse thanks to the heavy rains from earlier this year.

There was a particular nasty raise and then quick dip that caused both Finch and I to bottom out and scrape our resonators or something else. Then later one of those pesky cattle guard concrete lips slammed Finch's exhaust pipe. Unfortunately this is not a lowered vehicle friendly road, by any stretch of the imagination.

When we were about to get to the 5, we turned around next to an abandoned a tan/beige S13 240sx with a [HOONIGAN] sticker in the rear window. It had a cannon exhaust and was missing several wheels, the rear axle precariously perched on a stack of shipping pallets. Would love to know what the story is behind that thing!

Finch lead on the return run back to The Junction with me following right behind and wondering how he was so fast on OEM Michelin tires. I'm on RE71R and it didn't matter, he was still faster. Driver mod FTW, damn! My favorite part of today's drive was when we were accelerating out of the 25mph recreational park zone, and I could hear Finch's exhaust note matching the same frequencies that mine was making as we both gained speed at a similar pace. It was such a crazy auditory sensation, like a flange effect as both our catbacks were resonating at nearly the same tone. It only lasted for 3 or 4 seconds, but it was amazing and in that moment it was as if all was right in the world. Felt absolutely incredible to be driving our cars the way they were meant to be driven, and logging some hard canyon carving miles.

Eventually got back to The Junction around 11:20 and it was already packed with motorcyclists despite only being open for 20 minutes! Great to see this place so popular now and doing well. Had a delicious lunch (how about those beer battered onion rings?) and talked cars and future drive plans.

After that PMok was nice enough to let me drive his badass TEIN SRC and JRSC equipped race car! I wanted to see what 10k/12k springs felt like and it turns out they didn't feel a whole lot different than the 6k/7k setup on my ASTs. Very cool to be able to check out another setup and compare it to my own. The supercharger was pretty cool too, wow that linear super smooth power delivery sure is nice. I'll admit, I did go check the price for a JRSC kit when I got home!

Anyway, it was a great and long day of driving! There was a bit more cyclist and motorcycle traffic coming back up Mines but nothing bad. The best thing is that Mines is in great shape right now with minimal gravel. I sincerely hope that doesn't change after they close it - anyone remember what day it's going to be closed?

[finch1750]

"Patiently waiting" lol

Lets see if I can only be 5 min late to breakfast Tuesday since I need to leave by 6ish to make it on time haha

[MyRx]

I knew I shoulda gone. It should have been redemption for Saturday's slow roll return from Redwood lol

[tintumz22]

Hope you guys don't mind a hatch joining the cruise tomorrow.. Waking up by 6ish to get there on time.. 😁Wife wants to get some Alice's!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[My Key]

Are we doing an east bay caravan? At Starbucks on Jackson?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[PMok]

Originally Posted by My Key

Are we doing an east bay caravan? At Starbucks on Jackson?

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

Sure, roll out by 715a from there


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

[My Key]

Cool

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

[spike021]

Originally Posted by PMok

So tentatively the drive on July 4th will be a morning cruise. Start by meeting at Alice's for breakfast, they open at 8AM. After breakfast roll out at 9AM or so, if you don't want to join for breakfast be there by 9. We will pick a route from there, out to the coast and cruise along Hwy 1 for a bit. Perhaps end up back towards Half Moon Bay, from there people can take off wherever they'd like or go for lunch together somewhere.

Going to try and make it out tomorrow! Do you recommend a full tank of gas? I've got a teeny bit over 3/4 right now and I'll be driving to Alice's from San Jose.

Also, if you have any Norcal86 Drive stickers, I wouldn't mind snagging one!