Don- Sorry to hear about the mishap! I'm hoping that most of the damage was cosmetic and your Brickyard should be fine after the repair.

I'm strongly considering the September ZCCC event. I have two SCCA races the weekend before at SCR, but what the hey- it's more seat time at a track I enjoy. We'll see if that G35C won't have a bit of entertainment on his hands!

Back to the original thread- are we still on the drive on August 13th? Sounds like folks were up to a drive over Independence Pass to Aspen. Place and time to meet?

 

I'm finally back online after being down for a week while moving into a new place.

Don - I'm very sorry to hear about your accident and to see the pics...glad you're okay, though. As others have said, the Brick can be repaired. I'm looking forward to seeing it back out at the track soon.

Brian - You're right, the race weekend is 3 days long, but the Speed World Challenge Touring Car race is on Saturday, and of all the races that weekend, that's probably the one that I'm looking forward to the most. But believe me, it's a tough decision to have to miss what will undoutedly be a great drive out to Aspen.

 

How about we meet at the Super Target at Colorado Mills Mall where we have met in the past. I think we should meet up at 8:30am on Saturday morning if that works for everyone else.

Brian

 

I will be there at the Target by 8:30...with all 4 tires on their proper rims and ready to go.

 

Sounds good to me! See you Sat.

 

I'll be there.. Is there a set route planned yet?

 

I'm with Gary. I'd be at the races all three days if I could do it. Have a fun and safe drive without us

 

Don: That sucks. Hope everything works out.

I wish I could make the drive too, but have plans. I recently drove Independence Pass a month ago. It's a sweet drive. I was staying in Vail, but I went the long way to Leadville, over Independence Pass, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, and back to Vail. Very scenic and twisty. Damn it I wish I could go now. Anyway, have a great drive and be safe.
David

 

I think we can devise a route once we all meet up, however the route through Leadville is quite scenic. It's also the route we all took when doing this drive once before.

Mudd

 

I'll have to bow out again, I'm doing the car show at the Grand Prix that day.

http://www.mazdaextremestreet.com/

 

mind if I crash the drive again? If you don't mind, should I drive the 240z or 280zx turbo?

 

Darrel,
I don't mind - come on along and drive whatever tickles your fancy!

 

Not sure if anyone willl see this in time but, would we like to re-schedule this drive due to the weather being kinda crappy out?

Mudd

 

Good idea.

 

I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that. It seems a little cool and damp right now. I'm probably going to bow out today.

 

Well then lets cancel todays event and figure out a new date that will work for most involved. I think that would be best.

I hope everyone will read this before leaving to go over to the Target. I think we will have more fun when the sun is shining, and having dry roads. Not to mention the pictures will turn out better.

Mudd

 

Well... not everybody had access to this thread. Two of us showed up bright and early on Saturday morning. John and his friend Dick were good company as we waited for 45 minutes in the dry parking lot. After it became apparent that nobody else was going to show, we decided to make up our own mountain trip and headed up I-70.

Ended up taking the road up to Mount Evans and had a fabulous time making our way up to the 14,000' summit. Hard to believe, but the roads were dry up through Idaho Springs. After paying the park fee, we danced and dived through the switchbacks (interrupted only by an extremely rough and bumpy stretch of road near Alpine Lake). As we rose through the clouds, it was easy to imagine our Z's had engaged thrusters and were flying above the valleys below. Great views of the storm front covering the front range and the VQ35DE exhaust note reverberating off the mountainside. Lots of wildlife out for a walk and I had to stop for an obstinate marmot who decided he owned the road! At the top we were surprised by a heard of mountain goats who wandered through the ruins at the summit and were surprisingly docile- passing within 2-3' of these out-of-place humans. We headed down from the Mt. Evans summit as the clouds closed in and drove through pockets of fog as we swooped back towards Evergreen. Had a great lunch in town (thanks again, Dick) before we finished around 2 pm.

While we had a great time, I'm somewhat disappointed that the weather was the prime factor is cancelling this trip. Roads were mostly dry and even when it got a bit damp, our Z's easily handled the rain (although snow a little later in the year is another story). Inclement weather is part of Colorado and just remember that it changes as soon as you go a few miles. Now, I'd expect people to bow out if this was the Porsche or Ferrari club, but we own Zs! Nissan didn't build a wussy car and I think we gave up too easily today. Our time for summer mountain trips is precious and it's quickly running out for 2005.

 

Muramoto: Glad you guys had an awesome time... I'm envious, however my baby was obviously detained, otherwise I would have been there.

Thanks again for sharing!

 

David,
Glad you and John had a good drive, I know we can fit another one in here before the end of summer.
I'm sorry I decided to miss this one, but looking at all the CDOT cameras on the web that morning which showed alot of clouds and rain helped me make my decision. I just figured I'd be the only guy when I showed up to Super Target that morning if I headed out.

Anyone have any thoughts as to a date for a future drive?

Mudd

 

Why not next weekend, why wait for hail and other nastyness as the season progresses?