Well, we've been waiting for someone to put together a drive before the end of summer and now Fall has fallen! This coming weekend should be prime time for enjoying the bright colors of the changing aspen, so I'm proposing a short, impromptu trip. Let's meet at 8 AM at the I-70 & Morrison Road bus stop (just north of the Morrison exit). From there, we'll head out and caravan to Idaho Springs and the road up towards Mount Evans. This will be a day to stop a lot and enjoy the scenery (including those beautiful Zs!). As I recall, this road is paved and takes us past Echo Lake and over Squaw Pass, back towards town. It's a beautiful part of Clear Creek County, although (and someone correct me if I'm wrong) parts of the road are only partially paved as we head back from Bergen Park into Evergreen and home.

It's a short, but fun trip and more geared towards a casual drive (vs. the track day that we're planning on 10/8). We'd stop when and where we'd like and have lunch, but I wouldn't expect this to last all day. We may get done as early as 1-2 PM, leaving lots of time for other activities.

So bring your wife, GF or significant other and leave your helmet at home! Maybe we should pack a picnic! Please post here if you're going and give any alternate suggestions, but let's get together this Saturday...

 

David,
The road is paved completely from Idaho Springs to Bergen Park. Some spots are not as good as others but the last time I was up there (July 4th) there were no major potholes. Some of the turns get a little dirty but there was nothing to be concerned about.
I would like to join you but I have to head for Milwaukee on Saturday and will be gone all week. Next week end will be spent returning. I hate to fly so this trip will be in the Z. I hope you guys have a good time and take plenty of pictures.

Craig

 

Can't make it fellas as I'm working mids and will be crawling into bed about the time you plan to meet.

Have fun and take lots of pics. The trees should be pretty this time of year.

Cheers!

 

Sounds like a fun drive. Unfortunately I'll be out of town this weekend and won't be able to make it.

I can't believe the end of summer is upon us (first day of Autumn is the 22nd) and we only had a small handful of mountain drives

We'll need to make up for some lost time next year!

 

David,

I will send an e-mail out to the group to let them know about this.

As for me, I'm not for sure if I will be able to go yet or not. I am trying to get myself out of another commitment to make it to this.

Brian

 

Brian- Thanks for sending out the e-mail. So far, you're the only one who has expressed an interest in being able to go. Please post here if you're able to get out of that committment!

 

Hey David >> as you know, Marlene and I are driving planet earth and will not re-enter Colorado until October sometime.

It's not a 350Z, but it's still G Force equipped.

Bob
Publisher
Sport Z Magazine

 

I wish I could make it, but gotta work to make those $$$. I will be at PMI on the 8th though.

Have a great trip....

 

Bob-

Good to hear from you! Wasn't sure that you and the lovely Marlene hadn't dropped OFF the earth! Venus and mars, perhaps? So light the afterburners of that Audi S8 and get back to Colorado, willya? We miss you (well, maybe it's Marlene we REALLY miss, but...)

Beeman- Sorry that you've got to work on a Saturday! We'll look forward to meeting you on the 8th!

 

Dave, I wish I could go too, but I just got back from Germany and I need to catch up on a lot of stuff, E-mails, sleep, tv, etc. Off topic, since you mentioned that Publisher has the S8, I rode in a A8 with the W12 engine out there, it was awsome. They are sweet cars.

If I'm not mistaken, Beeman is the one with the Carbon Fiber hood and Veilside body kit who watched at Second Creek the other day.

David

 

Well guys, it's Friday morning and no one has confirmed as yet! If anyone gets this message late and wants to go, please give me a call at home (303-752-9777). Otherwise, it looks like a solo trip w/no stopoff at the Morrison exit.

 

David,

I can't go............I am sorry. I could go in 2 weeks if you wanted as I have no plans for then.
But that is also the Track Day weekend as well.

Brian

 

I would go, but I am having Low Jack installed sometime between 8am and 1pm. I am in for another time though.

Enjoy the drive... The weather should be great.

Chris

 

Brian- Sorry you can't make it, but I appreciate the reply. In two weeks I think most of us will be at PMI on Friday and I'd like to keep the weekend open.

The Lone Ranger rides again!

 

Saturday report- it was truly a beautiful day. With no one else going, I decided to reverse my route and go up 285 first to miss the I-70 traffic. On a whim, I explored Turkey Creek canyon road (it doesn't really go anywhere) and finally went back through Conifer through Evergreen and on to Echo Lake. There were lots of snow on the sides of the road, but the conditions were perfect for a nice drive. Unfortunately, the aspen colors were muted- I think the weather turned too cold, too fast- and not as spectacular as some years.

Still, Kathy and I had a nice drive and even had a guy in a mid-80's (?) Nissan wagon stop us on the way from a rest stop. He reveled in seeing his first 350Z and gave it full props. Went on to say that his car has 340K on it and still ran great! Chalked it up to proper maintenance and said that was what he liked most about Nissans: bulletproof durability!

Sorry no pics yet. Kathy brought her 35mm camera, but I can't get the digital drivers to work on my PC!

 

Glad you had a nice ride, only wish I could have gone with.

Love the harness, but as you insist it shouldn't be worn without a proper rollcage. Do you know anyone locally you can recommend for such a project (on a budget too!)? Or perhaps, you know of someone on-line who has just what I'm looking for... any help would be most welcomed.

Sent your pics to the associate editor the other day. No response back, so not sure if he got them or not.

Two weeks and counting... can't wait to finally run at Pueblo.

Cheers!

 

Don..............do I understand right............you are looking to have a roll cage installed?

 

Yes Brian, that is most correct... why, can you help?

 

Don (or anyone else interested)- I'd suggest you talk to two places that have been used locally- Moon Racing Fabrication (303-828-4977) located up north in Erie and 3-R Racing in Englewood (sorry, no number available).

As I recall, we talked about a roll bar (not a cage) for your 350Z. Another option would be to source a main roll hoop from an out-of-state vendor like Kirk Racing Products or Autopower Rollcages (do a search). A full cage would not only be expensive, but would severely limit egress from your car (besides tearing up the interior). I don't think you're quite ready to start sawing on that beautiful Brickyard yet...

 

David: Yeah, ur right... I didn't mean cage, just a rollbar for me please... like a 4 pt.

Thanks for the contacts.