Calling all RX8 owners. On Saturday, February 21st, come out for our inagural run. We're meeting at 10:30 am at Kennedy Park in South Napa and taking the windy route up the east side of the valley (approx. 1.5 hours). We'll break for lunch in St.Helena then come down valley (Hwy 29). There are many wineries along the route. If there is enough interest we can make a few stops along the way. Let me know your favorite winery and I'll try to get us accommodations. Oakville grade is one of the most challenging roads in the valley. For those that feel the need, we'll detour here and merge back onto Hwy 29 in Napa where the run concludes. Please don't vote unless you plan on coming. Post your favorite winery. If you need directions let me know.

This is a great opportunity to drive some Napa twisties!! I may be interested in stopping at a winery, good idea to have it at the end of the run incase some want to break-off and get home early.

Hi Guys,

I work for Mondavi and I can secure a private tour and tasting for $10/person. Let me know soon how many will attend.

I look forward to this event. $10/person sounds like a good deal to me, but I am pretty ignorant to the whole concept, which is why I am interested in experiencing a winery as well as driving. :)

I am definitely going and might have a passenger. Will know for sure later.

I went out and previewed the route yesterday. The roads are in pretty good shape.

We'll stop for lunch at V. Sattui in St. Helena. They have a deli, picnic tables and plenty of parking.

Mondavi is a great tour (plenty of parking here, too) I hope most decide to go. Please post the number going on this tour or PM Brad. As for me, my wife and I make 2. Thanks Brad for setting it up.

Have a great tour and cruise guys. Wish I can join you guys, but gotta rock the stage in burlingame. Anyways, hope to meet the rest of you guys someday soon. Drive safe and be sure to post some pics!

I don't think I can make it either, have fun guys. I'm scheduled to work next couple of weekends...

excellent plan, theDOSDOG. my 8, wife and i will be there for the driving and wine tasting.

(my wife wants to point out that my car is mentioned before she is above.)

Originally posted by winebrad
Hi Guys,

I work for Mondavi and I can secure a private tour and tasting for $10/person. Let me know soon how many will attend.


If something was planned later in the year I would seriously consider the drive up to join the Nor Cal owners for something like this. Great idea for a meet. :cool:

Since a few have asked I thought I'd post the directions to Kennedy park.


Meet Location:

John F Kennedy Memorial Park
Streblow Drive
Napa, California 94558


From the South take 29 north towards Napa.

Stay to the Right and take the 121 DOWNTOWN NAPA/LAKE BERRYESSA split

Stay straight 1.8 miles

Turn LEFT onto STREBLOW DR.

The road will eventually turn to the left (~.25 mi.) and we'll meet in the parking lot on the right next to the park.


For those with Nav

Select Destination
-> Points of Interest
-> Leisure/Recreation
-> Parks and Recreation
City = "Napa"
Destination = "J"
Select - John F Kennedy Memorial Park from the drop down.


See you there.

Just picked up the RX8 last weekend. Had an RX7 GSL-SE in the mid 80's but had to trade it when we started the family. Finally got my sporty mazda back in the garage!

We'll both be there on Saturday. Satui is one of our old favorites. We'll be coming from San Jose, but should be there in plenty of time.

See all on Saturday.

Gary :cool:

Hi all,

I have secured a private group tour at Robert Mondavi Winery for 1:30PM on Sat.

See all of you on Sat!

Brad

So is this still on?

It's supposed to rain all this weekend with lots of rain for the north bay.

I was thinking about the rain myself, but even if it still rains, I will still go. :)

There is a chance of showers off and on tomorrow. But rain is another reason I didn't get a Miata :) I'll be there.

What does the tour intail and how long (aprox) will it take?

I'm trying to juggle an all of a sudden busy Sat.

Do you think it will be possible to be back in Burlingame by 4:30?
I have to make it to a friends B-Day celebration too.

I don't see why not. Brad has set the Mondavi tour for 1:30. We'll be done driving before then. If it gets late you can bug out from there.

I believe that I have flexibilty to have the tour earlier as long as I give th e Winery some lead time so we could have it at 12:30 or 1:00.

We had a great time on our "spirited" jaunt through the Napa Valley. It was fun meeting all of you. Many thanks to Brad for setting up such a great tour at Mondavi. We'll definitely have to do this again. Here's a few pics from the trip.

After lunch at V. Sattui

This picture is obviously after the tour at Mondavi.

From left to right:

RXPHINK
THEDOSDOG
GPLY
WINEBRAD
ECTOMORT
MURIX

Thanks all for great time!

Great pics! I had an unexpected obligation, sorry I missed out.

We (Arianne and I) had a great time today meeting you all and sharing RX-8 car-love. =)

I have to echo TheDosDog's comments and compliments. Many thanks to WineBrad for the tour and tips. We should definitely do more of this in the future.

cheers,

brendan

Thanks to both TheDosDog and WineBrad for getting this set up. It was an excellent trip.

Winebrad, I loved that last road home. I managed to get the rear end loose a couple of times. I am going to make that trip again.

Hi Guys!

I have to tell you that I had a wonderful time today! Thanks to The Dos Dog for setting this up and thanks to all of you for attending. I am glad that all of you had a good time at the Winery as well. Murix and I took the Oakville grade on the way home and yes is was a bit dicey at times!!

I hope we can do something like this again.

Best to all and enjoy the wine!!

Brad

I just want to echo the thanks sent to TheDosDog and WineBrad for the drive and tour . We had a great time.

Here are some photos we took...

After the first run of twisties, we paused at the Turtle Rock Bar off of Hwy 128. Several of the wives/SOs took over driving for the second leg:

Speed limits are for piston bangers...

on Hwy 128

Arianne says this is the "zoom zoom" picture. Dunno what that means exactly. :cool:

After the run on 128, lunch at V. Sattui, and an excellent private tour of the Mondavi vineyard (kudos to winebrad) we lined up between the Mondavi vineyards and the wild mustard.

8's with the grapes... (erm, and mustard.)

Here's the final shot.

Good stuff ecto!

Beautiful shots everyone. Looks like a successful Trip!

Any one in the San Fran area want to display their RX 8 at the Rev it Up this weekend in Alameda. Need one for Sat and one for Sun.