him

It's that time again! Time to do our annual drive out to Whistler and Lillooet!

This year, we'll meet up again at the McDonald's in Park Royal Mall (West Vancouver). This will be a BC RX-8 Members Only Event. If you're still not a member yet, you can sign up at the drive.

Date: Saturday, August 16, 2008.
Time: 8:00am - 8:00pm
Meeting Place: McDonald's @ Park Royal Mall (South Side) (West Vancouver)

Route: West Vancouver --> Whistler --> Lillooet --> Hope --> West Vancouver

After whistler, we will be driving more spiritedly. Just a reminder that you should always drive within your comfort level. If you do not believe you will be comfortable with the spirited driving, please seriously consider turning back at Whistler.

As you can see, this is quite a long drive. Please be sure to check your car over to make sure it's in good condition. (Brakes, tires, tire repair kit, etc)

In order to make sure we don't get back too late, we will leave McDonald's at 8:30am at the latest!!!

Things do bring:
- Cameras!
- Camcorder? (To make our awesome video )
- Walkie Talkies (Please indicate how many you can bring and we'll figure out if people who don't have them can just borrow them.)
- Batteries for Walkie Talkies!

The following link will give you exact directions on how to get to the McDonald's at Park Royal Mall (South Side) in North Vancouver using the Lion's Gate Bridge or Highway 1:

Google Map: Directions To McDonald's
(Click on the "Directions To Lion's Gate Bridge" or "Directions From Hwy 1" hyperlinks to see detailed instructions)

So clear your schedules, this thing is gonna be awesome!

Sign up here: http://bcrx8.ca/forum/index.php?topic=138.0

Adding pictures here:

delhi

i went to sign in but my account is still awaiting approval!

burnaby rx-8

I think your account was approved sometime last year when you inquired about joining bcrx8 but we got the idea you decided not to join when we reviewed the active members list earlier this year because we did not see you at any meets, did not get any replies from the emails we sent you, and could not reach you by the phone number we had. Therefore we deleted you off our member's list.
If you would like to rejoin, send me a PM with your phone number and I'll contact you on getting hooked up again.

delhi

i think i communicated with a person name eldon before via email. You got PM.

eug

iTrader: (2)

I hope they get this cleared before your cruise:

http://www.ctv.ca/mar/photo.html?pna...NADIAN%20PRESS)

burnaby rx-8

no prob, I just got coilovers so I'll just raise my ride height a little bit
that is a quite a mess but hopefully they get that cleared away quick like they usually do.

burnaby rx-8

apparently estimate is about 5 days for crews to clean it up and re-open the Sea to Sky highway.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/n...f-a3228f38df3f

StixandStones

I don't want to discourage anyone but I drove that road last weekend.
It is BUMPY!! the part between Mt Currie and Lillooet anyways.
Not so much holes but more cracks and heaves where the road has sunk a bit.
I was in a truck and camper and thought it was bad enough.............tho' I was also wishing I was driving the 8.

I'll try to meet you all......I'm up north so have to come down from hwy 97.

Footman

iTrader: (2)

I heard that on the radio too here in Toronto. Honest to god, my FIRST thought after that as "oh no, what's going to happen to the BC RX8club's cruise up to Whistler???"

That route is so beautiful and scenic. It was a shame that I never got to drive up that route. I only sat as a passenger in an SUV. Throughout, I kept imagining how much fun it'd be to drive that route everyday... (assuming no traffic of course ahaha)

Footman

iTrader: (2)

I can hop onto a company train and in 5 days, I'll show up right at the Park Royal plaza in North vancouver!!! If you recall there is a rail route that runs through there. It's the "Squamish subdivision". You can find yellow CN stickers posted at the huts at the crossings.

Lotus99

Hi there, sorry to post this slightly OT post and I hope you don't mind the slight threadjack... but you guys sound like you've done the route that I'm thinking of doing enough times, so I thought you'd be willing to help out a local with a question!

I'm just curious how long the Whistler --> Lillooet --> Hope --> West Vancouver route would take in your opinion if I was doing

1 - spirited driving
2 - regular driving with passengers in the car

I read in the Vancouver Sun today that it's a 6 hour route, and that's what Google maps also says (which isn't reliable when it comes to smaller routes IMO), but then a few people I know who have done that route a while back told me 8 hours! It's only supposed to be 450 km's so 8 hours even for "regular" driving seems a bit much to me...

Thanks very much for your help. and have a great drive. I've heard it's one of the top 5 driving roads in BC!

PS If it counts, my uncle has an RX-8!

him

So we'll expect to see you there, then, right? =D

him

I would say 6-8 hours is a good estimate for some picture breaks and just to allow for more time in case there are any traffic problems.

Lotus99

Thanks very much for the quick reply. Hoping to make it there in one shot and go later in the day to avoid traffic, so I`m crossing my fingers for the 6 hours!

Hopefully they'll have the road to Whistler from West Van cleaned up in time for you guys, it sounds like they will. The Whistler road might be a bit rough I`ve heard from a few people.

If I decide to do the route, I'll report back on its conditions!

Gyro_Bot

Sweet, yes I think we would all enjoy hearing some -pre-drive feedback about the route. I know I do! the drive last year was unbearably fun. All those twisties in the Rocky's... I imagined I was on a roller coaster.

It was as enjoyable as a track day... perhaps more so. The walkie talkies make all the difference! There is nothing difficult about this drive, but just before warned we might go a tiny bit above the speed limit, once and a while... so if you've never driven faster than the speed limit, never, not at all... then this drive is not for you. In fact, if you own an RX8, you made a mistake.

"Keeping up with traffic is the same as going over the speed limit Mr.Officer!!"

him

So who else is coming? =D

Footman

iTrader: (2)

Ontario's landscape just doesn't allow for such amazing driving routes... I wish I could come.

Lotus99

OK, we decided to do it, and I'm so glad that we did! Not only was the drive itself enjoyable with all the twisties, but Whistler was quiet and there were few crowds!

I did the trip in about 5 hours actually, as we left Friday night around 7:30 PM, so the traffic was very light. It was in a nice comfortable 2006 E500 4MATIC (riding on 17's) that I must say impressed me, and the 300 HP's and 340 lbs of torque came in handy when you got the rare passing opportunity in the second half of the route and needed to jump on it!

On to the road conditions. I don't recall the exact spots well, but for the most part, the route road beyond Hope was pretty good. I don't know how stiff or lowered you guys' suspension is, so it might be more of an issue for you than it was for me. For the most part, past Hope up to Lillooet, there were just some cracks in the road that had been filled in, so they were just a bit bumpy, but nothing that would cause you concern, unless you're really pushing the car's limits and need max traction and smoothness.

Past Lillooet, there was a section that was even gravel (maybe 0.5 km's) and in general, it was rougher and bumpier, with a few smallish holes here and there. I don't know if it was just my perception, but the opposite direction (which it sounds like you'll be doing) seemed worse than mine even.

Seeing that you'll be travelling during the day and it will be light out, I'd just say that you keep your eyes open so you know when to slow down or do avoidance maneuvers.

The way back was quite good (and the rock slide area you wouldn't even notice as it's been freshly paved over completed) except for the part just before Lions Bay (or after it for you). It was pretty bumpy and chopped up due to various small rock slides. Throughout the route, there's lots of construction areas (with good pavement though) where the speeds are down to 50 or even 30, and very tight corners, so as fun as they are, just watch out for Mr. Police as they like these spots generally (although luckily we didn't see one on the way down last night) .

Hope that helps! Enjoy your drive!

Gyro_Bot

That is great to know. We are planning to do the route clockwise, which sounds like, the same direction you took.

I remember some areas of the pavement being raised, leaving our cars on uneven ground. It was a great route, and I can't wait to go again!

Gravel area? that is new to me, that is good to know too!

Thanks!

Lotus99

Unless things have changed, the first post mentioned "Route: West Vancouver --> Whistler --> Lillooet --> Hope --> West Vancouver". I went in the opposite direction as you know.

The gravel area wasn't that long, and in 10 days, hopefully it might even be paved. It looked like an active construction area.

him

Some more pictures courtesy of Tim.

Pictures moved to the first post.

burnaby rx-8

hey Eldon, could you post up Tim's map of the drive that we had up last year and add it into your first post of this thread? I think that would help show those people out there that haven't driven it know better.

Rotary Titus

Looking forward to the pictures this year!

Damn... can't believe it's already been 3 yrs since I left Vancouver....

Is all the people who went on the original cruise back in '05 still around? Still remmeber us doing the "salalom" through the construction cones near Whistler lol

Remember to watch out for cops when you're spritely driving haha =p

tiffalei

loooolll i had a dream about a club meet so i came to check!!! I work saturdays. Guess i won't be there =(.

him

don't forget to check your walkie talkie's batteries! Those rechargeable batteries they come with don't last as long as energizer or duracell!