Bay Area/ Nor Cal Community Chat Thread
road warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
For the 626 drives I will actually scout the roads I want to use to make sure they're open, mostly clear of debris, free of excessive enforcement, and relatively free of traffic. The last two are only applicable for any new roads I plan to include in my route. After scouting, I'll figure out what roads I want to include in the route and whether I need to change the original route I'm thinking about using. After the route is decided upon, I make a route book that is distributed to all the participants on the day of the drive (not beforehand, for security reasons). This routebook includes total mileage, mileage per instruction, approximate compass direction per turn, and designated regroup points along the route. I also note any dangerous debris and the approximate mileage of the debris as well as mark all residential areas and high traffic areas so people will know to slow down through the areas.
The day of the drive, I will have have a driver's meeting before the drive informing them of the dangers and telling them to be responsible adults, the rules of the drive, how to request a pass and allow someone to pass, and how to respond should there be an incident (knock on wood) or encounter with the law enforcement. One other point to keep in mind is that at a turn (as in turning in an intersection, not turn on the road), the driver in front should always wait there until the next driver catches up before continuing on the route to further prevent people from getting lost. Also, I try to order the group as best as I can in the order of people wanting to drive fast to the ones just looking for a cruise. If need be, I'll divide the group into several groups and have a leader for each as well as have a designated sweeper that will pick up anyone that runs into trouble along the way.
This sounds like a huge level of work, but the upside is you have a much more organized drive that doesn't degenerate into chaos. I've held about 5 drives for the 626 club as well as another 5 or so for lateralg.org and they've all been very minimized in terms of incidents. We've only had one instance of a person getting lost, and that was because he followed someone that was going home instead of using the routemap.
Rx8_4eVeR
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Cali
Most drives are fine like that. The vast majority do no prior planning and it still works out.
For the 626 drives I will actually scout the roads I want to use to make sure they're open, mostly clear of debris, free of excessive enforcement, and relatively free of traffic. The last two are only applicable for any new roads I plan to include in my route. After scouting, I'll figure out what roads I want to include in the route and whether I need to change the original route I'm thinking about using. After the route is decided upon, I make a route book that is distributed to all the participants on the day of the drive (not beforehand, for security reasons). This routebook includes total mileage, mileage per instruction, approximate compass direction per turn, and designated regroup points along the route. I also note any dangerous debris and the approximate mileage of the debris as well as mark all residential areas and high traffic areas so people will know to slow down through the areas.
The day of the drive, I will have have a driver's meeting before the drive informing them of the dangers and telling them to be responsible adults, the rules of the drive, how to request a pass and allow someone to pass, and how to respond should there be an incident (knock on wood) or encounter with the law enforcement. One other point to keep in mind is that at a turn (as in turning in an intersection, not turn on the road), the driver in front should always wait there until the next driver catches up before continuing on the route to further prevent people from getting lost. Also, I try to order the group as best as I can in the order of people wanting to drive fast to the ones just looking for a cruise. If need be, I'll divide the group into several groups and have a leader for each as well as have a designated sweeper that will pick up anyone that runs into trouble along the way.
This sounds like a huge level of work, but the upside is you have a much more organized drive that doesn't degenerate into chaos. I've held about 5 drives for the 626 club as well as another 5 or so for lateralg.org and they've all been very minimized in terms of incidents. We've only had one instance of a person getting lost, and that was because he followed someone that was going home instead of using the routemap.
For the 626 drives I will actually scout the roads I want to use to make sure they're open, mostly clear of debris, free of excessive enforcement, and relatively free of traffic. The last two are only applicable for any new roads I plan to include in my route. After scouting, I'll figure out what roads I want to include in the route and whether I need to change the original route I'm thinking about using. After the route is decided upon, I make a route book that is distributed to all the participants on the day of the drive (not beforehand, for security reasons). This routebook includes total mileage, mileage per instruction, approximate compass direction per turn, and designated regroup points along the route. I also note any dangerous debris and the approximate mileage of the debris as well as mark all residential areas and high traffic areas so people will know to slow down through the areas.
The day of the drive, I will have have a driver's meeting before the drive informing them of the dangers and telling them to be responsible adults, the rules of the drive, how to request a pass and allow someone to pass, and how to respond should there be an incident (knock on wood) or encounter with the law enforcement. One other point to keep in mind is that at a turn (as in turning in an intersection, not turn on the road), the driver in front should always wait there until the next driver catches up before continuing on the route to further prevent people from getting lost. Also, I try to order the group as best as I can in the order of people wanting to drive fast to the ones just looking for a cruise. If need be, I'll divide the group into several groups and have a leader for each as well as have a designated sweeper that will pick up anyone that runs into trouble along the way.
This sounds like a huge level of work, but the upside is you have a much more organized drive that doesn't degenerate into chaos. I've held about 5 drives for the 626 club as well as another 5 or so for lateralg.org and they've all been very minimized in terms of incidents. We've only had one instance of a person getting lost, and that was because he followed someone that was going home instead of using the routemap.
Oh yeah, that sounds great. It sounds like its better suited for bigger groups or to "break-in" newer members.
road warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
The bigger the group, then the more advantageous it is, but even in a group of veterans most of this will help, especially the routebook and ordering the cars.
Last edited by LionZoo; Dec 10, 2008 at 12:01 PM.
Rx8_4eVeR
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Cali
Sat 20th Meet & Drive......
So, the idea is to meet and take a short drive to Mezza Luna in Half Moon bay to have some good old italian food.
If you guys haven't been to Mezza Luna before, fear not my friends. The restaurant serves really good traditional dishes reasonably priced and the place is not ostentatious at all.
First, the meet spot will be the parking at Alice's Restaurant at the top of Skyline Blvd and Hwy 84. We meet at 1pm, so you guys can start your drive earlier or do whatever it is you need to do before the meet without any rush.
Click Here for Map
We then continue west on the 84 to hwy 1 then north to Mezza Luna.
Here's the official site.
Here's the map
If you guys haven't been to Mezza Luna before, fear not my friends. The restaurant serves really good traditional dishes reasonably priced and the place is not ostentatious at all.
First, the meet spot will be the parking at Alice's Restaurant at the top of Skyline Blvd and Hwy 84. We meet at 1pm, so you guys can start your drive earlier or do whatever it is you need to do before the meet without any rush.
Click Here for Map
We then continue west on the 84 to hwy 1 then north to Mezza Luna.
Here's the official site.
Here's the map
Last edited by Ever Hernandez; Dec 10, 2008 at 12:29 PM.
Rx8_4eVeR
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 852
Likes: 0
From: San Jose, Cali
Yeah, mostly everyone knows you can't really haul *** on either skyline or the 84, specially on the weekends. Plus, I'll have my daughter with me so no spirited driving for me or I get yelled at by the wife.
road warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
You sure can do it, just wait for a rainy day! Watch out for your tail coming around though!
I'm mentally retarded.
Joined: May 2007
Posts: 31
Likes: 0
From: I live in my S2000
road warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
Saturday nights. Shoot me a PM if you can make it. Sadly I'm not planning a drive for the month of December.
Not banned
Joined: Mar 2007
Posts: 40
Likes: 0
From: Fremont, CA
www.rotorsport2.com
408-241-7125
Ask for Paul, if he can't fix it, you might as well take it out back and shoot it.
road warrior
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 1,861
Likes: 3
From: Oakland and Los Angeles, CA
