Blat next weekend?

[soareyes]

Anyone interested in a morning blat next Saturday or Sunday (Aug 26 or 27)?
I was planning to take a drive up to either Newcomb's Ranch or Big Bear, or even Glendora Ridge Rd., but I'm open to suggestions if someone wants to come along.
Stan

[slomove]

Sounds good to me (as long as I get my new cam belt tensioner in time). Where's Newcombe Ranch?

Glendora Ridge is always great, but I guess I have been there just too often.

Is the road out from Big Bear through the desert any good?

Gert

[soareyes]

Newcomb's Ranch is the restraunt/biker bar on Hwy 2 just before the closure. You've probably been there but just didn't know its name:

http://www.newcombsranch.com/

Highway 18 that goes up to Big Bear is the typical 2-lane desert road until it starts the climb up to Big Bear after going through Lucerne Valley. Its then a lot of fun (unless you get stuck behind a camper). The loop I've done several times from Victorville is Hwy 18 to Big Bear, then either 38 around the north side of the lake or 18 around the south, continue on 18 (Rim of the World) to Crestline, then down 138 to Silverwood Lake and out to the I-15 through Summit Valley. Of course if we did this, you would have a long drive on the 210 each way.

I hope they get Hwy 2 open again by next year as that was a nice loop to drive even before I had my Seven (Wrightwood - Big Pine Rd - Angeles Forest Rd - Angeles Crest back to Wrightwood).

Stan

[soareyes]

I forgot to ask Gert, what happened to your cam belt tensioner? Is this the problem you had at Thunderhill?

[slomove]

Ah, yes...I discovered by chance I had a dime sized piece chipped from the outside of this plastic pulley.

At first I got really scared because if this would disintegrate under high rev conditions my engine would be toast, so I skipped the 3rd track session. I also remembered that permanent top item post on Blatchat warning VX engine owners to replace their plastic cam belt pulleys before they fall apart.

Later, with advice from Woody and others I came to realize that this was probably broken for a while and the only difference was that I now knew about it. Therefore I took the risk and did the 4th session (without problem).

Anyway, even if this held up I would just feel better to replace it before going out again. Something about safe and sorry.....

Gert

[slomove]

Got the tensioner. I can install Saturday and be ready for a Sunday morning outing.

So, where should we go?

Gert

[soareyes]

Glad you got the tensioner, and I hope the install is easy.

I'm thinking of two options:

1. Big Bear route - I meet you at the 15 fwy/138 intersection in the Cajon Pass, we head east on 138 past Silverwood Lake climbing to Crestline, then Rim of the World drive (hwy18) to Big Bear, then one of two options, either follow 38 south all the way to Mentone (which is a nice twisty road till you get down the mountain), or north on hwy 18 down to Lucerne Valley, again a nice twisty road till you get down to the desert. From Mentone you can get on the 10 fwy to home, or from Lucerne Valley we go west on the 18 to Bear Valley Rd, Kiowa Rd, Rock Springs Rd, Arrowhead Lake Rd back to the 138 and 15 fwy. Arrowhead Lake Rd is a scenic and usually empty country road through Summit Valley that I've enjoyed driving for years.

2. Angeles Forest route - I meet at your house, we go up Angeles Forest Hwy, Mt. Emma Rd., up to Wrightwood and a coffee/snack, then down to the 15 and home. We could add a small loop by taking the 138 east through Summit Valley, back through Hesperia and the 15 freeway, then home.

I'm still open to any other suggestions too!

Stan

[slomove]

If you don't mind I'd prefer the second one (and look for radar traps on Hwy2). Then we can do the nice part together and I return on I15 & 210.
Time preference?

Gert

[soareyes]

If I leave my place about 8am, I would be at your house about 9:15 plus or minus. How's that?
Anyone else want to join in the fun? Clark, have you recovered enough from your long-haul to do this? I could meet up with you on the way to Gert's house.

Stan

[Boxologist]

Anyone else want to join in the fun?

::raises hand::
:p

[soareyes]

Sure, just have the SV airlifted over for the weekend! Can't be that expensive since the car is so light, right? ;)

[Boxologist]

please, i have to consider that for next years USA Tour. The Amtrak AutoLiner only runs from DC to Florida, to my dismay.:(

[slomove]

Cool. I'll be there :)

Gert