Post Rally Sierra Drive


R

RALPHIE

GT Owner
Mar 1, 2007
7,278
To: Ed Sims

Hi Ed -

You've infrequently mentionsed a post Rally drive into the Sierras. Do you have any details available - # of days, locations, lodging suggestions, etc? I'd like to add this to my calendar, as I'm sure some others would also like to know.

Thanks, Ralphie
 
It's still in the planning stages. Been working with DBK & SteveA on route, lunch,hotel, etc. We will leave Sonoma on Saturday morning & drive the Sierras, staying at a nice place on Saturday night in the mountains. Sunday will be another drive ending up back in the valley with many people leaving for home on Monday. Details later.

Rally VIII Ed
 
Ed

We have done the crossing of the Sierras now for the past three years with the So Cal MINI Maniacs. Been on all five passes. Here is how I see it.

1. Tioga Pass, Hwy 120 you can drive down the 49 and up into Yosemite Park then over the Sierras on 120. It will be less crowded after Labor Day especially going east, but a long drive. Going over 120 is slow, speed limit 25 for a good part of the way. Scenery spectacular. End up in Mammoth Lakes for the night. Ralphie is the honorary mayor of Mammot and knows watering holes if you know what I mean. Long way back to Napa. Easy way back for So Cal GT Owners. Down Hwy 396 300 miles to West LA.

2. Sonora Pass, closer down Hwy 49, up through Twain Harte, rather mundane 1st half west to east. Some very high slow twisty roads in the middle, no mountain lakes to see, ends up on 395. a drive to Mammoth South, and Lake Topaz north. Leaves you truly in the middle of nowhere.

3. Hwy 4, Ebbets pass. Great start in Murphys California (nice overnighter with a great western town and wineries), more scenic than Sonora pass, couple of spectacular lakes, very high twisty roads, also ends on Hwy 395 long drive to anywhere.

4. Hwy 88-89, south on Hwy 49 to Jackson, through Sutter's Creek, not so great 1st part going up the Sierras. Lots of construction, traffic, motorcycles, on top is the Kit Carson Resort, Kirkwood Resort, you can then take the turn-off to South Lake Tahoe. Hit South Lake Tahoe or the Nevada side. This is not bad, you can then exit out Lake Tahoe through Truckee, and back on I-80 west to Napa, Sonoma and SF.

5. Take I-80 east from Napa, exit Truckee, through Squaw Valley, to North Shore Incline Village. Hyatt Regency is an excellent hotel and casino. Lone Eagle Restaurant on Lake Tahoe. superb. Next day to Inspiration point, back around west Lake Tahoe to Truckee back out to I-80 and then to Napa, or South Lake Tahoe to Placerville on Hwy 50.

6. Last route is I-80 > 50 > Placerville > 89 into S. Lake Tahoe. Not a bad choice, shorter Sierra viewing than the ones above.

Just some observations from AtomicGT

Some of the So Cal Brothers, can take 89 out of South Lake Tahoe to Hwy 395, Eastern Sierra Scenic Byway, 180 miles to Bishop, then 260 miles to Los Angeles. Could be a nice way back for the So Cal GT Bros. Hwy 395 along the eastern Sierra is spectacular, no other road like it!

Remember SteveA is an Idahoan, now!
 
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Have you guys thought about a hill climb:)

341 hwy to Virginia City just East of Tahoe is close by.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1IHI8P_LXao
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=64Y1xpTYXUU
 
Thanks for the recommendations. I've driven all of them or ridden them on my motorcycles these last 25 years. The exact plans for the post-Rally drive will come out later this summer. Plan for driving in the central Sierras (not NV, not toward SoCal) on Saturday & Sunday with a Saturday overnight near Lake Tahoe. It won't be crazy long days & we'll have the lunch & rest/photo stops all planned out. It will be too much fun!

Ed
 
Ed Sims said:
Thanks for the recommendations. I've driven all of them or ridden them on my motorcycles these last 25 years. The exact plans for the post-Rally drive will come out later this summer. Plan for driving in the central Sierras (not NV, not toward SoCal) on Saturday & Sunday with a Saturday overnight near Lake Tahoe. It won't be crazy long days & we'll have the lunch & rest/photo stops all planned out. It will be too much fun!

Ed
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Sounds like a perfect way to wrap up the rally......looking forward to additional info throughout the summer!
 
I drove part of the possible post-Rally this weekend. Very few cars, very few cops & tons of fun. I only saw 3 bicycles in a 90 mile stretch of cool twisties with great road surfaces.

Rally VIII Ed

PS Bring your Hoosiers as I was making the Goodyears howl like a banshee & slid the front a lot (lateral oversteer?) on fairly sticky roads. Mark M would have slid the rear the whole time!

PPS When I rode my sport bikes on these roads no car ever passed me but I am constantly having to pass bikes nowadays. This weekend I finally met a bike rider that I followed but could not pass. He was flying on a full dressed Japanese touring bike that threw sparks from the pegs/frame through the corners - cool! I backed off so not too press him it was fun watching him drag his bike & his knee thought the corners.
 

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For those of you that complained of not wanting to participate on the Rally road drives because of speeding - most of my drive was at the posted speed limit of 55 mph. The corners are 20-30 mph corners but at 55-60 they were perfect for the GT. I went slow on the short straights (not many of them) but kept my speed through the corners & it was perfect without danger or fear of getting a ticket. Not many cops or any cars seen. I passed 5-6 cars/motorhomes in 180 miles (they pulled over in turnouts) so not much traffic & not many bugs. Beautiful weather, beautiful drive!

Rally VIII Ed
 
Looked like a fun day Ed!
 
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Speeding? Speeding? If I have to wear Giants clothes, others can pick up the pace a bit.
 
The Post-Rally info will be posted this weekend under the Owner's section.

Rally VIII Ed
 
NoW that looks & sounds like fun. Put a camera on that beast Ed.
 
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Will do Luke.

Instead of posting all the info I will send an email to all the attendees of the Post-Rally.

Ed
 
Ed Sims said:
Will do Luke.

Instead of posting all the info I will send an email to all the attendees of the Post-Rally.

Ed
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Probably the best thing to do. You don't want the NSA to pass the CHP any info. :lol
 
I have now decided to hand out a packet with info to the Post Rally participants on Tuesday at the reception.

Ed

PS I forgot that all our emails are being read by the Feds.
 
Ed
Will there be any way for someone, i.e. me, to easily bail out sometime on Sunday and get back down south? I unfortunately have to be at work bright and early on Monday. If not, then I guess the rally ends for me on Saturday.
 
Sunday will be a short day. Many people will have to be somewhere that evening in preparation on returning home. Like you I have to be at the office by 6am Monday.

Ed
 
Ed
I'm in for Sunday !
 
Ed,

Add my name to the list of Post Rally participants.

Thanks,
Magic
 
Roketman & Magic - will you be spending the night with us at South Lake Tahoe on Saturday?

Rally VIII Ed
 
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