Now This is Exciting!

[RallySnake]

When I was a kid in the '50s, I read an article about the construction of the telescope with it's 200 inch mirror for the Mount Palomar Observatory. It was the largest telescope in the world.

The really great part is South Grade Road up to the top. It has 21 hairpin turns in 12.68 miles and is one of the best drives for sports cars in California. We will be running up it on Saturday during the Toy Story Rally. Come out and join us!

TOY STORY RALLY
6 hour Monte Carlo style navigational road rally December 1, 2012.
Start and Finish at the In-'n-Out off I-15 at Ontario Ave. in Corona.
Registration open 12 noon to 2:30 pm. MANDATORY Entrants meeting at 2:30pm.
First car out 3:01 pm. First car to Finish about 9 pm.
Entry fee - one new, not-gift-wrapped toy (minimum $20 value)
Toys to benefit kids at the Childrens' Hospital of Los Angeles.
Please join us for a fun rally for a good cause.

[jhv48]

Two things:

First, that road is heavily driven by two-wheeled rice rockets. Every week they have to evacuate a few that have pushed the envelope too far. Watch for them coming toward you and drifting into your lane.

Second, there is a photographer that parks his van on one of the lower corners and shoots pics of every car/bike/bicycle that goes by. He posts the pics online and you can order prints of you and your car after you get back home.

I personally have bought pics of my cobras going up that mountain on two occasions.

[Varmit]

Have made this run many times in the Vette. Great road, a lot of debris on the road, and way too many motorcycles. On one of our runs a guy hauling up the mtn on his motorcycle, crossed over the line, and hit one of our Vette guys head on coming down the mtn. CHP has started to patrol the are pretty heavy on the weekends due to the motorcycle accidents up there

Enjoy the run, but be careful. As a suggestion, there is a road named Mesa Grande just a couple of mile to the east of the Palomar grades. Much more challenging and enjoyable.

Hope you have a safe run!!!!!!

[Clois Harlan]

I have made that run with my dad some years ago. It would be a nice ride in a cobra but Varmit is correct there is a lot of debris and there was too much traffic as I recall to have an envigorating drive up.

I forgot to mention that I would like to join you guys for that ralleye. Unfortunately, I am now a flatlander in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

[marco454v8]

Originally Posted by jhv48

Second, there is a photographer that parks his van on one of the lower corners and shoots pics of every car/bike/bicycle that goes by. He posts the pics online and you can order prints of you and your car after you get back home.

I personally have bought pics of my cobras going up that mountain on two occasions.

That'll be this guy then: 1904Photography By: Phillip Baker

nice pictures

Mark

[RallySnake]

Years ago, we ran up South Mountain Road so fast that it confused our Garmin GPS. We were pulling close to a G in the turns and the GPS just showed us spirraling off into empty space. It was pretty funny!

These rallies are a great sport in a Cobra. You get maps and instructions at the registration and we drive some great twisty, scenic roads and find the checkpoints. You bring someone to ride with you and they use their wristwatch to count you down to the correct second to run your front tires over the hose. The car that hits times closest to zero, wins. There is a beginner class and an expert class so you don't compete with the experienced teams.

The best part is that you can drive whatever speed you want until you get to the checkpoint. On the back roads, that can be a LOT of fun! You get to see how your car performs compared with BMW's, Corvette's, EVO's and Subaru's. Those things are seriously fast on a twisty road.

[Varmit]

Boys looks like it may be raining on the mountain tomorrow.