Cars & Coffee?

[papak]

Finally took the car out for a spin this morning up PCH and through the Malibu mountains (such as they are). The route took me by several regular C&C sites and I was really surprised to see cars pulling in to them. I’m as hungry for social interaction as the next guy but the average age at these events has to be well over 50 and we are still logging over 1,000 new cases a day in LA. At the risk of appearing too politically correct, I have to say that I am disheartened by the lack of concern.

 

On the other hand, the new lambda controller works correctly and the closed loop mode is adjusting the fuel map quickly. The 2.3 has a ton of torque and the acceleration is now butter smooth. Now to find a dyno!

[BlueMax]

Or perhaps many of the people visiting C & C have figured out what's reported is way over exaggerated. Glad you enjoyed your (BLAT)

 

https://www.winknews.com/2020/07/14/swfl-hospitals-shown-testing-100-positive-for-covid-19-but-they-say-thats-wrong/

[h=2][/h]

[Vovchandr]

Or perhaps many of the people visiting C & C have figured out what's reported is way over exaggerated. Glad you enjoyed your (BLAT)

 

https://www.winknews.com/2020/07/14/swfl-hospitals-shown-testing-100-positive-for-covid-19-but-they-say-thats-wrong/

[h=2][/h]

 

What does South Florida testing problems have to do with California?

 

Regardless deaths are climbing which means that the total cases has been climbing as well.

 

I'm sure the people who are going out don't think it's a problem or a risk to them, but that's a different type of politics involved with that. Original post was about the lack of concern and that's exactly what's happening. Justified or not.

[Brightonuk]

Florida is fine just ask our governor

 

[papak]

This pandemic experience is really starting to get to me (understatement!). Southern California may be the Cars & Coffee capital of the country (no geographic offense intended) but nearly all of the usual events have been formally cancelled for the time being. Personally, I am among those who just don’t want to risk the exposure to even the few informal meet-ups that I see occurring but I certainly miss the shared social experience. Maybe it’s just the idea of having a specific destination in mind when I leave the house.

As an alternative, I have been doing long early morning drives through the hills above Malibu on the weekends. This opportunity is one of the true blessings of living out here. Apparently, I’m not alone. While cruising across Mulholland Drive, I saw half dozen or so McLarens passing in the opposite direction. Over an hour or so, I saw various Porsches, Ferraris as well as a selection of Lambos and other exotics. On the way down Malibu Canyon, there were 3 Morgan tri-wheelers in close formation as well as the usual collection of bikes. As a testament to our collective sanity, there were only 5 or 6 bikes parked at the Rock Store (as opposed to the usual 50 or so on a Sunday morning).

Several notes to self; don’t plan a route into the rising sun at dawn. Several times I would come around a bend only to have to slam on the brakes as the glare of the glare of the sun blinded me. Some of the shear rock faces regularly shed debris on the road when you least expect it. The cops up there are pretty decent if you don’t get stupid about the speed.

When I finally arrive home, the first question my wife asks is “You didn’t stop anywhere, did you?” I can’t wait for a vaccine!

[Kitcat]

As I have posted elsewhere here, in Cincinnati the Cars and Coffee scene is booming, loads of people jammed together with no masks anywhere in sight. I call it "Cars and Crazy." Even with that, we dont have the lineup of cars that you describe on your weekend blats.

[ashyers]

papak,

I'm with you on the drives. We've been doing a bunch of them locally and not so locally. One day we took the 7 and Midget out with some friends and went up in the local hills. It was a blast! Sometimes it's just nice to get outside and play a bit.

 

Andy

[panamericano]

Oh hush. Y'al are making me jealous in the flat lands. Hills...hills... What is a hill?

[ashyers]

Hills... and corners!

 

(and potholes that will swallow a 7 whole :banghead:)

[panamericano]

Hills... and corners!

 

(and potholes that will swallow a 7 whole :banghead:)

 

I've heard that areas with hills often have curves, instead of 90 degree intersections amid straight roads. Pity. If my kids would all scatter from Dallas, I'd be back in central Mexico or Colorado in a second. The cost of fatherhood.

[papak]

We moved out to LA from Connecticut when the grandchildren started to appear. I was much more into racing back there (PCA Club racing in a 944). New England is laced with great roads and wonderful drives. The backroad drives are about all my friends back there are doing now. I guess I shouldn’t complain considering the alternatives.

 

 

Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[escondidoron]

This pandemic experience is really starting to get to me (understatement!). Southern California may be the Cars & Coffee capital of the country (no geographic offense intended) but nearly all of the usual events have been formally cancelled for the time being. Personally, I am among those who just don’t want to risk the exposure to even the few informal meet-ups that I see occurring but I certainly miss the shared social experience.

 

Yeah, I know the feeling. We're starting to experience cabin fever too. We have been pretty much on self-isolation since 8 March. although I did organize a drive this past Sunday morning up to the Mount Palomar summit with some friends as part of the Drive at Dawn with Hagerty. If you aren't aware, Hagerty sent out a note to members offering a free Hagerty baseball cap to anyone who sent in a picture taken on Sunday morning, 16 August, to try to generate some enjoyment in lieu of the cancelled Monterey Car Week. We all practiced social distancing and in general we're responsible. It was the 1st time in months to see others in person. A very nice, if fleeting, break from being home solitary. But it did cause me to reminisce WRT Car Week. This year is the first time in many years that we have missed it. It prompted me to put together this little video as a result:

 

[escondidoron]

As an alternative, I have been doing long early morning drives through the hills above Malibu on the weekends. This opportunity is one of the true blessings of living out here.

 

Same here, either in one of the cars or on my mountain bike on the local trails. While the great roads here in San Diego County are inland (all of the costal areas are too populated for spirited driving), a truly fantastic ribbon of asphalt, Highland Valley Road is only 5 minutes from our front door. I venture out every few days. If a little more time is available a short run up to Julian to take in Wynola Road is a fantastic morning experience. Here you can get a good feeling for heading uphill in the early morning sunlight:

 

 

 

When I finally arrive home, the first question my wife asks is “You didn’t stop anywhere, did you?"

 

Before departure, my lovely bride cautions me to carry and wear a mask. Likewise upon my return she wants to know if I have been mask diligent and did I have any contact while I was out.

 

 

I can’t wait for a vaccine!

 

Concur. Some food for thought: If we manage to be able to vaccinate 1,000,000 people per day nationwide, 7 days per week, it will only take a year to get everyone in the U.S. vaccinated.

Edited August 19, 2020 by escondidoron

[papak]

Three of us got out for the Drive at Dawn. Saw hardly anyone while taking Mulholland up to the county line. Splendid drive though. One of the fellows had a Caterham CSR with a turboed 2.0l Ecotec. 301 hp at the rear wheels. Impressive installation.

[panamericano]

"...got out for the Drive at Dawn...."

 

Yeah, I like Hagerty for all the little stuff they have done lately. I sent the Dawn Patrol photo with the Birkin and look forward to the cap. I only went that early once at Pebble Beach (the mrs. can't handle such hours). 6:30 is really the only way to go. You can see each car without 50 people crowded around it. Later, it is so hard to get a complete view of something special. Bringing them over from the truck lot, and seeing most of them running is fun, especially if some nut like Michael Sheehan spins the Ferrari tires on the green. I do miss our little picnic and wine at the end of the ramp. Maybe next year.