I’ll be turning 29 (again) this August, so let’s hit the curves to celebrate! Please join us for 196 miles of the BEST driving roads in the country. The 2008 BIRTHDAY TOUR Starting with breakfast at Bogus Creek Café and Bakery in Stockholm, Wisconsin, 9:15 AM Sunday, August 10th. For an idea of the fantastic roads we'll be driving, check out this video that Rally Racer made on a tour last year: http://videos.streetfire.net/video/Road-Tour-2007_125221.htm Two meeting options: 1. 8:00am at Rainbow Foods, 7282 S. East Point Douglas Rd in Cottage Grove, MN. Take Hwys 10 & 61 southeast past 494, exit on 80th Street and turn left, over the highway then right onto East Point Douglas Road. Rainbow will be on your left. The group will leave at 8:10am. 2. 9:15am at Bogus Creek Café and Bakery, N2049 Spring Street, Stockholm, WI. From the southeast corner of 494, it’s a scenic 60-minute drive to Stockholm. Take Hwys 10 and 61 south and east out of the Twin Cities. Turn left to stay on 10 East, heading toward Prescott. Cross over the drawbridge in Prescott and turn right onto Wisconsin Hwy 35 South. Pass through Diamond Bluff, cross Hwy 63, go through Bay City and Maiden Rock. In beautiful downtown Stockholm, turn left onto County J. Bogus Creek is one block up on your left. We will be having a fabulous breakfast at Bogus Creek, served by the lovely and talented proprietor, Colleen. The tour will leave Stockholm at approximately 10:15am. After 196 miles of the coolest curves and hills and a few comfort stops, the tour will end at about 3:00pm with a late lunch served by the always charming Guy, Nancy, and Nikki at Hansen’s Hold-Up Bar and Grill (Mapquest: S2428 State Hwy 95, Arcadia, WI) about 12 miles north of Fountain City, WI. Breakfast and lunch are pay-your-own. Bring CASH because they don’t always accept credit cards. There is no charge for the tour itself. We will have a “mellow†group and a “spirited†one so everyone can drive at a comfortable and safe pace for the tour. Please bring your own FRS/GMRS radio. You can buy good inexpensive radios at Wal-Mart, Menards, Best Buy, or Costco, among others. Look for “18 mile†or “20 mile†on the package. Loaner radios will NOT be available for this tour. LEGAL NOTICE: This activity is not affiliated with any organization, club, or internet discussion forum, although it is being publicized in several places. The organizers of this tour are simply providing a route map and turning instructions. This route map and instructions are provided for informational purposes only. The route uses roads that are open to the public and are not monitored or controlled in any way by the route providers. The route providers are not responsible for the behavior of any drivers or passengers and have no control over them. All participants are responsible for their own behavior and should act in a safe manner, obeying all laws. By participating you acknowledge that driving or riding in a motor vehicle involves inherent risks which can result in property damage, serious injury, or death. You also assume all risks, and waive any and all claims against the route providers. Keep it between the ditches and we’ll see you on Sunday, August 10th!
Thanks Moleness! Sorry you won't be able to join us for this one. We'll have more tours in the fall, when it's cooler. Turbos like cool.
Looks like we'll have about 20 to 30 cars, maybe even some exotics, like a Ford GT or two. We'll definitely split into two groups, "spirited" and "mellow" so everyone can find a safe and comfortable place to drive in the tour.
Good question! I'm glad you brought that up. Spirited is not mellow, but it is not stupid or illegal either. I never advocate exceeding posted limits or driving in an unsafe manner. This is just a tour on public roads. We will be sharing the roads with pedestrians, tractors, oncoming traffic, etc. Ditches, trees, and unprotected cliffs will line the route. The roads are not a racetrack and this tour is not a race. We will talk more about the groups at the drivers meeting so everyone can make an informed choice. I have a lot of respect for this forum and the people of mnsubaru.com. I appreciate your question and I want to make it clear that I will avoid any discussions that even hint at street racing or other illegal activity. We can have tons of fun and keep it legal!
Just a reminder that my first big country road tour of the season is coming up next Sunday. This tour is BYOR - Bring Your Own Radio. You can buy good inexpensive two-way radios at Wal-Mart, Menards, Best Buy, or Costco, among others. Look for at least “18 mile” range on the package, along with "GMRS". Motorola Talkabout, Midland GXT, and Cobra are usually good brands. Here are some good radios available on line: http://www.amazon.com/Cobra-Electro...6U/ref=dp_cp_ob_e_title_0/105-4132925-0842012 http://www.amazon.com/Midland-GXT90..._m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=1FTEX155Z9T7JN6ENFA7 http://www.amazon.com/Motorola-mile...8?ie=UTF8&s=electronics&qid=1217821588&sr=1-8 Sorry but I will not be providing loaner radios for this tour. Looks like we'll have about 30 cars. We will definitely split into at least two groups, "Spirited" and "Mellow" with perhaps an Intermediate group as well. If you are bringing a navigator and would like to lead the Intermediate or Mellow group, please let me know. I'm also taking applications for lead driver in the Spirited group. Qualifications include: - Can drive safely in a spirited manner on twisty country roads - Can put up with me navigating from your passenger seat and talking on the radio all day Advantages of being lead driver in the Spirited group: - No rock chips on your front bumper - You won't get lost - No slow guys ahead of you Disadvantages: - Very little warning for oncoming traffic or tractors in the road. Hope to see you all next Sunday!
Don't worry everyone, although the rest of you were too busy to show up, I came and represented Subaru for all of us! There was a great mix of drivers and skills. We had about 30 cars(?) and broke up into three groups: mellow, intermediate, and spirited. The mellow and intermediate groups took the shortcut (but got lost a couple of times along the way :laugh: ). I was in the intermediate group which, depending on who was leading, was either REALLY fast or fast enough :rockwoot:. Perfect for those of us that like to go fast but haven't done this tour before. The weather was great! Cool enough to really let your car run itself wild. I highly recommend going on one of "Tom's Tours" in the future! Here are some pics: Cars involved: VW R32 ('08), Mini Cooper S (Aussie right hand drive), Evo X, Evo VIII (2), Dodge Stealth T-Turbo (2), Acura RSX (2), BMW 2002 (2), BMW M3 (3), BMW 325 (2), Mazda RX7, Chevy Corvette, Merc SLK, Jaguar (60s coupe, for sale), VW GTI, and even a '82 Buick Riviera Convertible. Can't believe I was the only Subaru.......
You left out: Mazda Speed3 (2) Cobalt SS (1) We were in the spirited group so you may have not seen us.
Thanks for the great pics, Sleeperwagon! I see you even found the spot on Pretzel Pass where I usually take a group photo. Nice shots. I'll be sure to post a new thread when I have another tour. Today was great, but the fall tours are even better because there's less traffic and cooler air for the turbos. Hope to see more Subies then!
I was in the Boxster that I guess was just too fast for the Sleeper Wagon and the rest of the intermediate group and lead two other adventurous types (Volks GTi and a 300Z) around the whole course. Shortcuts are for kittycats. We never got lost either. I left the Subie at home. Thanks Tom!
I am totally down next time...keep us posted. Last fall, my wife and I had a great time in the spirited group
Sorry I forgot you! I knew I was leaving a couple of cars out! I also forgot the two Toyota MR2 spyders.
Yeah, you were moving pretty good. I WOULD have been able to keep up better but I was in the middle of the pack when you took the long route and we went the short route. :laugh: By the way, when we stopped for gas after the first section, everyone thought it would have been a good idea to take the shorter route, they obviously just didn't tell you! Oops!
Would have, could have. We waited just up the road for anyone else who cared to join us. I heard the mellow group caught up with ya'll since you guys never did figure out how to read the map. Cutting out half the route, yea I missed that discussion and would protested. I was busy looking at the Evo X's with broken air dam from the spirited group. Yep or they should all drop back and follow the E Type.
Next time I'll do the spirited group. The intermediate group missed a BUNCH of turns and had to stop and turn around. Sometimes we were going as fast as the spirited group but kept missing turns. Then in the last section, after the shortcut, the lead car wasn't going that fast. Then when we got to the last loop we stopped for a really long time, which was why the mellow group caught up. Lots of fun though! Thanks tom! Waiting to get info on the autocross!!!
