2012 SoCalTT, backroads "rally" (aka: tour) Oct 14/15

[FergO2k]

Yes, Sunday and Monday is correct. (miss the weekend coming home traffic, and overnite stays heavily discounted)
The dates have been announced, more info to follow, but if you scroll back in the Events page, this year will be much like all previous.
Which is why it is an absolute MUST for me, so feel free to join in.
Pre '75 is the "guideline", if you have entered and break down at the last minute, run what ya got, join in the fun, you'll get slung a few barbs as a "cheater", but we've all had to do it from time to time.
Copious gearhead chat, great food, wonderful roads.

this website is pretty outdated, but when the cars are 37+ years old, whats a few years of old pics matter.

http://www.socaltt.com/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Garm]

I am so down for this.

[FergO2k]

Applications (really just roll call) released today. PM me with an e-mail address and I'll forward on a copy.

Don't miss it if possible, these are real fun. Last minute breakdown? Run what ya brung, participate in the "bench racing", and be prepared to be given a bad time for being a "cheater" (which we have all had to do from time to time)

Fergus O

[Garm]

Printed, filled out and mailed. I'm in. I would love to update that website.

[mraitch]

I'm in too - minimum 3 roadsters - cool - anyone else (other than Garm/FergusO) going??
Just wish it was 3 days instead of 2 - ah well

[FergO2k]

So, the ones I know of:
Eric (previous PO of the 302 Roadster Unnfair, now shows up in a resto Mini or his Rotary Midget beast)
Rene: 75 MGB, is a motorcyclicst who drives so smooth you are hard-pressed to keep up in what looks like a nicely kept Mom's car
Tom D. : Geez, this is a crapshoot, anything from a TR8 to a Crappy Capri racecar, to a 911
Brad and Miles in a Mk1 Spitfire (two sets of hands means we often just follow them rather than try to navigate qnad drive at the same time
"and the cast of crazies"

[FergO2k]

Oh, and by the way, this will be my last run before she goes down for a large dismantle and rebuild.
Still not sure of the outcome, and finances definitely factor into the decision, but stroker/KA/timing chain set will have to be done to my U-20, as I have milked her for all she is going to give.
I'll send you the apps, Peter.

[mraitch]

Fergus
PLEASE let me know when you are 'dismantling' - wud luv to help - and as Linda will attest - dismantling is my forte - she doesn't have quite the same confidence in my "mantling" <G> - looking for ward to seeing you - been some time !!

[RCMike]

Does a motor swap disqualify you in any way?

I could be interested, but come to think of it, my '65 bus is sporting a 1776cc in place of the 1600 dual port, my '63 Comet has a 302 cu. in. V8 instead of the 260, and the 1600 now has a sr20, so none are stock anymore..

Mike

[mraitch]

Nope - request is pre-76 but it end there - melee this is not

[FergO2k]

Not only does a motor swap not disqualify you, there have been years where there were more swaps than OEM engines!

Ferrari 400 with a SBC (turns out Ferrari used a GM tranny when they came out with their first slushbox car)
510 with a rotary
510 with Autech SR20
510 wagon with a VG30
240Z with a 454 big block (gaawwwwwd!)
several midgets with rotaries (the "spank your wankel" category)
TR8 (stock, but isn't this considered a swap?)
Mercedes 280SL Pagoda witha Buick V6
Austin Healey 3000 with a 289
Datsun roadster with a Ford 302 (Eric's, of years past, now in Oz)

[Garm]

Technically, I have a swap now, I guess, but it is a Roadster motor.

[FergO2k]

OK, so the SoCalTT buzz has finally worn off. (from last Sunday/Monday backroads drive)

Absolutely excellent, ~ 210miles Sunday, ~320 coming back on Sunday.
Gorgeous weather and scenery, eclectic cars, great food, great bench-racing at each stop.
Sunday return route proved that minimal civic budgets make for deteriorated backroads, as the "rim of the world" route along the crest over Santa Barbara, which had a 5 mile of gravel connector route to the next main road last year, well, this year it was 5 miles of GRAVEL with ~2 miles of POTHOLES on each end.
It took a toll on 2 in the "Fast" group, both with broken front supension mounts. (notice they were both in the fast group...)

I'll keep it brief, but a few notes:
1. a Pantera at full boil has a sound that can only be described as heavenly
2. most all struggled to keep pace with the 1275cc Mini, only on long uphills could we keep gain ground
exceptions: Pantera, Autech SR20-powered 510, 3.2L 911, GM-V6 swapped Opel Acona (who broke a ball joint)
3. stock engined Nash metro's are pretty dang slow
4. you can never have too much sunscreen
5. my timing chains are stretched, but they did fine with ~6 hours per day of 5k+ rpms just fine, Woo-Hoo!

some pic selections below

________
From Brad and Miles in a Mk1 Spitfire
Just posted a set to Flickr, it's a bit different than Miles' collection but mostly the same.

http://tinyurl.com/8jex9u5" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;
________

Sunday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88779858@N ... 788651930/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

Monday:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/88779858@N ... 788380099/" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[Garm]

Really neat. Hope to participate next time.

[pebbles]

Very Very cool. Thanks for sharing the experience Fergus.