I read some time ago (in R&T i think) that some of the best drives can be had at the wee hours of the morning around 12 - 5 am. The drive makes you very aware of the car, the road and the experience. There is virtually no traffic and things become very surreal and at times, mind-blowing. Any cool stories, day or night? Sorry for the long post but I had a real fun drive tonight and wanted to share. Of course, you had to be there but picture it in your head.

I don't recommend anyone doing what I did tonight, but I decided to mix the S2000 + rain + night + mountain road to the equation. The result...scary, fun, trippy and downright intense. I started a little early though at 10pm and wasn't expecting rain but a light drizzle turned into a very heavy storm which made it all the more interesting, and that much more dangerous.

The drive itself wasn't crazy but paced at a decent, controlled speed more or less to avoid hitting any fallen rocks as a result of the rainfall. And there were MANY instances where I dodged grapefruit sized rocks here and there.

Imagine peering out into the darkness with only the road signs, guard rail and lines on the road showing up. The wipers were set on full speed, rain blasting down (Rain-X, where were you when I needed you) and curvy roads ahead. The ambience and conditions were very cool and tricky. The S-02's are still fresh with about 4500 miles and they had just the right amount of grip even though I did get it slightly sideways on a few occasions due to me provoking it.

Every thing I've learned about driving was being put to the test. I shut off the stereo so I could hear the engine sing up and down, the rain bouncing off the windshield and the spray of water in the wheel wells. I was really surprised how well the car handled in the wet even after all the stories I've seen here but it's all about concentration and control. Lose sight of one or both and I could see how you can get into trouble.

After the run up the mountain, I wanted to take another route coming back down which loops around the back and ends up in another city. The route going up had a lot of hard rainfall but as I was coming back down the other side at an elevation of 3 - 4 thousand feet, I ran into very heavy fog as well. If things weren't bad enough, they got worse. I couldn't see 10 feet in front of me and had to reduce my speed to 20mph and just follow the yellow line and some of the gaurd rail reflectors, whatever I could make out of it. The low beam projectors were almost useless because even they really amplified the fog.

What worried me more were oncoming cars which would have blinded us both but fortunately, no one else was up there so lucky me. After getting through the fog, the visibility was back again but the rain had stopped and it made for some pleasant driving back into town.

To get an idea of what kind of road I took, check out the link below and then picture being in your S2k, at night, in the rain.

(The closest picture I could find was from SteveUCI's site at a previous S2K run up the Crest). Thx Steve, you'll know the road I'm talking about.

http://www.motive-force.com/Dsc03614b.jpg

Enjoy your next drive and be careful!

 

Wow, 74, sounds like fun! I'm sure I was on some of the same roads as you yesterday, but being much newer at this, I hurried to get home before the rain hit. Good thing, too. Wouldn't have wanted to run into you in those circumstances :-D.

Which roads exactly were you on? I'm surprised you didn't hit any ice, as it must have been extremely cold up there.

 

I was on the same exact road you took except I started out from Tujunga and finished in La Canada. I was worried about black ice too but I never hit any patches. Not sure if it was because it had just started raining or if the rain was so strong itself that it hadn't quite frozen up yet. Who knows. Lucky me though.

I have hit black ice up there once before and it's not fun.

 

I actually took a bit longer circuit: Little Tujunga to 14 to Angeles Crest to Big Tujunga. Anyway, to get back on topic, I'd guess that dawn or dusk would be my favorite time. Nighttime is exciting, but it's just so hard (at least for me) to push it when I can't see what's ahead of me. Multiply that fear ten-fold when there's risk of ice. But with fear comes adrenaline, huh?

 

My commute is back roads about 23 miles. I usually leave for work at 4 or 5 a.m. No traffic and no cops.

 

Payne, I actually started from Little Tujunga (near the Tommy's burger joint) and made my way up to Big Tujunga and then back down the crest (highway 2).

Adrenaline definitely goes hand in hand with fear but if you are in the right zone, then it's more about concentration and that's what makes it real fun.

Just let me know when you're ready to go for a run. Kick back or brisk, we'll take it easy.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by payneinthe
[B]I actually took a bit longer circuit:

 

I'm semi-retired, so, around town, I prefer to drive on weekdays around 10 AM and 2 PM.

 

I like driving anytime..but I find at night, with the top down, on a desertd twisty road, there is a feeling that comes over me.

Like I'm the only person in the world, and the car is just on another level..Like I can here it talking..It don't get any sweeter

 

Hey Arin, i'll be ready for a run. but all ur going to be looking at is my backlight's. i'll take it eazy on yuh.

haha j/k

9k-APone - who has a friend (SEVNT) With tha SAME NAME, same Car, same location!! What a small world.

 

Anytime, but especially those times when there is little traffic and I can take the top down.

I usually have the top down, but around here there is almost always traffic.