Bimmerfesters' Climb to the Clouds IV, June 9, 2012

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Keep in mind that this commercial came out long before anyone heard of John Wayne Gacy, Slipknot or the Insane Clown Posse.

During that era (the 1950s) a very popular character on children's TV was Clarabelle the Clown on the Howdy Doody show so for most kids clowns were seen as funny and harmless.

As a bit of trivia: The part of Clarabelle was played a several actors over the years but the first Clarabelle was Bob Keeshan who later went on to be Captain Kangaroo.

Bob Keeshan lived in Babylon, NY. One summer evening friends and I got chased away from in front of a guy's lawn where we were parked outside, drinking beer. It was freakin' Captain Kangaroo!

Originally Posted by ProfessorCook

Interested? Yes! My schedule tends to be tight in the fall, but I'll go if it can work.

+1

A fall drive would be great. In the past the BMW VT chapter organized Oktoberfast but it hasn't happend for the past 2 yrs .

Early October and particularly Columbus Day Weekend are very crowded in Southern Vt, and Western Mass. as the hotels and roads will be jammed with "Leaf Peepers".
I think we should look at late September we can meet in Southern Vt. or in the Berkshires (Western Mass).


According to Google Maps:
NYC to Lenox, MA . . . . . . . 139 Miles - 3hrs, 10 minutes
Boston to Lenox, MA . . . . . 129 Miles - 2hrs, 20 minutes (straight run on Mass. Pike)

NYC to Manchester, VT . . . . 211 Miles - 4hrs, 13 minutes
Boston to Manchseter, VT . . 178 MIles - 3hrs, 30 minutes

Another possibility is Litchfield, CT
NYC to Litchfield, CT . . . . . . 100 MIles - 2 hrs, 11 minutes
Boston to Litchfield, CT . . . . 133 Miles - 2hrs, 30 minutes

Nice driving roads and good places to have lunch/dinner in all of these areas.

Any thoughts?


CA

I like the Berkshires... there's Mount Greylock, the hairpin just east of North Adams, Hemmings garage in Bennington, VT, and one of the most funnest roads I've ever driven is Route 2 just west of the Mass border in NY state.

Maybe we should start a new thread called "Bimmerfest New England Fall Foliage Run"?

CA

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Maybe we should start a new thread called "Bimmerfest New England Fall Foliage Run"?

"Bimmerfest Fall Foliage Fun" would be a bit more alliterative.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Maybe we should start a new thread called "Bimmerfest New England Fall Foliage Run"?

CA

Being a member in good standing of the PRDA, I make many foilage runs, not just in the fall.

In fact I go whenever we run out.



A fall foilage run would be nice though, perhaps I could even make it up there if on a weekend. IME western mass would be great, anywhere from Harvard MA to Amherst area. I'm less familiar with the CT area but heard that is beautiful too...

OK

Here's an idea. We meet in Northwest Ct. in the Litchfield, Salisbury area on Saturday AM.
Many fine driving roads in the area where we are not likely to encounter a lot of traffic,
We can have dinner at the Falls Village Inn (in Falls Village) which has a motorsports themed bar. There is a possibility that we can get racing legend John Fitch as a guest speaker.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

Early October and particularly Columbus Day Weekend are very crowded in Southern Vt, and Western Mass. as the hotels and roads will be jammed with "Leaf Peepers".
I think we should look at late September we can meet in Southern Vt. or in the Berkshires (Western Mass).


According to Google Maps:
NYC to Lenox, MA . . . . . . . 139 Miles - 3hrs, 10 minutes
Boston to Lenox, MA . . . . . 129 Miles - 2hrs, 20 minutes (straight run on Mass. Pike)

NYC to Manchester, VT . . . . 211 Miles - 4hrs, 13 minutes
Boston to Manchseter, VT . . 178 MIles - 3hrs, 30 minutes

Another possibility is Litchfield, CT
NYC to Litchfield, CT . . . . . . 100 MIles - 2 hrs, 11 minutes
Boston to Litchfield, CT . . . . 133 Miles - 2hrs, 30 minutes

Nice driving roads and good places to have lunch/dinner in all of these areas.

Any thoughts?


CA

Any of the above will do, but I'll shamelessly vote for Litchfield, CT for obvious reasons

Get a separate thread going so we can play in there

I can give some good pointers on fun roads in Western MA that would have good leaf peeping opportunities.

Originally Posted by Bemo

Any of the above will do, but I'll shamelessly vote for Litchfield, CT for obvious reasons

Get a separate thread going so we can play in there

If we do Lichfield we can move the date back to mid to late October or even early November since that will be peak foliage.

As the "Easterners" of our group prepare their 'foliage' expeditions in advance of the expected droves of snow storms this year (their "last" rally prior to hibernating for the winter), I'd like to remind the Western Bimmerfest (CA) contingent that we ALSO have quite gorgeous foliage in our magnificent Sierra mountains:



This image in the So. Fork of Bishop Creek...there are many other areas towards Bishop, Mammoth Mt. that will display magnificent colors this Fall. Many "quaint" Inns where we can gather as we travers I-395. Hot chocolate (or more) is in order. We might need at least "All Season" tires.

Of course, our "expedition" (perhaps to the dismay of the New Englanders) will give us wonderful view of the foliage...great Inns, Bed-and-Breakfast choices...then at the END of our excursion, we hed back to L.A. to the BEACH...sailing in Santa Monica Bay...perhaps a trip to Catalina Island where lobster season (Nov) will attract many boats to the island (my mooring is already reserved).

Who's in?

Originally Posted by pointandgo

As the "Easterners" of our group prepare their 'foliage' expeditions in advance of the expected droves of snow storms this year (their "last" rally prior to hibernating for the winter), I'd like to remind the Western Bimmerfest (CA) contingent that we ALSO have quite gorgeous foliage in our magnificent Sierra mountains:



This image in the So. Fork of Bishop Creek...there are many other areas towards Bishop, Mammoth Mt. that will display magnificent colors this Fall. Many "quaint" Inns where we can gather as we travers I-395. Hot chocolate (or more) is in order. We might need at least "All Season" tires.

Of course, our "expedition" (perhaps to the dismay of the New Englanders) will give us wonderful view of the foliage...great Inns, Bed-and-Breakfast choices...then at the END of our excursion, we hed back to L.A. to the BEACH...sailing in Santa Monica Bay...perhaps a trip to Catalina Island where lobster season (Nov) will attract many boats to the island (my mooring is already reserved).

Who's in?

I think and Eastern trip and a Western trip is a great idea. Hope you guys do it.

Let's see if anyone goes to both.


Believe it or not we have both beaches and autumn foliage in New England (frequently in the same place)

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I think and Eastern trip and a Western trip is a great idea. Hope you guys do it.

Let's see if anyone goes to both.


Believe it or not we have both beaches and autumn foliage in New England (frequently in the same place)

We (Westerners) will not be outdone. An Aspen grove in the Sierras:



The only "difficulty" would be to try and suck some maple syrup from these trees...we concede.

Originally Posted by pointandgo

The only "difficulty" would be to try and suck some maple syrup from these trees...we concede.

If I wanted maple syrup I wouldn't suck it from a tree, I go buy some at Gelson's.

The Easterners have some cute little trees, no doubt. Nothing like our Coast Redwoods, Monterey Cypress or Giant Sequoias of course, but I'm sure there's something to be said for trees that burst into pretty colors for a brief time once a year.

Anyway, a West Coast ride would have to go from Gorman/Frazier Park up the Cuyama Highway on the north of Los Padres National Forest, then north up the I01 past Nipomo and meet up in San Simeon or Cambria with the group from Northern California coming down PCH.

I'm up for a local cruise through the Litchfield hills here in CT - awesome roads and lots of fun!!!

We did one four years ago and then again with the Porsche club after that, I think the Captain has probably done some more since.

Count me in (schedule permitting).

Btw, 183 out of North Granby CT into western Mass and onto 23 is a fantastic drive - i did a cruise with the Ct chapter through there in October of 2010 - we ended up at Octoberfest at Hunter Mountain in NY. Stunning.

I often take a fall drive up here in WA State.
Larches on Chinook Pass, Vine Maple on Stampede Pass.

Originally Posted by Wihelm G

but I'm sure there's something to be said for trees that burst into pretty colors for a brief time once a year.

If we are lucky and no big storms dropping leaves early!

Captain, I'm in for whatever you decide on. I'd go if Fitch were the speaker and I had to drive a Yugo round trip. Any chance of tying into a LRP event? I could make a weekend of it.

September 28 – 29, 2012, Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series (DP/GT) & Continental Tire Challenge (GS/ST)

For the Daytona Prototype's third visit to Lime Rock Park, we've got a special treat: It's the Grand-Am Rolex Sports Car Series Presented by Crown Royal Cask No. 16 championship finale! That means there is a very good chance that you'll be witnessing the race that decides the driver and carmaker championships in both DP and GT! The feature race on Saturday showcases the same cars that race in the Rolex 24 Hours of Daytona. The Daytona Prototypes – Riley, Dallara, Lola and Coyotes powered by BMW, Chevy, Porsche and Ford engines – do battle at the same time with GT-class cars: the fire-breathing Corvettes, Porsches, BMWs, Mustangs, Camaros and Mazda RX-8s. Also on tap are the "showroom stock" cars in the popular Continental Tire Sports Car Challenge, where virtually every automaker is represented in the Grand Sports (GS) and Street Tuner (ST) classes.

So maybe a Friday dinner, Saturday watch race at LRP with group drive either before or after, dinner Saturday, a Sunday morning group drive and then head home? Or is this too early for leaf scenery?

I plan on being at the Grand Am race so that works for me. The problem will be that accommodations will be tight that weekend as I am sure most of the Hotels in the area are fully booked. It may also be difficult to find a venue for dinner.

I haven't seen Fitch for a few weeks and I know he had had health issues but I am told by mutual friends that he likes the idea.

CA

Hope you folks had fun.

Originally Posted by captainaudio

I think and Eastern trip and a Western trip is a great idea. Hope you guys do it.

Let's see if anyone goes to both.


Believe it or not we have both beaches and autumn foliage in New England (frequently in the same place)

It might be necessary for you to split off the East and West foliage tour thread...You guys can go off on your own. I'm NOT seeing a lot off passion in the West for a Sierra foliage tour. TOO much to do with excellent beach weather here...we seem reluctant to leave the 80 deg. weather and head for the horrid "chill" in the mountains. We are somewhat spoiled. (texting this from the beach on Santa Monica Bay).

Some may only head up there for skiing season...such a pity as they will miss the dramatic change of the foliage. Is there any hope? How about the "cozy" b&b in Mammoth! Plenty of sight-seeing to do.