Finman

It started just like every other day for me...with another freaking flat!!!
"Now where did I leave that spare...I know I put it right here!"

<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/sparefiasco2.jpg">

Trying to make up for lost time...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/speedo2.jpg">
The "East Bay Caravan" (2 4.2s) comes storming back! (and blew by another silver 4.2 along the way!)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/sanmateobridge2.jpg">

Finally meet the group...pretty fair turnout...a couple allroads, 4 2.7Ts, and 4 4.2s and a mystery man who disappeared into the day as Gotts and I arrived!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/thelineup2.jpg">

There was a fine looking pie-plate there
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/pieplate2.jpg">

Out on the road in some fog...lot of xenon behind us...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/lotsaxenon.jpg">

Had to stop and get some food...Stoney was hungry...a local joint...known for their stale bread
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/3-4.2s.jpg">

After grub, there was mass confusion
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/afterfood.jpg">

I decided if I were ever going to keep up with April, I was gonna hafta lower my suspension and lose the body roll...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/loweredsuspension2.jpg">

The allroadguys, alibaba and allroadguy...couldn't help but show off their off-road prowess!
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/alibabaallroads.jpg">

The final 4 Audis take one last rest...you may be able to see the smoke coming from the tires of the 2nd silver 4.2! (actually, can't see it, but we could smell it...damn, I shoulda' checked the tire pressures! 29, 35, 39, 32...hmmm, not too good)
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/final4audis2.jpg">

This is the way it woulda' looked 100 years ago...
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/bwcalfa2.jpg">

Tired of everyone screwing up and not being able to keep up, April gives a lesson on driving to Definitely (he really needs it...just kidding, Joel , and Stoney...also within earshot but too ashamed were Wireless, LMGotts4.2, and myself
<img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/12452/april-lecture.jpg">

We hadta' get outta' there quick...Ranger Rick was gonna put us all in the stockade..."Ya know just because ya' all have the same car...doesn't mean you can just park in the middle of a <b><i>parking lot</i></b>!!!...it's illegal!!!"
Stoney then proceded to get RR in a headlock while LMGotts4.2 tied his shoelaces together...and we were outta there fast...Ranger Rick just didn't know what him 'em!


All in all an excellent day...it was cool that the allroad guys could make it, especially on short notice, that Definitely could pull himself up from the recent pain (bent up Nemo) and be April's and/or Larry's navigator, that those guys who actually have a life and something else to do could show for at least part of the drive, Wireless, LMGotts4.2, Stoney, April, and Definitely hung in there the whole way, and that I got to meet a bunch of other freaks that are whack enough to go cruising with a bunch of freaks they've never met before...and all the freaks were cool. Larry and Stoney did an excellent job hammering out the final details, Stoney did an excellent job forging the path at rather ambitious speeds, and Stoney's wife showed great restraint...she really wanted to take the wheel and show him how a real driver drives! And a special thanks to my wife for tolerating "spirited" driving in a way she was unfamiliar with previously and never told me to "slow down", although she did make me wear my seatbelt

Now she wants an S4 or S4 Avant...so hmmm, the 4.2 may be becoming a trade-in on a Nogaro or Imola S4 or or or I'm not sure...I'll wait and see how serious she is.

CorradokidG60

Now, before everyone asks "What's with the VW kid posting here?!"...I've been following the A6 forum for a few months since my mom was interested in one, and then a friend was looking into puchasing a 4.2 - figured the best way to get info on the cars was to lurk around and see what the owners say.

Anyway, wanted to say I know the route you guys drove pretty well (living in Redwood City) and it's a blast to drive! All the pics looked awesome and glad to see you guys (April and Mrs. Stoney too!) enjoyed the drive... it's one of the Bay Area Corrado Club's favorites too.

If anyone sees a pearl green Corrado G60 with Borbet Type Cs on 280, feel free to wave =)

Alden

RomanQ7-2007

Looks like it was a great time!!!

avdh

e-mail to your's about our "mutual friend" ?

Metz

My wife was recruited to join April at Driver's School and is ready to go! I'd love to go to school with my fellow Norcal A6'ers - how 'bout looking into a group event? We definitely pushed our A6's on the first half of the ride and I'm sure I would've heard a lot more squealing tires if we hadn't left after lunch (damn thoese kids - always interferring with my hobbies!). I love my A6, but I was dreaming of a small sedan with a manual tranny last night. I'm sure my lame driving didn't help much, either. Special thanks to Larry for organizing and to Stoney for providing a great route (I was tempted to make that left turn onto 9 instead of proceeding to 17!). Allroadguy, I'm crashing your digs next time I visit my sister so I hope you and Joe are ready for us. Finman, I know you think my CD sucked but if you give me all the driving references on it I promise to burn one with some stuff you like. Thanks again to everyone and I can't wait for the next drive - next time I'll make sure I can participate to the bloody end.

LMGotts

There were a couple of occasions where my eyes were bigger than my tires and I ended up with the car going...how do I say...the wrong direction! I'd sign up for a driving event in a heartbeat - that way I could plan on saving a few heartbeats on the next drive.

Great pictures Pete, thanks to you and Mrs. Finman/Finchick (?!) for working the camera, I had an off day in that regard.

We didn't break 100 getting to the meeting spot? My apologies for driving like such a blue-hair. (I was way over the century mark trying to get to our coffee point on time.) Re: Jeff S 4.2's pie plates: I must say that they looked really nice - I thought that I'd decided I didn't like those wheels, but not so.

Finman, you know I was having a hard time keeping up with you on I think it was Stage Rd., so those tire pressures could have been the perfect setup for the types of corners we were encountering. Plus my car seemed to be sliding all over the place with my usual 100lbs. in them to compensate for Audi's wussy Sport Suspension. If your family ends up with a "smaller" car you may have trouble keeping up on a drive like that in your flying fortress S6.

Thanks for the CD Metz! Very nice. Enjoyed meeting you and look forward to talking with (all of) you more another time...soon!

Finman

Thanks for the CD, man...it was great...the cover was cool too
We woulda' had the CD blasting a lot louder, except it was very difficult to hear those walkie-talkie things over the music.

Metz

The power is fine and even without the manual the tip is pretty easy to manipulate as long as you don't mind the high revs - I prefer engine braking (not sure if that's the right term, but in the twisties I love the high revs) but I didn't like the pitching, rolling and squealing so much. I think a little driving school and suspension tweaking would help a ton. Larry, I owe you lunch for all the last-minute bull**** - I pretty much make my own schedule so let me know your preference.

April

Especially to LMGotts and Stoney for making it happen. The route was perfect.

Thanks to the Allroad guys for coming to lend a little variety to the group.

The pace was just right. Except for a few damp patches on corners where QTRs ruled the day :-) Whew, thank God for an easy to catch rear end - a BMW could not have survived unless expertly piloted.

Thanks to Definitely for not flinching too hard - sorry, I know we were strangers and you were placing your life in my hands. I had fun, and hope you did. Good thing the wet stuff happened before you rode with me:-)

Everyone was very cool. Discussion covered a range of topics and was not limited to cars. The technical intensity you find at some hardcore events, was not present. It was too bad that the lunch place was loud, because it would have been nice to know more about everyone. Especially the women who support these lunatics in their hobby;-). Midori, you need to make a road trip !;-)

The weather could not have been more perfect. A mix of crystalline sunshine and light fog. It was inspiring to see a long line of xenons stretch out into the fog behind us.

I can hardly wait for the next one. If you are in the SF bay area, you owe it to yourself to attend.

Finman

Yup, just sent...