NY/NJ/CT July 4th

July 4th is fast approaching and there was some interest of having an informal get together. If the weather holds up, is there any interest in doing a Bear Mountain run?

I was interested but now have to attend a gathering.. If you have one please put some pictures out and have a great time!

OK, perhaps if people are busy this weekend we can just do it another weekend...

How about Monday, July 5th?

Ahh...now we could be talking. Nothing in the dairy that day and work is shut down! Anyone else? Barry

I would be up for monday the fifth

OK - let's try to formalize this. I would prefer not to spend the whole day there...actually, I would love the spend the day but I have too much other stuff in my life that needs attending... My $0.02 is a preference for morning - but I can go either way. The top of Perkins Memorial drive is nice but I have not taken anything but a motorcycle up there so I don't know whether it is too rough for those with lowered suspension. Any other ideas for location? Barry

What if we met at the Bear Mountain Inn or the Apple Rest on Rt 17? P.S. Morning sounds good to me too Bob

OK by me. If the Red Apple turns out fav. then just be careful - the LEOs in the area are known for being a good source of revenue for the town and I can attest to their abilities

Yeah the 5th at Red Apple sounds good. Anyone have a good route to take from there? What's a good time?

Yeah I might be game as well--Mike

Good deal... the more the better

How about 10:30 am at the Red Apple stop? We could also meet near Woodbury Commons if people aren't familiar with the Apple. Bob

Grizzy, Let me know if you are up for it - perhaps we can ride up together. I have several good routes that go from there for people with plenty of time available. IM me if you are interested and I will pick a favorite... Barry

Just bumping this to the top to see if anyone else is interested, and we need to pick a time. Just out of curiosity is anyone bring their significant other?

I proposed 10:30 am if that will work for everyone. No interest from my significant other if it has anything to do with cars........

10.30am works for me. If that is the time then the SO cannot make it. If it were the afternoon then the SO could make it but would only really be interested to share my hobby so not a big deal. OK - let me get the form of this (first time 'an all)...I'll put down a possible agenda or two - you tell me which ones you like the sound of. 1. Meet at 10.30am, kick tires, eat something in the RAR (not great food by BTW), kick tires on way out and leave. 2. Meet at 10.30am, kick tires a bit, follow a short twisty route to another diner of slightly higher quality, eat something, kick tires on way out and leave. 3. Meet at 10.30am, kick tires a bit while drinking a cup of joe, leave. 4. ?? Of course all of the above should be accompanied by taking some digital photos which get uploaded here. Any preferences - door 1, door 2...? Barry

I vote for door #3. Does anyone have a specific route to travel after we meet? 7 Lakes Drive off of 17 or off RT6? My sugestion could be after coffee to drive up the mountain, (ok, hill) on RT 6 to 7 Lakes Drive and enjoy the sight and sounds.....What do you think?

Bob, That sounds fine to me and it doesn�t sound like you need much more of a route than you have already written. If you want something more challenging - I belong to a motorcycle group in the area ( http://www.sporttouringmc.com/ ) that has a number of excellent routes that either start at or go near the RAR and most of the routes are twisty back roads. That said, they are serious about their riding and most of the routes are in excess of 250 miles so you would really need to be able to devote at least half a day to the drive. If you want to check some of them out you can find a few here - http://www.roadtwist.com/local_rt.html Barry

That sounds good to me... I suggest we drive for a while then get lunch somewhere else (maybe the midpoint).

I like door 3--not a 6 hour journey --at least not Monday

I might be up for it as well. Where along Rt.17 is this famous place, Red Apple? Is this 17 in NJ or NY? Thanks.

If you take the NYS Thruway (I-87) to Exit 15. Make a left off of the exit and follow route 17N about 7 miles or so. You will go through all the towns (speed limit is 35MPH for the most part) When you hit Tuxedo NY the speed limit turns to 55MPH continue on Rt. 17 pass Sterling Forrest continue another mile or so and the Big Apple Rest Stop will be on your right... it's impossible to miss.

OK - so 10.30am it is at the Red Apple Rest - Monday 5th of July. Optional drive to lunch. One last question - is this rain or shine? Barry

I think it's rain or shine... if it's raining out we can take a short ride and grab some food... if it's nice out we can take a nicer drive.

I'm in, see ya at 10:30 Monday morning, rain or shine. Bob

Sounds good to me!

Hey guys, next time we will have to get a planned route. The Park Police were nice today and let me off with a warning for 61 in a 40 zone. No protection against instant on radar. Nice meeting everyone today, lets try this again with a planned route and I can try to get some Boxster fans to join too. Bob

Bob, way to go to take one for the team!! Didn't know if you had radar, I was giving you the brights because my Passport SRX went off before I could even see him. I like the route you took, it's very scenic and we can expand on that. It was great meeting everyone too... hey Barry can you post some pics?

Great meeting everyone - a real nice bunch of people - we should do it more often (except the police bit of course). How soon after I left did that happen? Here's a few pictures from today. Since the photographer for the day was my six year old boy who was given the camera and told to just go and take pictures of the cars I thought a number of them came out pretty well. Interesting to see a six yera old view of what is interesting. Suffice it to say that a lot of pictures did not get shared! Here's a taste of a couple - the rest can be seen by following the link at the bottom (you can even order printed copies if you want. Here's the link... http://share.shutterfly.com/osi.jsp?i=EeANmzFo3bMWjIGg

Goods pics, buy that boy a digital camera!

I too enjoyed the route (at least the part that I did do). As I said before I have a number of good routes - very similar type of terrain but away from areas like Harriman and Tuxedo which have way too many police. Routes would vary from 2.5 hours to 'all day'. By the way Riad - can you send me details of who did your radar install, whether you are happy with the install and the equipment and approximate costs? Thanks! Barry

The install was done by SoundFX, I'm extremely happy with the install and the performance of the Passport. 130 East Route 59 Spring Valley, NY 10977 [phone removed] The guy that owns the shop is a Porsche nut... has a turbo 993 that he dropped a new engine into and now has 3,000,000 HP. Let me know if you want to speak to them and I'll go over there with you... they were so professional and clean and did the most amazing job on my car. (no affiliation I was introduced to him at the local PCA gathering) Rob

Yeah not more than 10 minutes later while blasting down a stretch of road did we come across 3 cars coming the other way--And wouldn't you know it the last being a cop. He hesitated for a second then saw 3 p-cars and flicked on his lights and the rest was Bob's sweat talking!!!! I liked those pics --next time we need a few more people so we dont look too obvious-hahahah Mike

Phew! Glad I bailed when I did then. For some reason every time I get stopped I get a ticket! I think they hear the accent and that is it. I have tried all the 'good lines' such as "I pay your salary" and "Shouldn't you be off catching real criminals" but they don't seem to listen

Barry, I just ordered the PSE and clear corners should be in by the end of the week. Im officially an addict. Another line thats works--Put down the donut and step away from the car. Mike

Excellent! I'll keep an ear out for you around town.

I hope to join you guys in a few years

Was out of town, but would have loved to have met up with you guys (the speeding ticket...not so much)

Mike, Did you try Suncoast? Side Reflectors are 24.95 pr. Bob

clarification: no ticket, just "take it easy"

Sorry Bob...how UN-easily fast where you going that he whipped around and pursued?

OK Bob, I'm confused. How is it that you were at the front of the group and got pulled over when the others didn't (or did I read that incorrectly)?

He pulled an instant on radar (no warning) for 61mph and the speed limit in the park is 40mph. I was the car he was aiming at........Next time I'll follow.

He was going in the opposite direction we were. So Bob was the first car he spotted.

I ordered from Brandywine--its $1500 plus so $5 would buy me about 2 gallons of gas--but thanks for the look out--I appreciate--and hopefully I can get these on this weekend!!!! Mike