Banning, I hope you and your property are Ok. I've heared that they had a fire @ coldwater & Mulholland yesterday....

Mulholland was also closed this morning east of Wrightwood.

Thanks for the good thoughts gostraight. The fire was close in the next canyon over, power was out for hours, the wind was scary strong, and a tree fell on my street blocking my exit, other than that it was a typical day on Mulholland.

Just in case anyone might possibly be interested, here is a small part of the video that I made with my sister a few months ago. The long version is the one that I will give out Sunday. This is also the same video that we produced for the Petersen Automotive Museum for the book signing of "The Mulholland Experience".

For your enjoyment....


<object width="425" height="350"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Tzv4MPQc-E"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/_Tzv4MPQc-E" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="425" height="350"></embed></object>

Chris, Even though I won't be able to make the run sign me up for a copy of the video. That was just too much of a teaser. Thanx for posting.

I plan to be there Sunday too for a good time with like minded enthusiast and to enjoy the ride.

Would love that video for my archives as well...

Dave

Along that topic... who is actually coming this weekend?
Go here and let us know who to expect.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/330840-mulholland-run-sunday-afternoon-post3216869.html#post3216869

To continue our tour of Mulholland "West" we pass what we have called Doughnuts and after a sweeping right hander we pass Deep Canyon. This was originally a huge nature refuge full of old growth trees. Now it's one of the most expensive custom tracts anywhere.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508817.jpg


Mulholland then opens up to become 4 lanes for a short one-eighth of a mile. This is to accomodate Fire Station 99 located in the middle of this freeway. If one ignores the signals(who would do that?), some real high speed can be achieved here.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508833.jpg


After a slight bend, the straightaway continues past Beverly Glen.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508845.jpg

In the slight bend just mentioned on the south side of Mulholland is something interesting. This "driveway" leading to the singer Don Henley's house is actually the old Mulholland. They filled in the other side of the driveway after racers started to hang out there in the 80's. The old Mulholland went around a big mountain that was on the right where the grass and trees are now. You have to have been here a long time to remember that. I fell there on an old bicycle in 1964 and got scraped, then walked the bike home.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508897.jpg


This is Fire Station 99, nearly across from Henley's driveway. This is a great Station with very experienced Firefighters. I'm fortunate to have them so close by my home.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508912.jpg


After Fire Station 99 comes the big intersection of Beverly Glen and Mulholland. Lots of traffic in the morning and afternoon here. Taking a left turn will lead you into Westwood, WLA, and Beverly Hills. Taking a right leads you to Sherman Oaks, Van Nuys, and the 101 Freeway.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508929.jpg


This is where Mulholland goes back to 2 lanes and it's always a drag race to the first corner from the intersection at Beverly Glen. If I feel competitive(who me?), I just love to beat em off the line no matter what I am driving. I bet most of you feel the same way. Fun. Besides, who wants to get stuck behind some slug on Mulholland?
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508941.jpg


Here is the long straightaway, also called dogleg straight from the blind bend midway. This is where I exited my Camaro side window at 85mph and went way down the cliff to the right. I was traveling the other direction when I had the head-on. I still don't know how I could have survived that one. The spirit of Mulholland must have saved me that day in 1979.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508954.jpg


The straightaway continues to the next turn some call "Van Nuys". Thats because Van Nuys Blvd. can be seen from Mulholland and visually intersects with Mulholland there.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176508968.jpg

More to come...

Good video & narrative there Mr. Banning. Those "vicarious" folks across the country have a good look at "the hill" now. To complete the experience, they need only a night time video since night time was the race time. Maybe Slodave can get that?

(gota have more cow bells)

Continuation of "West"
Here is Van Nuys Blvd. lining up with the turn of the same name. At night it is spectacular because of all the lights lining the street.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511761.jpg


This left hander is just after Van Nuys and the Stone Canyon overlook is to the left in the photo.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511784.jpg
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176513048.jpg


The High Ground is this stretch of curving straight that lies high on Mulholland, west of the dogleg straight.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511801.jpg


Mulholland then dives down two blind left hand turns. This is the first one.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511836.jpg


This is the second blind left. In 1974, I accidently drove my 1972 454 Corvette off the cliff going the other way in this turn. A tree stopped me from going 500 feet down. Note: Big Block Chevys plow like a John Deere.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511851.jpg


Mulholland continues downhill through this divide. It used to be much narrower and so it was named "Windtunnel" long ago.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511870.jpg


As the road now begins to rise again you can see Wilt Chamberlains driveway on the left side of Mulholland. This is called the Saddle from it's shape of a gradual down and back up again.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511882.jpg


As Mulholland rises more, you can see Woodcliff on the right. This is a favorite place for ditching the Helicopter with its large Oak trees at the bottom, used for cover.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176511894.jpg

More to follow..

Chris, It seems like that same lunch truck has been parked near the Fire station every day for years.

Originally posted by SSB
Good video & narrative there Mr. Banning. Those "vicarious" folks across the country have a good look at "the hill" now. To complete the experience, they need only a night time video since night time was the race time. Maybe Slodave can get that?


---------------------------------------------------------

Thanks SSB, I value your opinion. I think that I'm going to mount the digital video camera inside first the Testarossa and then the Carrera and film Mulholland at speed. These speed runs on Mul combined with more interviews from CRE, MRA and ACR folks would make for quite a good documentary. I hope that the CRE noticed that I mentioned their name first in the video. Sorry for any shortcomings on my part in the past, it won't happen again. We need to work together to preserve what was. It's important to us to save the memories and lore of what we knew of Mulholland in all eras and all the players involved. We will not be forgotten. My book, The Mulholland Experience, is just the beginning of what could be much more. With the momentum of this thread and the stories coming to light, a rebirth is occuring. This is the real stuff that legend is born from, not that Hollywood crapp(ie:The King of the Mountain). People are interested in truth and LA history, cars and folklore. Mulholland is Important! This seems as though an opportunity awaits..

That Roach Coach has been parking there since about 1990 that I can remember.
____________________________________

A different angle on hot trucks on Mulholland Drive:
My good friend Rich who does electrical and grip taught me this a long time ago. In the past on Mulholland a few of us have been known when a film crew is around to just pull up and hit the catering wagon for some chow. Being its paid for by the production company they don't say anything or know if we are on the crew. Anyone who has eaten off the studio catering wagons knows the food is pretty good.

Rich always told me if they ask who you are tell them you are with OSHA or a neighbor and you will get preferential treatment.
I know many people in the motion picture industry and they are some of the nicest folks I have met.

You gotta eat....... driving is hard work..........

I'm up for a night run. I've been thinking about it for a few weeks. My camera setup needs to be improved for higher G's though! It's either that or I wear a helmet and that may look a little funny and would be hard to explain :cool:

Dave

P.S. I drove Mulholland East from Encino at about 6:00 p.m. today (4/13/07). Traffic was not bad, but there is some debris from all of the wind. I may go up tomorrow late afternoon and remove some of the rocks. I had the chance to come back tonight, but, decided to take it easy and cruise Ventura Blvd. for a change.

Chris,
Remember your wheelstand get way from the cops over here.

You might remember this date. November 21, 1980

My friends Eric R, Leo F. were parked there at about 830am. We had breakfast at Twains and decided to run up to the Old Mulholland turnout to enjoy the early morning. There were a couple of other guys there with lowered hill cars also.

9:00am Someone called the Fire Department for medical aid at Don Henleys (The Eagles drummer) house (Sonora). That someone was a prostitute, who turned out to be suffering from aftereffects of a drug seizure and who also turned out to be 16 years old. A short time later about six police cars show up at Henley’s home and arrested him. Some very prominent people were scrambling out of Don's yard like mice on the run. The cops were gabbing everyone.

Through the Willow tree's we could see everything that was happening. Some of those guests parked at the turnout. The cops blocked both driveways and were checking out cars and asking us questions. Did we see anything, did we hear anything? Why were we here?

It was the first time we were honest with the cops as to why we were up there on Mulholland. My friend Eric was freaking out. He would have rather been chased at 100mph than be caught up in this mess. We told them flat out we are racers. They didn't care because of the big bust that was going down. Since we couldn't leave we might as well watch the event's unfold.

Don Henleys "Sonora House" had some history before the 1994 Northridge quake condemmed it. Don actually helped build the home himself. It was immortalized in the Fleetwood Mac song "Sara" (When you build your house, call me....").

November 21, 1980 was not a good day,
The MGM Hotel fire in Las Vegas,
John and Yoko posed nude,
Kristen shot JR on "Dallas"
Don Henleys bust

The Don Henley/ Mulholland story doesnt end here. Henley’s first proactive efforts on behalf of the environment started in 1981 with the establishment of Mulholland Tomorrow, a nonprofit organization dedicated to protecting habitat, open space, and scenic view sheds in the Santa Monica Mountains and foothills near Los Angeles. Mulholland Drive, a 40-plus-mile road that snakes along the crest of the Santa Monica Mountains, was designated as part of America’s first “Scenic Parkway” by Lady Bird Johnson in 1962.

Don Henley and Lady Bird Johnson were instrumental in ending Mulholland as "we knew it". The signs, the fences at the pullouts, ranger patrols were all part of this "Scenic Parkway Plan" change.

Tom Petty performed a benefit concert in 1986 for Mulholland Tomorrow charity. The opening song was "Don't come around here no more".

I have always liked open spaces and nature. In a strange way I appreciate the efforts of preserving Mulholland in its natural state with the exception of construction and congestion.

Chris,
Thank you for posting that teaser - that was great. I would love to join you guys for the drive, but that would be a long trip for me - lol. I have been following this thread since the first post by lfot and have really enjoyed the history lesson. Would it be out of line to ask for a copy of the video? I realize that you probably have a ton of requests and have to draw the line somewhere. Just wondering if it is possible - much appreciated. Enjoy the run.

Good information Jeff. Sounds like you had a good time at that location too. I also think it's a good idea to preserve the natural way Mulholland is or was. However the darn crowding and traffic takes the fun out. It might feel safe to pass one or two cars, but now...crapp, Mulholland is overrun with trespassers, those who just are using it to commute because the freeways are getting "twilight zone" like. It's damm dangerous to pass multiple cars. Here is where the "risk" becomes too great. Late at night is still good. Early mornings is good on the weekends, just watch out for the bicycles.

Speaking of the bicycles on weekends, these guys like to take up the whole friggin street. I take offense to them hogging up Mulholland in groups blocking traffic instead of politely moving over to the right as they should. In the 80's I used to love to play a mischievous trick on these dudes. When I saw them up ahead, I would clutch the motor at high speed to go to idle and be quiet. As I would come up to the group fast I would suddenly lock the brakes hard while hitting my 6 air horns on my Trans Am. Talk about getting a reaction and pulling over to the right fast. When one went down, I would always wave sorry while recieving a middle finger in my direction. I only did this on occasion and only to show them how dangerous Mulholland can be and to stay to the right and not block the road which can be very dangerous for us and them. If any of those cyclists from the 80's are reading this, sorry for the scare.

off subject,, but it's Saturday, anyway.
 

Just remembered that these videos were posted on a Peugeot web sight. First is the TV commercial that my car was used in before I bought it, then is the coverage of the Runoffs in '87.

www.505turbo.com

Tour of Mulholland "West" continued.
Just after Woodcliff which is the great shortcut and getaway spot, is a terrible left hander. Actually it's not so bad going west but going east it invites disaster as a very fast, blind right curve with driveways on the north side of Mulholland. You can see this in the photo. The turn gives the illusion of being fun and safe but if someone is waiting to make a left hand turn into their driveway on the north....you can't see them until you are right on top of them. Watch out for this one.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176586284.jpg

Then comes a bumpy section of Mulholland so called "the Bumps". This is probably due to the pavement being pushed up all the time by underground springs or swelling soils. They keep trying to fix it but it goes bad within a year or two. It's in this uphill section mostly in the eastbound lane.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176586454.jpg

The road snakes around some rocky hills before getting to Roscomare Rd.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176586578.jpg

Here we are at the intersection of Mulholland and Roscomare Rd. This road leads down into Bel Air. It's also a great escape route with lots of tree cover. This is the last major street before we reach the San Diego Freeway. In the old days, just past Roscomare where Mulholland widens slightly was our turnaround point. We would u-turn back the way we came. However, we will continue to our tour to the start of Dirt Mulholland so that everyone can see the entire course to it's asphalt ending point.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176586782.jpg

As we come around this big sweeper we can see the Freeway which is now in parallel with us on the right.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176587129.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176587141.jpg

At the bottom of the straightaway that parallels the Freeway is a right turn onto a big bridge that is Mulholland Drive.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176587262.jpg

After a sweeping uphill curve and straight is Mulholland Place.
This is really a very interesting and little known street. I think they should name a soap opera after it. The title sounds catchy.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176587401.jpg http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1176587415.jpg

Final segment to follow.

Re: off subject,, but it's Saturday, anyway.
 

I have a new found respect for Peugeot's. Cool video and good driving Victor.

One of my buds a long time ago scored a 72' Citroen DS for free. I helped him get the hydraulics in order. We then took our cars up to Mulholland. I parked mine and got in the DS. I had never been in any Citroen before and the whole car just messes with your head. Everything about the DS was unconventional. He takes this thing into a turn at fairly good speed and it leans over like nothing I have ever seen. The amount of body roll is intimidating at first. I thought the car was going to roll over on its side but no tire squeal. He proceeds to run the course at about 45 mph and doesn't let up. I was laughing so hard the whole way.

I guess you cannot judge a book (French car) by its cover.

Re: Re: off subject,, but it's Saturday, anyway.
 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Jeff Hail
the whole car just messes with your head. QUOTE]

My mother theorizes that the reason the French can't think in the same box as everyone else is that they killed all the intellects in the French Revolution and the peasants have been interbreeding ever since.

Go get'em Mom.

Cortez & Pat will remember this one. There was a guy who would show up on Mulholland occasionally who nobody would even try to go after (actually two cars I can think of). "The One Eyed Peugeot". He'd go tearing past the pits while everybody just stood there as the whole event looked just too dangerous. It was a Peugeot 404 and by god he was going fast (for a 404 Peugeot, anyway). The other was "The Raised Corvette" though I did run him down in a '72 Pontiac LeMans Wagon (figured it was a reasonable match). I hate to pop his bubble as I know he still lurks about on the hill. There's an unforgettable character.