Preliminary call to arms....anyone want to drive?

Zeke · 03-11-2005, 03:13 PM

My car is on the ground (again). I am gong thru my final checklist (again). I plan, or intend, to head out early Sun morn and drive the length of Mulholland Dr. from the 405 to PCH. Why? Because I never have in my entire life here in SoCal living mostly not more than 40 miles from the famous hiway.

Anyone want to meet up along the route? Just tell me where you want me to stop in. I have to emphasize the words plan and intend. I have had a real time of getting this car on the road in a reliable and driveable way. I could even say I've had some bad luck, but nothing like the 914 debacle (2 blown motors).

So, with all my good intentions, I'm off to the hills early Sunday morn, probably start at the 405 about 7AM. I am planning another shakedown run tomorrow, so I'll report back on the prospect.

Jack Olsen · 03-11-2005, 03:40 PM

Argh. Any weekend but this one! This is historic, but I've got a deadline that'll have me in this chair all the way through Monday night.

I don't know if you can take Mulholland from the 405 all the way west. Hopefully, someone else who knows better will confirm this, but I think it turns into a dirt road, or stops before it picks up again? I remember trying it once, and having to turn back. But maybe that was a temporary closure.

scottb · 03:52 PM

I think Jack's right. You can pick-up Mulholland fairly far east (toward the Hollywood Hills), but I think it turns into dirt near Reseda Blvd., IIRC. Milt, you might have more fun going down PCH to Kanan, and then doing a reverse of the route we took last weekend. Here's the route Jack posted for last week's run. It starts in the Valley, and then heads over the hill to Malibu.

Print this route:

Mulholland Hwy south to Stunt Rd.

Left onto Stunt Rd, to where it ends at Schueren Rd (aka Saddle Peak).

Right on Schueren Rd to Piuma Rd.

Right on Piuma Rd to Las Virgenes (aka Malibu Cyn).

Right on Las Virgenes to Mulholland Hwy.

Left on Mulholland Hwy to Kanan Rd.

Then, depending on the road being opened or closed, either:

Closed Road: Right on Kanan Rd. all the way to Agoura Hills mini-mall.

Open Road: Continue on Mulholland Hwy all the way to Pacific Coast Hwy.

Right on Pacific Coast Hwy to Yerba Buena Rd. (Neptune's Net)

Legal Stuff: This is not an officially-organized drive or activity, and Pelican Parts (or Jack Olsen, or anyone else) is not sanctioning it or organizing it. We are all simply driving to lunch, and the directions are provided for out-of-towners who might need the route.

Congrats on getting that baby running. Your perseverence is admirable!

Zeke · 04:02 PM

No wonder I've never driven it.

You're right. I was thinking of the other direction towards the 101.

OK, I'll take Sunset to Topanga Cyn and up to Mulholland.

EDIT: I could start in Malibu. Doesn't matter to me. I just wanna get some drive in and then get back down south to the getto before the traffic gets too nasty. My car is no fun crawling along in 1st and 2nd gear. BTDT.

I usually go to the Mt Baldy area, but EVERY road is closed last I checked.

scottb · 03-11-2005, 04:06 PM

Milt: Topanga is still closed, I think, to anything but local traffic. I'm pretty sure Malibu and Kanan are open.

Zeke · 03-11-2005, 04:11 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke

OK, I'll take Sunset to Topanga Cyn and up to Mulholland.

I guess I have to get all the way to PCH to even do that. Screw it, I'll print the instructions.

You see how much trouble I have? I can't even plan a drive! Before, I've just shown up where they tell me to and followed.

Jack Olsen · 03-11-2005, 04:21 PM

Yeah, you could either take the 405 to the 101, all the way north (and east) to the Topanga exit, and then follow the canyon route to the PCH, at which point you could take PCH back to Kanan, and Kanan across the hills and back to the 101 -- or PCH all the way to the 10, and the the 10 to the 405.

Or, take the 405 north to Sunset, and then take that all the way to the ocean. Then take the PCH north all the way through Malibu, all the way to Decker, and then Decker up to Mulholland, and follow the route backwards, all the way back to Topanga and the 101.

porcupine911 · porcupine911's Garage

i'll be up there starting at the valley circle/mulholland dr 101 exit around 7. i always head up stunt road to take in the scenery first. then i head back down to mulholland via schueren/piuma/las virgenes. i then head west on mulholland either to it's terminus at pch or i veer off onto little sycamore/yerba buena if i'm feeling frisky.

Zeke · 03-11-2005, 05:58 PM

Well, so far we have two guys up in the area about 7AM. I have no idea what you are refering to, Chris.

It's a shame that I have spent all these years and not explored the Santa Monicas. I have been up and down this state and to almost every corner. But, CA ain't MA or RI. You could travel a lifetime and never leave CA and maybe not see everything. What I have seen, from San Diego to Eureaka on the coast side, Needles to Lake Tahoe on the mountain side, with a lot of criss crossing in between has yielded some great drives. I started out solo at 17 in a '57 Corvette and went over the Gorman pass and down the Grapevine to Bakersfield to see my grandmother. I have been on the road whenever I could since.

Some of my favorite drive to areas are out by the Paradise Mountains on I-40 or the old Route 66. But I have never been all the way down freaking Mulholland. I've never seen the Rock Store. The time has come.
This ol' Ragamuffin better not let me down.

Jim Garfield · 03-11-2005, 06:13 PM

Good luck and God speed Milt, you deserve a break. Otoh it could be worse, you could be in RI shoveling snow tomorrow.

Zeke · 03-11-2005, 06:45 PM

I should have mentioned that one could probably travel in RI for a lifetime and not see all the history.

Sorry about the snow. I have been in shorts and a tee shirt for 3 days while working in the shade.

84porsche · 84porsche's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by Zeke
I usually go to the Mt Baldy area, but EVERY road is closed last I checked.

You know Milt, it has been almost 9 months since we did the Mt. Baldy/GMR/GRR run. I think its time to schedule one. We need to keep an eye on the roads to see when they all open up.

campbellcj · 03-11-2005, 08:44 PM

Milt -

Very glad to hear you are ready to rock the canyons! The roads are in pretty poor condition, relatively speaking, but are passable and safe for the most part. I have taken various alternate routes to work the past few weeks and other than a bit of messy water and dust, no big deal.

I may be able to tag along in the 914 for a while (if I can get it running better) or worst-case in the Audi. I live between Malibu Cyn/Las Virgenes and Kanan. PM me if you may want to meet up and/or want a "just in case" phone number.

porcupine911 · porcupine911's Garage

any probs on the shakedown run, milt?

Zeke · 03-12-2005, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by porcupine911
any probs on the shakedown run, milt?

Just got back. I'm good.

Quote:

Originally posted by 84porsche You know Milt, it has been almost 9 months since we did the Mt. Baldy/GMR/GRR run. I think its time to schedule one. We need to keep an eye on the roads to see when they all open up.

Yeah, I know. I parked the car the next day. But, lots of rust repair, new longs. new front suspension pan, Polybronze bushings, 21/26 t-bars, Koni Sports and 19mm swaybars later, not to mention new seats from GT, I'm on the road.

Zeke · 03-12-2005, 09:21 PM

Starting out at PCH and Mulholland by 7:30 at the latest. I will go all the way to Stunt and review my options for more driving or a way down to PCH such as Las Flores.

See anyone who is out there tomorrow.

porcupine911 · porcupine911's Garage

i'll be heading the opposite direction. honk for porcupines!

grudk · 03-13-2005, 05:48 AM

I'd like to join you guys sometime. Mine is in the shop (TRE) now getting Recaros and some tweaks.

Mulholland turns to dirt about a mile West of the 405. You can make it through in a 4x4 (and I know a guy who did it at speed in a Rally car years ago), but not a Porsche.

Alternate route sound nice, though. I love Kanan/Decker on my bike. Have fun!

porcupine911 · porcupine911's Garage

i had fun this morning. the roads were mostly clear with a few dirty patches. nice running into zeke, too.

the p.o. put the crappiest tires on my car... "aquaflows" or something like that... i kept them on because i could have fun sliding around at sane speeds. for a "rain" tire, it was amazing how absolutely horrible the wet grip was. anyway, one of them finally gave up on me...

i haven't taken a close look, but i think i actually just broke the bead.

at least i can finally get some real tires.

Zeke · 03-13-2005, 04:29 PM

Wow, that's too bad. I saw you heading back the other way while stopped at the Rock Store. I don't know where you pulled over, but I'd say I came your way on Mulholland within 45 minutes. I guess you had all of your emergency equipment, because I and the others I ended up running with did not see you stopped.

You may have very well taken another road. All the same, sorry you had trouble. You mentioned to me that the tires sucked. At least you can realize some benefit to your mishap.

BTW, the comment from the group standing around at the RS was, "That one sounds sweet." It did.