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Lodging Planner for Lake Tahoe Weekend Run - May 18 - 19, 2024

Saturday and Sunday overnight run to South Lake Tahoe. Enjoy the backroads, less traveled, and even more scenic than your usual run up the f...

Pacific Coast Run January 24, 2021 - DATE CHANGED TO February 20, 2021

This is a PAID Member Event Only! 

Note To All Members: Run is dependent on the COVID restrictions in those counties on the day of the run. 

Your hosts for the event:
Gordon & Alison Lee

Meet Up Location #1
Parking lot across from the Beach Chalet Restaurant in San Francisco - Ocean Beach

From Marin/ San Francisco:  Meetup #1
Proceed South on Park Presidio, turn right at Fulton; heading West toward the ocean.  Drive past the Safeway on La Playa Street.  Stay on the right lane on Fulton, turn left from the right lane onto Great Highway and pull into the second entrance of the parking lot, which is across from the Beach Chalet Restaurant.

Beach Chalet Restaurant
1000 Great Highway
San Francisco, CA 94121

Meet Up Time #1/Departure Time #1
8:30am/ 9:15am

Meet Up Location #2
Safeway on Gellert Blvd. in South San Francisco. Please park behind the Safeway delivery trucks on the far right of the store by the stop sign.

From East/South Bay:  Meetup #2
Proceed 280 North and exit 44 for Avalon Drive toward Westborough Blvd.  Continue onto E. Junipero Serra Blvd.  Use the left 2 lanes to turn left onto Westborough Blvd.  Turn right onto Gellert Blvd., Turn right to Marbella Drive.  Proceed past the Safeway delivery trucks and park.

Safeway
2255 Gellert Blvd.
South San Francisco, CA 94080

Meet Up Time #2/Departure Time #2
9:30am/ 10:30am

Run Details
Let’s gather to join in on the fun driving to see the sights from a MINI perspective. We shall start from the Great Highway Parking lot in San Francisco and proceed to the 2nd meeting point at Safeway in South San Francisco. Travel on Highway 1 to see the coast line and Pacifica State Beach, Montara State Beach, and Moss Beach.

We will be driving through Daly City, Pacifica, Moss Beach, and Woodside. We will not be stopping for pictures at these locations. No lunch planned so you are on your own after the run. Plenty of great choices in Woodside to eat if you wish.


We will also be collecting money for two very special organizations.

Valley Humane Society and Hope Hospice of Pleasanton

The club will match the money raised the day of this run. Bring CASH as Simon will be collecting. 
Let's open our hearts and most of all our wallets and let's donate to these wonderful organizations. They both do amazing work. 

In addition check out both of their websites to see the amazing work they do.. and for those not attending the run you can donate from their web pages.







Additional Run Details:
The driver's meeting will be happening over the radio; please bring your radio, have them turned on and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 before you arrive at the start. When you arrive at the starting point, *please remain in your cars*

Route: https://goo.gl/maps/hUnx5C9A3dnPNu3j6

Please note that the hosts for this event will NOT be distributing printed hard copies of the route. If you wish to use one please print one yourselves before attending.

You must RSVP via MotorSportReg:

Social distancing and facemasks are required.
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will NOT be provided by the club
  • Registration is by MSR ONLY.
  • Bathrooms are not guaranteed.
  • No lunch is being arranged.
  • No radios will be lent out.

Please review our new NORCAL MINIS - COVID-19 GENERAL EVENT POLICY AND GUIDELINES

NorCal MINIs is committed to providing events that place participant safety as the number one priority. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, every attempt will be made to minimize risk of exposure to the virus. Therefore, the club is following new processes and procedures for events going forward.

NORCAL MINIS EVENTS WILL:
  • Be for paid members ONLY at this time
  • Not offer day passes whilst under restrictions
  • Follow state and local guidelines in relation to COVID-19
  • Require all participants to wear masks, for not only their own safety but for the safety of everyone on-site when not in your own car
  • Ask participants to stay at home if they are at higher risk for severe illness, or if they are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath
  • Conduct drivers meeting in open air with face masks with social distancing and might be conducted via our radios on channel 7/21, if need be for everyone to hear
EVENT PROTOCOLS:

The following guidelines are our best attempt to secure your safety given what is known at this time. They are by no means comprehensive, and we cannot predict every circumstance. Therefore, we are counting on you to exercise your best judgment throughout the event. Please have an awareness and understanding of the following COVID-19 safety protocols:
  • NorCal MINIS asks that anyone who is at higher risk for severe illness, feeling unwell, or who has been in contact with anyone that is sick in the last two weeks to STAY HOME
  • ALL participants are required to wear cloth face coverings or masks when outside their car
  • NorCal MINIs will encourage everyone to wash hands regularly (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds), especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • NorCal Minis will NOT share Club Radios during this time; we suggest purchasing your own radios and can provide you with recommendations on compatible makes/models
  • Physical contact is discouraged. Please refrain from shaking hands, high-fives and hugs, except with family or those you have been quarantined with
  • Participants are required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. NorCal MINIs will NOT have any PPE items available
  • Participants will be required to Sign Waivers Electronically
  • Be cautious when sharing/posting event photos. Even photos of groups maintaining proper social distancing can be mistaken for an inappropriate gathering.
  • If necessary, remind each other gently and respectfully to observe these guidelines

Anyone who continually or willfully violates these guidelines will be asked to leave by a club officer or director.

POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS:

  • Any participant that falls ill within 2 weeks after the event MUST contact NorCal MINIs and share a description of their symptoms, related test results and movements during the event
  • NorCal MINIs will make every effort to alert affected participants privately of the situation

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to assess the risk to you and make a responsible decision on whether or not to participate. You assume all risks and agree the Club holds no liability if you or anyone in your party should develop any Covid-19 symptoms afterwards by attending a NorCal MINIs event. Participants are required to follow these guidelines; any participant may be asked to leave the event for non-compliance.


Join Today! Create your MotorSportReg Account to become a PAID Club Member, use the link below:
NorCal MINIs Membership

Instructions for joining MotorSportReg and joining NorCal MINIs can be found in the following document:  Instructions




The Giving Season!

During a recent run we collected donations for Hope Hospice of Pleasanton. The club added to an amazing grand total of $1700.00 to a wonderful organization. In addition some of the money was used to purchase 20 robotic cats as you can see in the picture along with our President Simon Tildesley and his wife Nikki. The cats are to be used for dementia patients via Hope. The aim is to decrease social isolation during Covid-19 when Hope's volunteers and pet therapists are able to visit in person.Studies show robotic pets lower levels of depression and agitation. They help and comfort these patients. They can also reduce the need for medications. 

Check out their website for more information.



Central Valley Backroads Run Recap November 15, 2020




Central Valley Run Recap - November 15, 2020
Your Hosts: Dolores and Rick Sanchez

Manteca was very foggy on this Sunday morning. The Tule fog was in full force. Dolores and I arrived at the Wendy’s Parking Lot around 8:50 am. Lou Smaldino and his daughter, Gina, were the first ones there. They came all the way from Vacaville! We had the members park behind the adjacent Valero Gas Station which was more convenient for when it came time to leave the parking lot. (It also turned out to be convenient for those that needed a bio break prior to our departure.) While we waited for more drivers to arrive, the fog slowly started to burn off.

As Dolores checked in members, I had the opportunity to talk to Yvette Welch. She shared about her bad luck getting her blue Mini dinged by others on various occasions. I also chatted with Khalil Mariani as he worked on getting his GoPro installed on his antenna bracket. Slowly one, by one our members started to trickle into the parking lot. Larry Anderson, Gary Chin, Ed Gauci and Randy Sanchez (no relation) arrived around 9 am. Mary Wolgamot, Sondra Westphal and Greg Seeno rounded out the members that joined us for this event.

We had our drivers meeting at 9:45 am as planned. By this time the fog was completely gone and we had a nice clear sunny day to start our run.

We left the parking lot around 10 am. Because we were a small group of 11 cars, we were able to pretty much stay together. Larry was kind enough to volunteer to be the caboose for this run. As we headed north on Jack Tone Road for 14 miles, there were about 5 stop signs along the way, which kept our speeds at the speed limit. We did regroup before we made our right turn onto Highway 26 to Linden. Once we arrived at Clements Road, which was a 10-mile stretch going northbound, we informed the group that we would pick up the pace as there were NO STOP SIGNS on this road (weee!)

We regrouped again at the end of Clements Road to allow the rest of the group to catch up. We eventually made our way into a T-intersection in downtown Ione. After a quick drive through town, we were back on the Highway 124N. Again, we had an 8 mile stretch of no stop signs and we picked up the pace until we arrived at the Highway 16E/Highway 49N intersection.

This 14 mile stretch of Highway 49 took us into the town of Plymouth. After we reached a roundabout in town, we eventually hit a stretch of road with some twisties. We did see a CHP on the side of the road, but he did not follow us.

From Highway 49 we made a right turn onto Pleasant Valley Road (Highway 49). We drove through the historic town of Diamond Springs which was rich with gold back in the day. A 25 lb. gold nugget was found in this area back during the gold rush years.


Upon making a left turn to continue onto Highway 49 N, we drove for another 3 miles before reaching Main Street in downtown Placerville. The run took us around 2 hours with our multiple regroups, but it was a nice scenic run. The weather couldn’t have been better.

We hope that everyone had a nice time and were able to enjoy visiting Placerville or the apple farms in Apple Hill.

Rick and Dolores Sanchez


Pumpkin Farm Halloween Run Recap October 25, 2020

      


Pumpkin Farm Halloween Run Oct 25th

Sunday morning turned out to be a cooler morning than what we had been having of late – but it did not put anyone off supporting this run. Due to the sheer number of cars and people attending, we had to not only split into two driving groups, but also had to change the meeting point. The original meet of McDonalds in Dublin was not going to accommodate such a large group.
        



Our new meet point, the parking lot of Buffalo Wild Wings in Dublin proved to be the perfect spot. Plenty of room for social distancing and ease of parking our beloved Mini’s. I got to there nice and early to set up the club flag so that people could easily see where were located. Shortly afterwards the club members started to roll in – all watched by a friendly cop who was taking his break in the same parking lot.

This run was the biggest we have had in a long long time – 37 MINI’s of all shapes and generations. We had everything from a Gen 1 R53’s all the way through to the latest Gen 3’s. We even had our first club member to bring along a new Electric MINI. This is the first time a non-gas MINI has supported a NorCal event. It did create quite a lot of interest at the start with the owner being kind to open the hood and lift the cover to show the electric powertrain.

After about 30 mins of checking everyone in and viewing some of the newer members cars, we were ready to set off. I lead the first group of 19 cars and then about 3 minutes later – Larry kindly lead the second group of cars. All the drivers were warned to leave the parking lot in a respectful manner so that our friendly cop was not going to react and pull people over.

Once onto Tassajara Rd – the two groups of MINI’s managed to regroup as one to form a MEGA MINI caravan for a period. I am sure the locals of Dublin wondered what was going on. Once out of Dublin and into the country – the pace was kept quite steady and the two groups managed to stay pretty much together for much of the first part of the run. As we approached Vasco Road in Livermore – we did get a little split up.

We made a left turn on the Old Altamont Pass Road where the groups managed to get themselves together again. We continued a very pleasant drive through the country ending up a Patterson Pass Road. This is where those who wanted a little more fun could have it. The road is perfect for opening up the MINI’s engine (or electric motor) and has some great twisting turns – a little like being on a bobsled run. After a short stop to regroup we continued at a more leisurely place again taking in some of the back roads of the Livermore wine valley before making it to our final destination of Joan’s Pumpkin Patch.



Not all of the group decided to visit the patch – but those who did enjoyed it and some took home some nice pumpkins with them.

May thanks go to Anita and Christoph for helping control such a large group – but especially Larry for taking on the second group.

Simon & Nikki Tildesley







Gordon & Alison Lee - Member Profile




We had learned about the new MINI in 2003 at the San Francisco International Auto Show. At that time, I was working as a consultant at eBay in San Jose and we were looking for a new vehicle. I was admiring the Honda Element and the Acura RSX. And my wife visited the Audi group and looked at the TT roadster. We sat at a table wondering what this unique vehicle would become. We decided to split up and explore the show separately. My wife said, “I found our new car”.

She brought me to the MINI display and the new 2004 MINI cooper was displayed in 4 colors; Chili red, Liquid yellow, Indigo blue, and British racing green. At first thought, I laughed at it and I expressed that it was way too small. She was so fond of it, she said “it’s so cute.”

At the movies, we had seen the Italian Job remake at the theatre. I told my wife, “see the blue one, that’s what our car is going to look like.”



We had visited an Acura dealership and they offered the RSX fully loaded with a Bose sound system and white leather seats. Reluctantly, I test drove the new MINI at MINI of San Francisco and we had a fun ride around the city. At the time, MINISF wanted a hefty markup of 4 to 5 hundred. I wanted to visit other MINI dealerships to feel out the customer service.

We had observed that most mini owners had bought their cars from East Bay MINI. We drove our 2000 Honda Prelude and we were warmly greeted by Eddie D. We discovered that EB MINI was not charging a markup at the time. We liked the customer experience, so we decided to order a custom built mini with all the options on a 2004 R50 cvt. There were three factors that turned me on in getting the MINI; custom build, state of the art technology, and a chance to belong to a MINI car club. He referred us to contact Norcal minis based in the East Bay. There was a waiting list of 6 months for delivery. Since there were some cancellations, it only took 4 months.

In 2008, we were looking for a bigger car to drive our parents around town and for utility purposes. I had first learned about the new Clubman on motoring file. I thought it was unique to have a suicide door and barn doors. One of the Norcal Mini members had just bought a 2009 silver Clubman and he drove it as a utility vehicle. It sparked my interest even more. We ordered a custom built MINI on the web and we waited about 4 months. I used the clubman for work to set up store displays and Costco shopping. It was quite a challenge to drive a large car like this and then the next day, drive a small R58.



In 2011, Motoring File had just introduced a two-seater coupe (R58) and it was stated that it would be the most aerodynamic mini ever built. When this car was released; MINI-USA changed the naming convention for the two-door coupe to a two-door hardtop and the new two-seater hardtop would become the coupe. To this day, I’ve noticed a lot of people on the road realizing they bought the wrong car and attempted to surf the internet to locate this car on the web. The sport suspension is so tight that I found this car ideal at Thunder Hill raceway.




One year in 2013, the new F56 was being introduced. I was invited to attend a sales event at Mini of San Francisco. Reluctant to attend, I wanted to compare the new changes with the “R” series. There was a mechanic introducing the new F56 and I got to learn about new advances like the micro-hybrid feature; engine stop and start. New i-drive navigation system, Harmon Kardon sound system with DSP; digital sound processor. JCW brakes with 4 pins vs. 2 pins for R series, Dual turbo vs. Twin Scroll, and corner lights for safety in turning. I could not sleep that evening when I thought about the possibilities. I received another invitation with Mini of Concord to test drive the car. I was amazed with the handling, even though the car is longer just under a foot. They tried to sell me a car. I was only interested in laser blue and a special-order configuration. They suggested to vinyl wrap the whole car, and it would only cost $3500. Finally, we researched the car deeply in almost every article on Motoring File and we had made an appointment with Mini of San Francisco for a deposit.


In 2018, I had serviced my R58 for an inspection to take my car on the track. I asked the porter, “what new cars have you got for a loaner?” “We have a black convertible base F57 named “Monica.” Turns out, my car wasn’t going to be ready until Monday. We drove Monica almost everywhere; freeway, highway, backroads. At the end, my wife looks at me in the eye and says, “let’s lease a new F57 convertible.” We built the car online and met with the motoring advisor to place a deposit down. We wanted it to be sporty without the “S”, not sticky on pleather seats, and comfy for potholes in SF with 16” rims. We chose not to attract too much attention. We wanted a car that looked basic, yet surprise onlookers with the dashboard. In essence, this is a car my wife prefers over the other two “S” cars; F56 and R58. Surprisingly, I had a couple of muscle cars, Chargers, and Ferraris desiring to race this adorable little car.

Gordon & Alison Lee

Motor On!!






































Central Valley Backroads Run Sunday November 15, 2020



This is a PAID member run only!

Your hosts for the event:
Dolores and Rick Sanchez

Meet Up Location:
Wendy’s
1630 E Yosemite Ave
Manteca, CA 95336

Meet Up Time/Departure Time:
9:00am/9:45am

Run Details:
Join us for a backroads drive through San Joaquin, Amador and El Dorado counties. This run will take you through some of the farm and dairyland of central/northern California. . We will drive through the towns of Ione, Plymouth and Diamond Springs. There will be long straightaways and some twisties on Highway 49 after the town of Plymouth.





We will begin at Wendy’s parking lot off Highway 120 in Manteca.

We will end our drive in Placerville, a quaint "gold rush" town in El Dorado county. There you can enjoy lunch (there is NO planned organized lunch. You are on your own) or stroll through the many shops on Main street/Broadway. Please be sure to be gassed up and ready to go. 

Check out the link below for more information about El Dorado County and things to see and do.



Because this is a back road run bio-break locations will not occur, so use either one of the gas stations Valero/Arco/Shell in Manteca.



Additional Run Details:
The driver's meeting will be happening over the radio; please bring your radio, have them turned on and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 before you arrive at the start. When you arrive at the starting point, *please remain in your cars*

Route: https://goo.gl/maps/fQHwzQu3QXkfv8Lt5

Please note that the hosts for this event will NOT be distributing printed hard copies of the route. If you wish to use one please print one yourselves before attending.

You must RSVP via MotorSportReg:
www.motorsportreg.com/events/central-valley-backroads-run-norcal-minis-847259

  • Social distancing and facemasks are required.
  • PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will NOT be provided by the club
  • Registration is by MSR ONLY.
  • Bathrooms are not guaranteed.
  • No lunch is being arranged.
  • No radios will be lent out.

Read more »

George Hamma - Member Profile




My experience has been in rallying, starting in 1967 when I won the first time-and-distance rally I entered. Over the years I rallied in my BMW 1602 and, occasionally, in a 1st generation MINI. The faster, more challenging events on back dirt roads became the preferred events, making weekend trips to Portland and Seattle to find competition.

We were enthused about how well we did, leading up to competing in WRC competition. As a small team we ran the Trans Canada event and Press On Regardless in Michigan. It became clear that we'd never beat the factory teams (we were lacking the semi machine shop), and we dropped out of that competition. I remembered the fun I had in the MINI, however, and got an '11 R60 Countryman (with skid plate and mods). We love doing it in the dirt.

We've participated in three Mini Takes The States events, including All The Way in 2016 and 2018. More recent events have been more social with NorCal MINIs. Janet and I enjoy the social pleasure of the NorCal events.

George and Janet Hamma

Pumpkin Farm Halloween Run Sunday October 25, 2020

 



This is a PAID member run only!

Your hosts for the event:
Simon & Nikki Tildesley

Meet Up Location
Parking lot McDonalds, 6800 Santa Rita Rd, Pleasanton, 94588
Santa Rita Road Exit of I-580

Meet Up Time/Departure Time
10:00am/10:30am

Run Details
As we get closer to Halloween - join us to drive to a pumpkin patch farm. We will meet in Pleasanton at the McDonalds on Santa Rote Road located just off Interstate 580. We will drive north towards Tassajara and then head through the hills east towards the back end of Livermore coming out on Vasco Road. Taking a short drive through the Altamont district we will hit Altamont Pass Road and drive towards Mountain House. From there we will head south towards Patterson Pass Rd where we will get some great twisties to enjoy in our cars. Our final destination will be Joan's Farm and Pumpkin patch. If you want to shop for pumpkins - then you are free to do this here.

To see what the farm has to offer this year please follow the link. Note: The Pumpkin Patch is cash or check only.

Also, their snack shop will be open and they have food such as nachos, hot dogs, pumpkin pie and sodas etc.

http://www.joansfarm.com/



Additional Run Details

The driver's meeting will be happening over the radio; please bring your radio, have them turned on and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 before you arrive at the start. When you arrive at the starting point, *please remain in your cars*

Route: https://goo.gl/maps/jAetQhbNyf1dSugp7


You must RSVP via MotorSportReg:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/pumpkin-farm-halloween-run-norcal-minis-845746    

Social distancing and facemasks are required.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will NOT be provided by the club
Registration is by MSR ONLY.
Bathrooms are not guaranteed.
No lunch is being arranged.
No radios will be lent out.

Please review our new NORCAL MINIS - COVID-19 GENERAL EVENT POLICY AND GUIDELINES

NorCal MINIs is committed to providing events that place participant safety as the number one priority. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, every attempt will be made to minimize risk of exposure to the virus. Therefore, the club is following new processes and procedures for events going forward.

NORCAL MINIS EVENTS WILL:
  • Be for paid members ONLY at this time
  • Not offer day passes whilst under restrictions
  • Follow state and local guidelines in relation to COVID-19
  • Require all participants to wear masks, for not only their own safety but for the safety of everyone on-site when not in your own car
  • Ask participants to stay at home if they are at higher risk for severe illness, or if they are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath
  • Conduct drivers meeting in open air with face masks with social distancing and might be conducted via our radios on channel 7/21, if need be for everyone to hear
EVENT PROTOCOLS:

The following guidelines are our best attempt to secure your safety given what is known at this time. They are by no means comprehensive, and we cannot predict every circumstance. Therefore, we are counting on you to exercise your best judgment throughout the event. Please have an awareness and understanding of the following COVID-19 safety protocols:
  • NorCal MINIS asks that anyone who is at higher risk for severe illness, feeling unwell, or who has been in contact with anyone that is sick in the last two weeks to STAY HOME
  • ALL participants are required to wear cloth face coverings or masks when outside their car
  • NorCal MINIs will encourage everyone to wash hands regularly (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds), especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • NorCal Minis will NOT share Club Radios during this time; we suggest purchasing your own radios and can provide you with recommendations on compatible makes/models
  • Physical contact is discouraged. Please refrain from shaking hands, high-fives and hugs, except with family or those you have been quarantined with
  • Participants are required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. NorCal MINIs will NOT have any PPE items available
  • Participants will be required to Sign Waivers Electronically
  • Be cautious when sharing/posting event photos. Even photos of groups maintaining proper social distancing can be mistaken for an inappropriate gathering.
  • If necessary, remind each other gently and respectfully to observe these guidelines

Anyone who continually or willfully violates these guidelines will be asked to leave by a club officer or director.

POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS:

  • Any participant that falls ill within 2 weeks after the event MUST contact NorCal MINIs and share a description of their symptoms, related test results and movements during the event
  • NorCal MINIs will make every effort to alert affected participants privately of the situation

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to assess the risk to you and make a responsible decision on whether or not to participate. You assume all risks and agree the Club holds no liability if you or anyone in your party should develop any Covid-19 symptoms afterwards by attending a NorCal MINIs event. Participants are required to follow these guidelines; any participant may be asked to leave the event for non-compliance.


Join Today! Create your MotorSportReg Account to become a PAID Club Member, use the link below:
NorCal MINIs Membership

Instructions for joining MotorSportReg and joining NorCal MINIs can be found in the following document:  Instructions



East Bay Backroads Run (Redwood Rd. / San Pablo Dam) - September 19, 2020



This is a PAID member run only!

NOTE: This event is also a fundraiser for Hope Hospice. We usually have the fundraiser in May but that run was cancelled. So for every DOLLAR donated on the day of this event our club will MATCH up to $500. 
Check out the link below to see more about Hope Hospice.

Your Host For The Event:
Larry Anderson

Meet Up Location:
Castro Valley BART Station (3301 Norbridge Drive, Castro Valley, CA 94546)

Meeting Time/Departure Time
9:30am/10:00am

Run Details
Join us for a quick trip through some of the East Bay's hidden back roads. We'll be meeting up in Castro Valley, heading north on Redwood Road and cruising through the hills along Redwood Road and Skyline Boulevard. 

We'll then head up Grizzly Peak Boulevard for some killer views of the San Francisco Bay, then head down Wildcat Canyon Road. to San Pablo Dam Road. to finish things out.

Additional Run Details
The driver's meeting will be happening over the radio; please bring your radio, have them turned on and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 before you arrive at the start. When you arrive at the starting point, *please remain in your cars*

Make a pit stop before the meetup. We do not have any rest breaks planned, nor will there be anywhere along the route suitable for pulling over, so plan ahead.

We'd classify this run as "advanced". There *will* be twisty roads along most of the route (the views of the Bay from Skyline and Grizzly Peak make it worth it). The lead car will be keeping a safe pace throughout.

Bay area backroads can be rough. There are no major hazards that would take out a car, but some of the hill sections are definitely bumpier than others.

The area on Skyline near the Chabot Science Center has a few popular parks; expect a lot of parked cars and bike traffic, so we'll be taking it easy through here.

A couple sections of Skyline Boulevard and Grizzly Peak Boulevard are residential-ish, so we will be taking it slow through these areas.

Though the final stop on the route is listed as the Safeway in Orinda, *we will not be pulling in there as a group*. This is a good waypoint to end the route, from where you'll be very close to either Eastbound or Westbound Highway 24 to head home.

Route:

You must RSVP via MotorSportReg:

Social distancing and facemasks are required.
PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) will NOT be provided by the club
Registration is by MSR ONLY.
Bathrooms are not guaranteed.
No lunch is being arranged.
No radios will be lent out.





Please review our new NORCAL MINIS - COVID-19 GENERAL EVENT POLICY AND GUIDELINES

NorCal MINIs is committed to providing events that place participant safety as the number one priority. In light of the current COVID-19 situation, every attempt will be made to minimize risk of exposure to the virus. Therefore, the club is following new processes and procedures for events going forward.

NORCAL MINIS EVENTS WILL:
  • Be for paid members ONLY at this time
  • Not offer day passes whilst under restrictions
  • Follow state and local guidelines in relation to COVID-19
  • Require all participants to wear masks, for not only their own safety but for the safety of everyone on-site when not in your own car
  • Ask participants to stay at home if they are at higher risk for severe illness, or if they are sick or experiencing COVID-19 symptoms such as fever, cough or shortness of breath
  • Conduct drivers meeting in open air with face masks with social distancing and might be conducted via our radios on channel 7/21, if need be for everyone to hear
EVENT PROTOCOLS:

The following guidelines are our best attempt to secure your safety given what is known at this time. They are by no means comprehensive, and we cannot predict every circumstance. Therefore, we are counting on you to exercise your best judgment throughout the event. Please have an awareness and understanding of the following COVID-19 safety protocols:
  • NorCal MINIS asks that anyone who is at higher risk for severe illness, feeling unwell, or who has been in contact with anyone that is sick in the last two weeks to STAY HOME
  • ALL participants are required to wear cloth face coverings or masks when outside their car
  • NorCal MINIs will encourage everyone to wash hands regularly (with soap and water for at least 20 seconds), especially after using the restroom, before eating, and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing
  • NorCal Minis will NOT share Club Radios during this time; we suggest purchasing your own radios and can provide you with recommendations on compatible makes/models
  • Physical contact is discouraged. Please refrain from shaking hands, high-fives and hugs, except with family or those you have been quarantined with
  • Participants are required to bring their own personal protective equipment (PPE), including masks, hand sanitizer and disinfectant. NorCal MINIs will NOT have any PPE items available
  • Participants will be required to Sign Waivers Electronically
  • Be cautious when sharing/posting event photos. Even photos of groups maintaining proper social distancing can be mistaken for an inappropriate gathering.
  • If necessary, remind each other gently and respectfully to observe these guidelines

Anyone who continually or willfully violates these guidelines will be asked to leave by a club officer or director.

POST-EVENT PROTOCOLS:

  • Any participant that falls ill within 2 weeks after the event MUST contact NorCal MINIs and share a description of their symptoms, related test results and movements during the event
  • NorCal MINIs will make every effort to alert affected participants privately of the situation

Ultimately, it is your responsibility to assess the risk to you and make a responsible decision on whether or not to participate. You assume all risks and agree the Club holds no liability if you or anyone in your party should develop any Covid-19 symptoms afterwards by attending a NorCal MINIs event. Participants are required to follow these guidelines; any participant may be asked to leave the event for non-compliance.


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Instructions for joining MotorSportReg and joining NorCal MINIs can be found in the following document:  Instructions









July 2020 Almaden Valley Run Recap



Your Hosts for the Run:

Dave and Anne Sitter

Our July run was originally scheduled to be a drive to the beautiful Gold Country in the California hills. But, as with everything “COVID19” in 2020, that idea had to be modified because of regulations ensuring the health and safety of our members and the community. We changed the run to a local run from Hollister up through the backroads of Almaden and New Almaden ending in San Jose for lunch options.


We met at the Target in Hollister and headed out to Highway 101 North where we went through back neighborhoods through Gilroy until we hopped onto the official “run” backroads. We had 23 cars and about 40 people. We drove about 40 miles on the backroads through Gilroy, Morgan Hill and on into the beautiful Almaden Valley via Watsonville Road, Uvas Road and McKean. 



We were able to stop briefly for a photo op and a break out of our cars before heading down to the backroads of historic New Almaden, a small mining community from the 1800’s.

On our way into New Almaden we were greeted by the most adorable kids who were holding up their handmade “We Love Minis” signs. In a group thank you they were greeted with the warmest honks and waves as we drove by! 


We drove through New Almaden and then out, continuing past Guadalupe Reservoir and past Mt. Umunhum where we dropped down into the backroads between Almaden Valley and Los Gatos.

We came out on surface streets and headed to the Bass Pro Shops parking lot to end the run and allow people to grab something to eat if they desired.

We wanted to throw a special shout out to Directors, Gordon and Alison Lee. It was Gordon’s birthday on Saturday, a fact we found out post run so, a belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY to Gordon on behalf of his NorCal Mini family and a warm thank you to Alison who so generously sews and gives out awesome masks for everyone who wants one.

On behalf of the NorCal Minis Officers and Directors, thanks to everyone who attended and we are looking forward to seeing you all on the road on another run really soon!

Anne and Dave Sitter

Check out the link below for more pictures from the beautiful day!





June 2020 Calaveras Road Run Recap



Your Hosts For The Event - Nikki and Simon Tildesley

It has been some time since we were last able to do a blog post for the club due to the Shelter in Place requirements from the Coronavirus. However, with the slow a gradual opening up of the State – the club was finally in a position to hold an event after 14 weeks absence of MINI driving.




It was a beautiful sunny Saturday morning for the run and the meeting point had been arranged to enable those attending to observe social distancing. Our meet point was the parking lot opposite the old train station in Sunol. Shortly after arriving and setting up the club flag – the first of the MINI’s started to appear. Everyone turning up was super excited to be back on the road again and out with his or her MINI friends. My thanks go to all of those who attended and observed the club requirement to use face masks.



During the drivers meeting – I introduced a few new members to the club – one who had signed up specifically for this event. After the drivers meeting – with social distancing – we jumped in our cars and headed out. Some of the locals from Pleasanton seeing us off and sharing their own excitement at seeing 28 MINI’s all together for a drive. Thanks to Brian Pastor for videoing the cars leaving and for him and Melissa offering to do the job of caboose.




Our route took us out of Sunol, taking Foothill Rd north towards Castlewood Country Club. We stopped just south of the country club to allow the back end of the caravan to catch us up. From here we made a right turn on Castlewood Drive past the golf course and onto Pleasanton Sunol Road. This gave a chance for people to open up their cars a little more as the road is very straight and wide. After making a left onto Paloma Way – we made another quick regroup. The gravel on the side of the road though giving a challenge to a couple of people as it was much looser than anticipated. However, no harm done and we headed out as a group again.



From here – we went under Highway 680 and picked up Calaveras Road. Some 15 mins later we made a short detour into Little Yosemite. Luckily, due to the pandemic – entrance was free and there was enough free parking for the entire group. This was only going to be a short stop for a quick bathroom break and people to grab a drink & snack and socialize a little more. Many of the group commented on how beautiful the park is and that they had never been here before. I think many people would definitely return to spend longer.




After our short break at Little Yosemite we headed back out towards Calaveras Road. This is quite a challenging road to drive, many twists & tight turns and not very wide. The pace was set sensibly and many got to appreciate that great handling on their cars. The scenery was amazing and we were not held up too much by bikes either. After about 15 miles – we made a left turn on Felter Road, which would subsequently lead us to Sierra Rd and take us into the Upper Sierra area of San Jose. I was hoping to be able to get the group into the view point which looks down over San Jose – but sadly the parking lot couldn’t handle the number of cars. It did turn out though that one of our group had got separated from us and had waited at the view point to rejoin us.

Our final stretch of the drive took us down from hills into the Upper Sierra district. The group finished at the Olivera Egg Ranch to have some final socializing and a few of us bought eggs (which were so cheap compared to supermarkets). Shortly after, people started to disperse to make their own arrangements for some lunch.

Even though this was not the longest drive due to lack of bathroom breaks and lunch locations – those who attended and drove the route had fun. People had definitely missed attending club events. We hope to be able to continue to have a monthly drive for the remainder of the year – but drives have to be adjusted and tailored to the requirements given to use from the State.

As President of the club – I am super happy that we are back motoring again and looking forward to our next drive on July 11th. Hope to see some of you there

Thanks

Simon and Nikki Tildesley



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