Mountain backroads? Check! Many MINI friends? Check! Your favorite potluck picnic foods? Check!
Join us for a fun run followed by our Annual Picnic!
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| Photo by Pat Lewis |
Your Host(s) for the Event:
Gordon & Alison Lee
Tasha Hudick
Route:
https://goo.gl/maps/rSexUHBqaNCeKZZz9Register via MotorSport Registry:
https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/mountain-run-to-annual-picnic-norcal-minis-576356
Check out our 2023 Run Calendar for a complete list of events for the remainder of this year.
Run Details:
Interested in a mountain backroads run through the shady trees of the Santa Cruz Mountains? How about ending the run by sharing your favorite picnic dish with your NorCal MINIs club member friends? Well, the August run and potluck annual picnic has been crafted just for you and all of those like-minded friends.
We will start the day by meeting in the Woodside Plaza parking lot near Sushi+Plus (no, we didn't stutter, that is the name!) in Redwood City. After catching up with old friends and meeting new friends, we will have our driver's briefing, hop in our cars, and head out onto Woodside Road toward the Santa Cruz Mountains. Before you say, "Wait a minute! The winter storms washed out Woodside Road just before reaching Portola Road!", our wise and wonderful hosts know this, so we will be splitting off of Woodside Road onto the winding twists, turns, and switchbacks of Kings Mountain Road.
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| Photo by Pat Lewis |
Nearing the summit, we'll turn south onto Hwy. 35 (Skyline Boulevard) and run down the ridgeline with forests and soaring views on both sides of the roadway. We'll pass the famous Alice's Restaurant, showing all the other motoring enthusiasts our MINI style. Continuing south on Skyline Boulevard, we will pass Windy Hill, Thomas Fogerty Winery, Russian Ridge Preserve, and the Jikoji Zen Center.
Reaching the intersection with Hwy. 9 (Big Basin Way), we will turn right and head southwest towards Big Basin. Use those radios on Channel 7-21 (CTCSS) because this is a popular stretch of road on summer weekend days, and we are likely to get split up with interlopers between us.
The route will take us down along Hwy. 9 for several miles where we will turn left onto Hwy. 35 (Bear Creek Road) just before we enter Boulder Creek. Those who joined us on the May run will remember this stretch of road, but this time, we will be driving in the opposite direction back toward the summit. No need to worry about the storm washouts on the far side of the summit as Bear Creek Road has been reopened. This stretch of road along Bear Creek will have traffic controls at 3 separate locations due to single lanes past washed-out roadsides.
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| Photo by Pat Lewis |
We'll transition from tight two-lane twisties to the hustling freeway known as Hwy. 17 at Lexington Reservoir, heading north back onto the roads populated with minivans, big rigs, and stoplights. While not as much fun as the mountain backroads, this stretch of suburban driving will take us north back up to Sunnyvale where we will park and enjoy our Annual Picnic potluck-style at Raynor Park.
More information about our potluck and the opportunity to sign up for the side dishes, desserts, drinks, etc. you wish to share will be included in a link in the MSR confirmation email you will receive after you register for the run. Hot dogs and hamburgers will be provided by Pat and Michelle Lewis and Duane Caldwell. We'll just need the rest of you to bring your appetites and your favorite picnic dishes to share with the other club members.
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| Photo by Pat Lewis |
Meet-up Time/Departure Time:
9:30 am / 10 am
Meet-up Location:
Sushi+Plus
30 Woodside Plaza
Redwood City, CA 94061
Nearest EV Charging Stations:
- Kennedy Middle School
Shell Recharge Station
2521 Goodwin Ave
Redwood City, CA 94061 - Adelante Selby Spanish Immersion School
Shell Recharge Station
170 Selby Ln
Atherton, CA 94027
Potluck Picnic Location:
Raynor Park
1565 Quail Ave.
Sunnvale, CA. 94087
You must RSVP using the Punchbowl app link you will receive after registering for the run on MotorSport Registry. The Punchbowl app will have a link to sign up for the side dish you will bring. Plan on bringing enough of your potluck dish to feed 6 to 10 people.
Additional Run Details:
Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.
Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.Hilly California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. There are no major hazards that would take out a car, but some of the backroad sections are definitely bumpier than others.
There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.
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| Last year's picnic in Salinas Photo by Duane Caldwell |
