Southern Oregon Tour, (SOT) 06

Bruce

This weekend we are doing the Solvang Tour, but after that we are heading north. We are towing the Speedster with a MH. We plan to just take our time until we get to Medford. A couple of months ago we stayed at Eagle Point RV, but it's a little far out. Do you know of any good parks closer to Medford where everyone else is staying?

Warren, Bruce is on vacation and I live Sacramento so I can not offer much of a suggestion.

Angela may have some ideas since she is a local owner. As I think about it, Angela may be on her way to Phoenix, AZ.

I looked and found 3 about 5-10 miles south of Medford, north of Ashland.

Holiday RV Park
201 Fern Valley Rd
Phoenix, OR 97535
Tel: (800) 452-7970

Pear Tree Motel / RV park
3730 Fern Valley Rd
Medford, OR 97504
Tel: (541) 535-4445

American RV Resort
405 West Valley View Rd.
Talent, OR 97540
Tel: (541) 535-6632


The Holiday looks to be closer to the Red Lion super luxury, more than comfortable, drinking pit, SOT Headquarters.

Warren,
Sorry I did not chime in earlier - my bad. Not real familiar with the RV spots around here. However - AVOID the Pear tree one. It is right on I-5. With re-routing of the truck stop adjacent to it, all traffic (meaning all trucks) must circle the RV park to get back to the freeway. So you have all the freeway noise, PLUS all the commercial truck noise. Definately try the other two.

Dale - looks like I'll be pulling out on Tuesday, have a brief business trip tomorrow/saturday.

See all-ya-all at SOT!

angela

Dale/Angela

Thanks for the info. We'll check it out. Karen (my navigator) has this big book on RV parks. I'll just let her figure it out. We'll just need to know when and where to meet up.

Hey Bruce!

The Oregonian says it snowed at Crater Lake yesterday. Did you forget to reserve sunny and warm? I don't even have the studs on the car yet.

I drove cross-state friday and returned yesterday (work -blech). Gorgeous drive. Yes, it did snow on Friday. We knew this was coming, but consider it nothing more than a weather oddity.

It snowed on highway 140 and way out east toward Lakeview. Lovely dusting on the mountains still, but nothing stuck on the highways at all. Haven't checked the Crater Lake Park, but we will do that when the date gets closer.

The weather should be its normal sunny warm September/October self for SOT.

angela

Hey all,

I am back from my 2 week driving tour of the midwest, I am saddle sore but will be romping again in a couple of weeks for the SOT. I ran into snow and rain most of the way back and I did take 140 home thru Lakeview and Klamath Falls, no trace of snow except on Mt McLaughlin. Today is sunny and about 80, perfect.

My wife Barb talked to the airhead at the Red Lion a few days ago and she was wondering where all our reservations were. She is the one that screwed them up the first two times, claimed she would fix them, didn't obviously. You can still make them and call direct if that is possible. Mention the Speedster club group. I will do battle with her again in the morning. Tell the reservation gal if we still aren't listed as the Speedster club, that you still want reservations and at the $80 promised rate. I'll give everyone a follow up ASAP.

Bruce

Come one, come all!

I just talked to the people at the Red Lion in Medford and we are good thru Friday for room reservations for the SOT. All info is on the first post on this thread. She said that even after this weekend she would guarentee the $80 rates for late comers. It is not the real busy summer season here so that is a good deal for us, cheaper, less crowded roads and venues.

Don't forget the tour on Friday afternoon at the Aeril Atom facility that Angela set up for us. That should really get things going. Angela has set up a nice tour package for us on Saturday and I'm sure it will please all concerned. A chance to kind of wring out our cars on some twisties and up and down two lane black tops.

If you can, drop me an E mail if you are coming, makes things easier for the planning.

Bruce Williams, tutw@aol.com

Just reserved a room for two. The Medford folks transfered me to central reservations, so you might as well just call the 800 number. They do have us in the system for the $80 group rate.

Warren,

Nice looking rig you are roughing it in! I think Angela's suggestions are fine including don't do the Pear Tree spot. If you get into town in time for the Ariel Atom tour I think that will be a ball. We will probably head up to the Red Lion afterward and have a few refreshments and dinner and a lot of BS and bench racing Friday evening and then Saturday morning the grand tour begins. It looks like we will be a cozy group so it should not difficult to keep together. Roads around here this time of year are basically uncrowded.

Give me a call if you get in town sometime before Friday and I should know lots more by then. I was like you, traveling. A 4800 mile trip to and from the Midwest seeing family and friends so I am a little behind the curve for a few days. Will be up to speed soon.

Phone number is 541 826-5874.

Be good to meet you and the wife and of course the Speedy!

Regards, Bruce

Next weeks weather for the Southern Oregon Tour, (SOT,)looks great. Sunny and mid 80's to low 90's so it will be tops down all weekend.
Why not join us for some fine driving tours, good food, good wine and a special visit to the Ariel Atom facility in Ashland, OR. That will be on Friday afternoon at 2PM. Directions for the tour and the hotel will follow in a couple of days. Hotel info is on the first post under this thread.

Let me know if you are coming so we can add you to our list of adventurers.

Bruce

Southern Oregon Tour starts Friday. Directions to the Red Lion in Medford are as follows. Exit I-5 at exit 27, Barnett Rd. If coming from the south, turn left onto Barnett. Continue to the third stop light to Riverside Ave. Turn right and continue for about a mile. After passing thru Main street, the Red Lion is about 2 blocks on your right. If coming from the North. Exit at exit 27, Barnett Rd. and turn right onto Barnett. Turn right at the second light, Ricerside Ave, Same directions as above.

The directions to Ariel Atom on Friday afternoon will have to wait for Angela to either call me with directions or post them herselfs. I know ir is off exit 14 in Ashland, beyond that I'm in the dark. Directions there will hopefully be posted today or tomorrow.

Hope to see some of you people enjoy our fall scenry. I was out today into Medford and some of the reds and yellows are starting to appear.

Bruce

I visited the Ariel plants today (there are acutally two in Ashland) to determine where we park etc. We really need to meet somewhere and caravan over. It is very very easy to miss these locations as they are BOTH unmarked and one is surrounded by construction.

We'll visit the plants in order - the first visit will be to the CNC and frame shop. 2nd visit will be to the assembly shop. There are quite a few cars in the shop right now with both Honda VTEC and Chevy Cobalt engines. Something for everyone. They weigh 1100 to 1300 pounds fully equipped!

We can meet at the hotel or at exit 14 - say the Albertson's parking lot - your choice Bruce. Whatever works out for everyone.

angela

Angela,

Lets meet at the hotel about 1:30 or so. Scott and Rich are coming down from Portland and they said they'd be at the hotel about 1. That would give them time for a potty break and time for me to get the beer and wine iced down in the room. We can enjoy them after the tour! This OK? If not give me a call. I had left some phone messages on your machine this morning I think.

Bruce, PS, weather still looking first rate!

Hotel it is at 1:30pm. That will work out perfect! Give us just the right amount of time to get there, get parked and start checking out the really cool stuff!

As I've been gone a week, I really noticed that the fall colors are starting to show.

angela

Bruce, Angela and the rest

Karen and I are sorry to miss the SOT 06 and the opportunity to meet new friends. Too many things have come up that must be attended to on the home front. Hope to have a chance in the future to get together.

I'm excited. Do we have a final head/car count?

Rich,

Not yet as I'm still waiting to see if Ray Armstrong is coming, think he is, and a few more. It should be a nice group and the weather still looks aces!

Bruce

Bruce; Dorthy and I are leaving thursday morning, she is going to chase me me up I-5. should be up around late afternoon or evening. I never did get a reservation ,I will take my chances when we arrive. We were thinking of leaving wensday and taking the coast up, but to many things to do,so it will be thursday. See you when I get there.

Ray,

Great news! I'll be over at the Red Lion about noon or a little later on Friday to check in and unload my car. We will be leaving for the Areil Atom facility at 1:30 from the Red Lion. Angela will be leading the charge. Fasten your seat belts! LOL.

Bruce

Angela,Bruce;I hope to be on the road in about an hour. Having packed up both cars,I'm just waiting for my wife,she is never on time unless I lie about the time. Now that she too is retired that dosn't work anymore. I will see you sometime this afternoon.

OKay gang; we are here, actually we just climbed out of the pool,We made pretty good time got here about 3;30 checked in and jumped into the pool. The only way to end a short drive up the valley into Oregon. The beckster didn't miss a beat. It looks like hell but runs great. We are in room 304 looking for rest of the gang to show up.

Ray,

You are one axious fellow, can't blame you. We will be over at the hotel tomorrow between noon and one. I'll be probably the first one there as I want to check in and get the car unloaded, beer and wine iced down, etc. I got some Beck brew for you and Rich, both driving Becks!

Barb and I noticed the valley is kind of smoky the past day or so, fires from CA pumping in some smoke. Won't bother us though!

See you tomorrow, Bruce

SOT officially started yesterday. We are a little down on cars from out previous venture - conflicts of time, mechanicals and wild fires seem to have kept some of our fun lovin' buddies away. But those who did make this venture got a real treat yesterday.

The Ariel Atom factory tour was THE BOMB!!! 1100 to 1300 pound cars with 205 to 300 HP and if you are very clever and living in a lenient state (like ORegon), you can get TAGS baby and drive them on the street! I won't hog up picture space as everyone had cameras. Just a few pics to entice people to NEXT year's event! angela

On the way back in, Scott and my husband Steve (in Scott's car which Steve says is AWESOME) getting the thumbs way way up from a group of kids in a school bus.

Also, this is Bruce and Speedy zipping down the freeway. Speedy just got a new engine that is MUCH more performance than the original one. Bruce has a non-stop grin while driving! angela

Wait, that can't be Bruce, the driver doesn't have a hat or hood on! Way to go Bruce, you really look like you are enjoyin' it!

I am so sorry I couldn't make it, next time for sure! Damn valve seats.

Today was "show our friends some cool twisty roads" day. In other words, the kind of day with fun people, great roads and pefect weather that keeps you anticipating, all winter long, the coming of the open car driving season.

Short romp through the pear orchard side of the valley, then on to Highway 66. These pictures are highway 66. This is a portion of the old Applegate Trail. Good grade, a bazillion corners, and most of it has absolutely ZERO guardrail. If you screw up here you'll die of fright before you hit the bottom. angela

We continued up the grade after taking pictures and of course, throwing rocks off the edge to see if they EVER hit the bottom... If you are a cyclist and you come to this valley for a tour, the one to hit is called Mountain Lakes Challenge. Well it makes an excellent speedster driving course as it winds its way through lightly traveled backroads past several lakes, lava formations etc. Didn't take any pictures as at this time I was in the front watching for deer/cattle. This is the first day of hunting season. Every red-neck in the area was out in his pickup truck. We actually had to drive through a hunter's checkpoint. They just waved us by. Hey, where would we put a deer even if we bagged it?

Its also open range. Got to watch yourself. Cows is real stoopid... We crossed Highway 140 and took the back road to Butte Falls, a small logging town with a rough bar and gunracks in every vehicle. Down the hill and across Crowfoot road. Crowfoot is so twisty that at times you see the guy ahead of you in full profile!

We all stopped for a short nature walk hoping to see migrating salmon. Wrong spot or wrong time, no fish. But a nice little walk along the creek. Then ONTO THE MARGARITAS!!!

I'm back home, tired but happy. Attendees were Ray and Dorthy Armstrong and the stripped down Beck, Scott Sloan and his super IM, Rich and Cheryl Ebner and their pretty tan IM, Angela and the black Spyder that is a joy to see and hear, and me in the red JPS. I had a little trouble with some oil coming out the dipstick and I was spraying for mosquito's Saturday. Ray and Scott diagnosed it as too much oil and with the heat and the steep climb out of Ashland, blow by from the dipstick hole. It seems to be fine now and with the increased power from the new 2110, it is a joy to drive.

I left Scott and Rich and Cheryl at the Harry and Davids main store this morning. Cheryl was on her own as Scott and Rich opted for the parking lot. They were going to wind their way back to Portland on a neat sideroad I pointed out. It goes from Trail to Canyonville and is a delight.

Next time we are hoping for a few more cars, color is starting to change and temps were in the mid 80's. We saw a war bird fighter doing acrobatics down by Ashland. We we hoping we wouldn't get stafed but he by passed us for bigger game I guess, great sight.

We're home! Scott, Cheryl and I made a loop out of Medford east to Shady Cove on Hwy 62 and then back over to I-5 at Canyonville. Wow! What a wonderful couple of Speedster roads. Loads of driving fun until Cheryl lovingly reminded me that she was in the right seat and just because the car has an awsh*t handle didn't give me premission to elicit that sentiment from her. So Scott and I were forced to enjoy the wonderful scenery at a more sedate pace the rest of the way. Once back to I-5 we took the back roads north to Roseburg and then east on Diamond Lake Blvd for another pretty and curvy ride out to Steamboat Inn on the Umpqua River for a light lunch. Backtracked to Roseburg and then made an incident-free dash home on I-5. Many thanks to Bruce and Angela for taking the time to organize a terrific weekend for us!

Angela,
I can't see any of your photos. Even on your photo page the only SOT picture there is one of your Spydie.
Bruce,
Mine is a Beck, not an IM.

Angela...I cannot open the pictures you posted!!!! ~ Esther

A few shots of the gang and the cool road.

Rich, I knew that but this weekend seemed to one of constant "opps" from Brucie. After all I brought the Becks beer knowing that you and Ray were happy Beck drivers. Glad you had a good weekend, figured you'd like that road over to Canyonville, beats the hell out of I=5, eh?

Did Cheryl max out her plastic at Harry and Davids?

Bruce

Thank you, Bruce and Angela, for a wonderful weekend. Those roads you chose this time were just exceptional. With no traffic, twisty roads, and tremendous elevation changes, I've never driven anything like them. They can easily go on the 'must do' list for next year.

The drive to Canyonville was another that was indescribable. We did have our fun until . . .. Didn't we Rich? Great fun. Thank you all for the weekend.

Hope the engine is ok, Bruce. Get over to your builder first thing and let us know.

I apologize to everyone about the pictures. I had put them in our folder, added to the posts, then a few days later deleted them from out folder. I did not know that by removing them from our folder, I was also removing them from the post! Thought they were two seperate things (obviously they are not).

To further add insult to injury, I'm in Washington DC right now and the pictures are all on them home computer. Can't change it back. Sorry... angela

Angela:

Cory Drake is just outside of DC and, I think, can get inside the "loop" in pretty short order.

You two should meet while you're there.....

Holy crap, yes! I'm going to be at work until 7 a.m. tomorrow, but then I'm going to be working on the Hoopty all day and into the night. I'll be happy to come get you.
Call regardless! 443.995.0576!

Here are a few shots from our tour of Brammo Motorsports, home of the Ariel Atom

I'm in love. Do the ends flip open?