So, I'm starting this thread so I can see if there is any interest in doing this again. Talking about this with Mitch and Victor over the holidays, there's a need for a NorCal event and it doesn't get much better than the twisties of the Sierra foothills and Lake Tahoe, especially in the late summer/early fall.
Please chime in with your thoughts/interest here. Mitch and Cathy were going to check on accomodations, right, Mitch?
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Terry, we should probably talk this over a bit, while encouraging input from the peanut gallery here.
I'm thinking late September or October to beat the heat. Where we stay would depend a lot on how large a group.
I wonder if more people would show up if we stayed at that place with the topless valet parking girls.
I'm sure Alexis and I would be interested.
Let's do this!
Ted
Terry,
Sounds like a blast! Count us in!
Victor
*****
I bought a 2nd hand 2010 VS so I am new to the car and SOC as of Oct. 2014. hoping to get together with Speedster owners in Sacramento area ( Fairoaks Ca.) I like the sound of Tour d' Hoe. I' ll keep following this topic
Ginny & I would love to do this event again! 
Sounds like a great event, count me in (I'm in Berkeley).
Chris
Good start!
Just a word on timing. Tahoe starts closing up a little after Labor Day, not as many accommodations/restaurants available by the end of September. Perhaps some input on the duration of the event? The distance of the drive is around 200 miles, thus the thought of a two-day event. Any suggestions for route changes, base camp locations, etc. I live in Auburn and have several different, shorter routes that could be of interest as well. Again, input is welcomed!
I'm going to post this on the Facebook page as well.
I haven't asked Nancy yet but I'm sure she'd go with me. I know I'd like to go.
I've driven on some of "Terry's roads".
Astounding. Like, "how can I move here?" astounding. 
Stan - Considering the housing & cabins around Tahoe, I imagine there would be a great need for a craftsman with your "particular set of skills".
Depending on the date. Count me in.
Man, these west coast events make me want to retire(24 years in) and throw a duffel bag in the Spyder and head out there!
I'm in for the Tour. I'll keep watch for the date.
Larry
Man, these west coast events make me want to retire(24 years in) and throw a duffel bag in the Spyder and head out there!
Be forewarned, Danny, this isn't the paradise it's often made out to be.
On the way to Cars and Coffee this morning, I had to wear a jacket over my sweater. It didn't warm up to shirt sleeve weather until nearly 10 am.
And on a typical mid-winter drive through the wine country, some of the vineyards are actually CHARGING for tasting their wine now.
Those of you in the rest of the country have no idea how we suffer.
OK I live at the Lake so I am in. The weekend after Labor Day is perfect. Great weather and most tourists have gone home. I can accommodate up to 13 people on my boat if any one would like to go for a cruise. Of course I am assuming there is still enough water in the Lake to get out of the harbor. Think Snow. I am in South Shore. The Hard Rock Hotel just opened up as well.
Mitch, wineries in upstate NY have been charging for tastings for years.....
NY and Cal are usually close to the same page, right?
Would love to take a trip like that, David. Maybe I should drive out and pick up Stan and his IM on the way!
Mitch, wineries in upstate NY have been charging for tastings for years.....
NY and Cal are usually close to the same page, right?
Would love to take a trip like that, David. Maybe I should drive out and pick up Stan and his IM on the way!
Are you forgetting somebody???
Terry Nuck, Enjoyed that trip a couple of times. Unless it's in the summer it's a good ride. Sept is a bit cooler. But it is not my call.
Bob
I like the weekend after Labor day as well. We've used that date for other get-togethers in Tahoe. Granted, there's still some tourists and it can be a little warm, but never much above 80. The question remains where to call base camp. Most places in Lake Tahoe require a minimum of two nights. Perhaps we could pick one of the Casino hotels? Over on the south shore they have motels that rent rooms by the hour...
Major, can you check out lodging? I'm thinking we start in Auburn Friday night, head through the foothills via 49, through Coloma and up the 50 corridor to Tahoe on Saturday. Wrap around the Lake Sunday morning and head back via highway 40 to 20 and through Grass Valley. We'd have plenty of time Saturday to explore the lake or do some wine tasting in Amador County on the way up to south shore.
A second thought is to spend two nights in Tahoe. Those interested could meet up with the local guys early Friday afternoon and jam up to Tahoe through the foothills (2 hour drive) and meet up at the host hotel. Then spend Saturday taking in the lake before a group dinner. Sunday would be an optional drive back through the foothills.
Thoughts?
Terry, I don't have my head around a whole plan yet, but here are some random thoughts:
- A return loop through 89-88-Shake Ridge Rd-Fiddletown Rd to the wine area around Plymouth. From there, some could return to the south state via 49, and others return up towards Placerville and Auburn via 49, if desired.
- I thought the ski resorts (Squaw?) were looking to fill their rooms around that time of year, so might not require a two-night minimum. Or might not require two nights for a block of rooms. Or, maybe a weekend or two later, they might be more amenable.
- Or maybe a two-night event at the same Tahoe base might not be such a bad idea, after all.
- Anyone coming here from the south would be traveling through the central valley which is still pretty hot at the beginning of September.
Sorry Marty 
I wasn't thinking! Of course you as well!
Now wouldn't that be something! Marty, Stan, and Dan terrorizing the West!
Hide the wimmin and chillins'!!!!
Danny, you might want to rethink traveling with Stan. He's a great guy but when driving cross country he's a hard-core jerky eating, pedal-to-the-metal, jar-in-the-car kinda traveler. He only stops for roadkill and smokes...and skittles, boy, he loves his skittles!
Stan has pretty much told me flat out..."don't even think about caravaning with me". And I even offered to buy jerk and skittles.
Terry
The Casinos are very hungry for guests. The Tribal Casinos have taken away at least 50% of their traditional (asians and old ladies) customers. The new Hard Rock just opened so the rooms are brand new and very nice. I have stayed at the one in Vegas a few times and it was great. The pool will be remodeled by summer and it is very entertaining viewing. They already have some great restaurants and more on the way. On a weekend I would guess $160 per night, might be able to negotiate a group rate. Depending on one's taste there is also a new 5 star hotel The Landings. Also as you mentioned lots of motels, a few are quite nice on located on the beach. As far as group meals with a private room. The Blue Angel would be $$ with great worldly food. Steamers is a local dive bar I frequent that has an outdoor patio and private room as well $. Food is above average bar fare with steaks etc in the evening. There is also a large Mexican joint with a room owned by friends of mine, food is OK, $$. The Himmel House is German and has a large area we could take over. Fantastic sausages, schnitzel, etc and of course great beer $$. The Beacon is on the lake at Camp Richardson. It is not well suited to groups unless we could get the outdoor area. American food and famous for Rum Runners $$. Of course there are also many $$$$ places if the group wants to go upscale.
As I mentioned before a drive around the Lake is a must. For those other wise inclined I would be happy to take a group out for a cruise on the Lake. I can handle 13 folks comfortably and the boat has a head. I might be able to borrow a larger boat as well. A significant donation could even get us the Thunderbird for a few hours. A friend of mine is in charge of it's care. Check this site for info https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XB_JNCQOkw
This looks like it's shaping up to be a pretty big event. It would be so cool if some of you east coast guys could make it out here. Trust me, it will be a trip of a lifetime for you and you won't regret it. Life's short!
What's considered "significant"?
WOW. That boat is epic. I had no idea it even existed.
Spectacular.
Stan has pretty much told me flat out..."don't even think about caravaning with me". And I even offered to buy jerk and skittles.
Yeah. So a big part of the "freedom of the road" thing for me is going as fast or as slow as I want to, stopping (or not) when I feel like it, fixing my own car when I need to, etc. If I want to drive 1000 mi in a day, I drive 1000 mi, if I want to eat at 6:00 AM and 3:00 PM, I do. If I don't want to stop until 11:00 PM, I don't.
... and yeah, I take a gallon of spring water, a couple pounds of beef jerky, and a tub of mixed nuts. No smokes, no skittles. My wife flies to wherever we are going, and I just pick her up at the airport. I do my business at gas stops. I make it a game to locate the cheapest motel I can find to sleep in. I kind've treat road trips like LeMans. I like it, but almost nobody else is going to. It works for me.
When you caravan... you go no faster than the slowest guy, you stop when the traveler with the smallest bladder wants to, you fix the car the most unready for the trip, and you stop driving at 5:00 PM. Eating is an unbelievable process-- some people want hotdogs off a C-store roller, some want a sit-down place with china. Everybody wants to be a good guy, so no decision can be made without a negotiation that makes the middle-east peace-process look easy. If I'm going with somebody faster, I feel like I need to keep up, even if I shell my engine in the process. If I'm with somebody slower, I feel like I've got an anchor tied to my bumper.
In short-- believe me-- It's not that I don't want to caravan with you. It's really that you don't want to caravan with me.
That's about it for me too, Stan. I would never caravan with me!
Perfect response Stan, that is how I feel when I ride my motorcycle! I look for the locals type restaurant, side trips that look interesting and I leave my clock at home.
Gary
absolutely you hit the nail on the head!
Stan, what man doesn't lust for the highway that leads to the horizon?
Where else can you be so free today as in an open car with an open throttle on the open road?
I love going as fast and as far as I can and wherever that road will take me, stopping for nothing, answering to no one, savoring that release that comes from leaving it all behind.
But whenever I do, when I get home my wife beats the crap out of me.
I thinks it's fun to caravan with one other car as long as the driver is like-minded regarding speed and stops. My first trip to Carlisle with Hoss in the Red Man was a lot of fun. That's not to say the others with bigger caravans aren't fun in their own way, because they are, particularly at the end points, but they are more work for the leader.
Wanted to share a few pics from a previous Tour D'Hoe (click on pictures to enlarge)
Topping off gas tanks before shredding Tahoe roads.
Approaching Donner Lake as we descend from Donner Pass (getting hungry for lunch )
View Point overlooking Donner Lake
After picnic lunch on the Tahoe shoreline with SOC gang.
