Next weekend, 6-15 (LA peeps)

Ok, I need help from someone in the LA area.

If my brakes are working properly again, I'm going to make a "research" trip and run the route for the HIN meet in July. What I need is someone to meet up with and scout out a place to go after the Wheeler Canyon run, before rolling to HIN.

Here's the way I envision the day... Arrive at Buttonwillow 11am-noonish. Hang and talk for an hour or two. Cruise down through Wheeler Canyon. Stop in at a location (hopefully to be determined during this research trip) to catch a bite to eat, hang some more, and meet up with people who didn't do the canyon run. This allows people who don't want to do the whole drive to still meet up with us prior to the show. We'll stay there for a couple hours, then go to the show. After the show we can cruise to the hotel for an after-party (or people can go home if they want).

So, I need to figure out how long each part is going to take, and where we'll hang after the canyon run. This is where I need the help. I'm from Daygo, and to me the "LA area" is pretty much everything from Costa Mesa to Riverside to Thousand Oaks. Obviously that's a huge area. I just don't get up that way that often.

The meet place needs to have a decent size parking lot, be close to a major highway, not too tough to get in and out of, and preferably have a place to get something to eat. A mall would be okay, but they tend to get busy on Saturdays, so it might not be the best option. Keep in mind also that we're going to be rolling to the LA Convention Center after.

For helping me out... well... I'll buy you lunch or something. I just want to have this thing planned out, and I want it to be successful. I'm looking at dishing out a sizable amount of cash for this, and I want it to be worth it.



Oh, and to anyone who whines about it being too long of a drive, remember that I'm coming up from SD and doing this entire route twice. And besides... what are you doing on a car site if you don't enjoy driving your car? :flipa:

Also, said this before, gonna say it again.... if you don't think you're car is nice enough or fast enough or good looking enough to come to the meet, just remember we're not hosting a car show. That's what HIN is for. Yeah, we'll want to check out each others' rides, but nobody is going to care what condition its in. We're all car lovers, and that's what this meet is about. Bring whatever you have, hang with us, have some fun. If your car absolutely does not run, then catch a ride with someone else who's coming. The more peeps we have at this thing, the more fun it'll be.

That sounds like a good plan, Shaun. I'm not too familiar with the Wheeler Cyn. finish area, so I can't help you there, but what would you suggest to those of us that WANT to do the Canyon run portion, but can't/don't want to trek up to Button Willow? I probably won't be able to make it to Button Willow, but I DO want to drive Wheeler Canyon, Fritz has told me great things about it, and I want to experience it for myself. Are you planning to stop at a spot just before Wheeler, or would you just suggest people as myself meet just before it's start BEFORE the time you all to roll on through it, and then just join in as the crew passes by? Let me know. Thanks! :cool:

Alright, I've looked at it, and here's the alternative.

Buttonwillow is a bit north. I just thought it was a cool meet location because it's a racetrack. It isn't the best location however. The best location is Frazier Park, about an hour south of Buttonwillow.

This of course means that NorCal people will have to drive a bit longer before meeting up with us, but they'd have to drive the distance anyway. It does give us a little more time on the twisties.

This is still a bit of a trek from LA, however. It's north on the 5, just short of Grapevine. Mapquest shows it as being just over two hours from Diamond Bar (of course, the Mapquest people must drive as slow as dirt).

It's important to note, though, that this is the only other way to do Wheeler Canyon. It's either this or Buttonwillow. The other end comes out near Ojai. If you were to go through Wheeler Canyon heading north, the shortest distance you can go and still actually run the canyon is to come out through Frazier Park. If this is still too far for you, then no canyon for you. There's only one road through Wheeler Canyon.

Now if it makes more sense for tha majority of the people, I can stop at Frazier Park and find a good meet spot for us. I don't have any problem meeting there instead of Buttonwillow (afterall, it's not like we're actually going to be driving on the track at buttonwillow).

As for the help in picking the meet spot after the canyon run, I'm basically going to need someone to meet me somewhere between Ventura and Los Angeles to pick out a good spot. Since you pretty much have to go through Ventura and get on the 101 when coming from Wheeler Canyon, it would make sense for the meet spot to be somewhere along the 101 or 170. I don't know, I'm not that familiar with the area, that's why I need the help.

Ok, sounds good then Shaun, Frazier Park I can work with. :) That's right before the Gorman area if I remember correctly, right? That sounds really good. :) Thanks!

So nobody's going to help out?

I might be able to join this Saturday but I'm not familiar with the Ventura area, but it would be fun to explore etc. I live off the 405 freeway just south of LAX. let me know what u r thinkin

You'd think there'd be something between Ventura and LA that someone would know about. Maybe not.