Klamath and Beyond

[healeygal]

Took the long way home from the Healey meet in Klamath Falls back to Southern California with Carol and Charlie Hart of Carpinteria through Oregon and Idaho, then Wyoming to see Yellowstone, stopping in Layton, Utah to visit friends, and continuing south through Vegas - a big 3,000 mile circle in some of the hottest weather of the year, top down all the way - talk about living dangerously!

Highlights:
No major breakdowns! Only a broken generator bolt, two banjo bolt gas leaks, starter seems to be going out - needed a push start once, slipped out then back into overdrive three times on the last leg of the trip home.

A Real Treat:
Met Dave and Marlene Russell of the British Car Forum going through Boise on our way to Yellowstone, and saw Dave's beautiful red Healey Hundred. Really liked the car's cold air box and other innovations to keep the engine cool, and could have used them on this trip! The suggestion Dave made re carbs helped Charlie's engine "settle down" and perform great the rest of our journey. Thanks, Dave!

Went through Boise on one of their hottest days of the year - 105 degrees. Got to West Yellowstone on the windiest day in months - shingles flying into the motel parking lot. Yellowstone was awesome, especially with the unrestricted view from the Healey.

After leaving Yellowstone, got a bunch of chips in the paint and windshield from what must have been a 10-mile stretch of loose gravel; on another open stretch, hit 90 mph for a few brief seconds a couple of times. The car is amazingly steady at that speed, although I was a bit afraid of one of it's 50-year old parts picking that moment in time to let loose or disintegrate.

Interesting Fact: Did you know the temperature in Mesquite, NV can be in the 90's at 3:00 a.m. in the morning (which is the time we left on Thursday, because it was predicted to hit around 115 or 120 during the day). The hardest part of the trip was driving in the heat - sheer torture! Five hundred miles in one day on the way to Klamath in cool weather was no problem; just thinking of driving in the heat wore me out! The thunder and lightning didn't help any...

Hot weather aside, a great trip highlighted by a visit with BCF resident guru Dave Russell - a special treat, indeed!


Sharon
Wounded BN1 resting in the garage

 

[Dave Russell]

Hi Sharon,
Glad you folks made it safely home without incident. It was great to meet neat people with super cars. Or is it super people with neat cars. Either way, you get the idea. Sorry it was so hot, but not unusual.

I've been hearing rumors of the 2006 West Coast meet being held at Nelson, BC next July. If so, it may be close enough for us "old folks" to make the drive. It should be much lower temperatures, at least for us.
Regards,
D

 

[gonzo]

Right on Healeygal! I enjoyed reading about your amazing Healey trip. I've driven in those conditions with the Healey, but lately it seems I only have time for errands- r short little trips in 100F temps. - car does extremely well, but I wilt.

On one such trip I passed through a nearby neiborhood and spied a bugeye sprite pushed aside while it's garrage was being cleared-out. Funny, I've never noticed it on previous trips - must have been lurking in some dark corner of the garage. I'll make some inquiries later.

Cheer's to you and your Healey...you've definately earned your degree! GONZO

 

[healeygal]

Hi Dave,

It was great meeting you and Marlene and seeing your car, too!
Yes, Rendezvous 2006, sponsored by the Oregon club is planned for July 24 to 28 next year in Nelson, B.C. - pretty close to you, but about 1500 miles from where I'm located!

Gonzo,
Thanks! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/savewave.gif

Sharon

 

[tahoe healey]

What about Tahoe June 9th to 11th 2006 with the Golden Gate Heaelys?

 

[healey106]

Golden Gate Heaelys(sp)?
I am looking for recommendations? We will be making our annual trip to Seattle in 2006, coming from the east coast. should we go to Nelson BC
or Tahoe?
Which will have the most attendees, cars, etc.
We will not be able to stay for both.
Am I correct That Nelson BC is closer to Seattle than Tahoe?
thanks for your assistance - jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

 

[BrianN]

Sharon--

I came up from California on Thursday of Rendezvous week and stopped briefly at Klamath Falls en route to Montana. I was driving an Iris Blue 1959 Bugeye and was at the Shiloh for about two hours. I know exactly what you mean about the weather. The car survivied better than I did. I resorted to pouring a jug of water all over my clothes every 20 minutes or so. A long sleeve shirt and hat with neck flaps was essential. Fortunately I was heading north in the heat, and rarely facing the sun. It is great to hear about your adventures. This gives us confidence to get the cars on the road!

 

[healeygal]

Hi Tahoe,

Here's a write up I found on the Tahoe event for next year - sounds like the event is shorter than previously, and multi-marque:

OPEN ROADS 2006
OpenRoads 2006 Weekend at Tahoe, hosted by the Golden Gate Austin Healey Club and open to owners and enthusiasts of British cars of all makes, will be held Friday June 9 to Sunday June 11, 2006 at the Horizon Casino and Resort at Stateline NV on the south shore of Lake Tahoe.

Registrations for OpenRoads 2006 will open in the fall of 2005. Updates concerning OpenRoads 2006, information on the Horizon, and coverage of the Lake Tahoe area-along with registration forms and other information--will be available the Golden Gate Austin Healey Club web site - www.goldengatehealeys.com

Jim,

From looking at the map, Nelson BC, just north of the Washington/Idaho border, looks much closer to Seattle than Tahoe.

Tahoe Open Roads 2002 (50th anniversary) had over 600 cars; last year was a lot smaller (about 80?); next year the event is going to be multi-marque, which is something new - should be interesting.

This year's Rendezvous 2005 at Klamath Falls was put on by the Oregon club - www.healey-oregon.org - with about 60 cars at the car show. They're the ones doing the Nelson BC event next year.

Brian,

Great picture! Yes, it was HOT! Seriously thinking of sticking to Pacific Coast rides/events from now on. (I can be heard mumbling those words every time after heading up the heat of I-5 or thru the desert.) Envious of the many coastal events I hear about the Northern California club doing. The So Calif club is in the planning stages of a small local event in Cambria and up Hwy 1 in October, which should be a lot nicer than burning up in the heat of Oregon, Idaho, Wyoming, Utah, Nevada and California in the middle of summer - come on down!

As far as getting the car on the road, have to give credit to Editor Reid for some encouraging comments a couple of years ago here on the Forum - as I recall, something to the effect that highway miles are better than stop and go miles, breakdowns can usually be figured out, fixed or patched up on the spot (unlike modern cars that require a tow to a computer diagnostic and technician), and the club has a network of volunteers willing to help fellow members needing help on the road. Don't recall any advice on how to install A/C on the car, however.

Sharon
BN1

 

[Keoke]

Hi Sharon, Need advice on adding A/C to the car? talk to Mal Doughery. he did a great installation in his 100.--Keoke /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/yesnod.gif

 

[healeygal]

Hi Keoke,

Yes, someone in our caravan reminded me of that during our journey thru the desert last week (talk about cruel and inhumane).

I've seen his car - lots of innovations and very well done! I believe he's had it since it was new.

Sharon
BN1

 

[healey106]

Sharon - thanks for the heads up in attendance. I was lucky to get to go to the Conclave in Winston Salem in June but only for the car show. It was a lot of fun with a lot of cars. I thought the turn out would be larger on the west coas, but what do I know. So it looks like we will try to visit the BC show. thanks for your assistance. - jim /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/driving.gif

 

[Michael Oritt]

[ QUOTE ]
We will be making our annual trip to Seattle in 2006, coming from the east coast. should we go to Nelson BC
or Tahoe? Which will have the most attendees, cars, etc.
We will not be able to stay for both.

[/ QUOTE ]

Jim--

Well there was talk around the Conclave campfire among some of us Easterners about feeling "Driving-Deprived" by three East-Coast Conclaves in a row (this year in NC, next in Ohio and the year after in Vermont) and we were considering passing up Conclave 2006 for Tahoe and then going on to Rendezvous. But with the Nelson event being set in late July that will allow more than enough time to head west for Akron, do Conclave and then continue on out to BC. Unfortunately the Golden Gate folks set the OR reunion too early to make that a stop, but a wonderful summer of driving beckons nevertheless!