Foothills Fun Run! Head/car count.

[opelwasp]

OK, here's the plan.
On July 28, 2007
Drive up I-80, I-5 or Hwy 99 to Sacramento. Then get onto I-80 to Reno. Take the Watt Ave exit and we will meet at Denny's. Show up by 9am if you want to eat. We will be leaving at 10am. Then we will take 80 to Auburn, fill up, and run down Hwy 49. We will travel down 49 to Sonora and have the BBQ when we get there. Dennis and Gil may be joining us half way. Gil said he will provide the fire and the sodas. Just bring your own meat. If you want salad or other sides, there is a local store close by or bring your own in a cooler. BYOB I believe too, Dennis can you confirm?

You can contact me on my cell at (five-three-zero)three-zero-one-seven-five-seven-one

So who's game?

PS theres a Starbucks by the Denny's too!

Auburn, ca to Sonora, ca - Google Maps

[West Coast GT]

I'm in.
We're talking the 28th of July? Correct?

[opelwasp]

Originally Posted by West Coast GT I'm in. We're talking the 28th of July? Correct?

Yup, just edited post.

[BMWonly]

I will be there, 9 a.m. at Denny's.

Dieter

[opelwasp]

Well thats 3 so far. Any more coming?

[ephillippe]

Keep up the group trips guys, my Manta should be back from Miracle all shiny and new in the next week or so and I'll be there!

Glad to see some cool outings planned (Just wish I hadnt sent my car in for paint right before they started!)

[DennisGardiner]

Planning on being there.

[West Coast GT]

That looks like a great route. Here are the stats:

• Total Route: 125 miles
• Total Time (one way); 3 hours, 30 minutes
• Dennys (Watt Ave) in Sacramento to Auburn; 20 miles
• Auburn to Sonora; 105 miles
• Starting Elevation; 69 ft.
• Maximum Elevation; 2120 ft.
  
• 68 miles will be spent driving uphill
• 58 miles of downhill driving

[72Rallye]

We'll be there (provided the GT doesn't let us down on our way from San Diego).
Thomas and Kyla

[opelwasp]

Wow, all the way from San Diego! Sounds great!
So far we may have about 10 going. Looks like this will be a great time.

Gil did say adult beverages was OK, but he is not responsible for any DUI's.

[West Coast GT]

The GT has just developed a major brake problem. I'll still be there, but most likely in an alternate vehicle.

[BMWonly]

Quick reminder for Saturday's drive to Sonora - OGTS.

We are meeting at Denny's on Watt Ave. in Sacramento between 9 and 9:30:

Yahoo! Maps, Driving Directions, and Traffic


Please call Chris (Opelwasp) at 530-301-7571
or me at 530-320-6087 if you have any questions.

So far we have the following participants:
WestcoastGT (Keith, GT - maybe)
Opelwasp (Chris, 71 GT)
ephillippe (Manta)
72Rallye (GT)
BMWonly (me, 71 GT)

Seeya
Dieter

[West Coast GT]

I'm still planning on being there.

But yep, GT's still at the shop for the 3rd day. I've turned it over to the pros 'cause I heard somewhere brakes were something I would want - especially running down state route 49 with all of it's twisties & elevation.

I shouldn't bring my wife's Miata because I just drove to Los Angeles (Peterson Automotive Museum). I think she wants to drive it once in a while.

I don't want to bring the Bonneville. Sounds like a full-size sedan would be boring - but it just flat-out moves with that 3800 engine and sport handling package.

So it looks like I'll be in my LeBaron daily driver. It's got a Mitsubishi 3.0 V6 and performs quite well. But being a convertible it handles like a bucket of slop. Plus being a non-Opel I'll be relegated to the back of the line. But hey, a drive through California's Sierra Nevada Mountain foothills in a convertible at the end of the line of Opels still beats a day of yardwork.

It'll be good to see some of you again, and to meet you others for the 1st time. Cool.

[DennisGardiner]

If all goes well tonight. You will want to count me in.
Dennis

[BMWonly]

Originally Posted by DennisGardiner If all goes well tonight. You will want to count me in. Dennis

Anything special going on tonight???

[West Coast GT]

OK, shop got back to me. They're sending the GT back to me with no charge. This is the 2nd shop I've taken it to.

Trip Status: I'll still be there - the GT will not.
________________
But the good news:
They identified the Master Cylinder as the primary culprit. And OpelWasp was kind enough to call me to let me know where to find a replacement cylinder (new). OGTS has been called and has a rebuild kit waiting for me.

Both front calipers are froze, probably with rust. I'll split them open, drain the gunk, and free the pistons up.

[RallyBob]

Originally Posted by West Coast GT Both front calipers are froze, probably with rust. I'll split them open, drain the gunk, and free the pistons up.

Just some advice. Try to remove the caliper pistons with hydraulic pressure. If the (new) master cylinder can't press out the pistons with 1500+ psi of pressure, you definitely won't be able to remove them by hand or with hand tools.

Remove the calipers from the front spindles, but leave the brake line attached. Remove the brake pads, and place a block of wood between the pistons. Have someone pump the pedal while you watch for piston movement. Wear safety glasses! The pistons can launch out with amazing force so watch your fingers, and brake fluid can blind you if it sprays you in the face.

[West Coast GT]

RallyBob - thanks for the suggestion. It sounds like the way to go. I'll be careful to not have anything between the pistons that I'm not willing to lose.

Chances are I would have done it in reverse order, than slapped my forhead and said, "Oh hell".

[DennisGardiner]

Originally Posted by BMWonly Anything special going on tonight???

Pulling a tail lamp panel out on a friends GT that got bump by another friends wife.
Looking for a dead GT with a good tail lamp donor panel.
-----

Then, double check my GT before I go to sleep tonight.
Dennis

[BMWonly]

Dennis, check out this guy's GT parts on eBay. He has a lot of sheet metal, and had a rear panel listed recently:

eBay Seller: itzowz: Parts Accessories, Cars Trucks items on eBay Motors

Bis morgen,
Dieter

Originally Posted by DennisGardiner Pulling a tail lamp panel out on a friends GT that got bump by another friends wife. Looking for a dead GT with a good tail lamp donor panel. ----- Then, double check my GT before I go to sleep tonight. Dennis

[opelwasp]

Well the Foothills Fun Run was a great success! We had 5 Opel GT's and a Chrysler, show up and make the run. All the cars made it to OGTS and I assume back home. Had a great time chatting at Gils place, his place is always nice to visit and drool over his stuff. Some cool stuff coming down the pike. Anonymous D and Gil took the "Wasp" for a spin, you'll have to ask A.D. his opinion.
Anyways, good people, good fun, and good opels. Always a great combination.
Too bad more couldn't come.

One thing I did learn, next Foothills fun run will be in April. Much cooler and prettier. Opels with no A/C at he end of July, that was just plane dumb, sorry guys. But we did me some hard core Opelers to drive that long in 100 degree for 3 hours.

Sorry no pics, forgot the camera in the car, maybe someone else has some.

[BMWonly]

Here we go:

Thanks again everyone for showing up, it was a great day.

Pictures are also in my gallery, with comments:
http://www.opelgt.com/photos/showgal...ser/22461/sl/b

Dieter

Foothills Run 5.JPG

Foothills Run 3.JPG

Foothills Run 4.JPG

Foothills Run 6.JPG

Foothills Run 1.JPG