I agree completly with D3mON! I like the snow... but this -5 (or less) SUCKS!! bring on the good weather so i can go back to "normal" driving!

 

Took a quick trip this past week to La Crosse and, in my never-ending quest to check out the twisties in the neighboring counties for future reference, took another side route through Houston County on the way home. I was driving the Subaru, but no big deal since the weather was iffy and this was strictly a reconnaissance mission. I checked out MN-16 along the Root River between Hokah and Houston, which turned out to be fairly flat, a bit rough, and not all that impressive.

Going south out of Houston on MN-76 towards Caledonia, I discovered a cool stretch of wicked twisties a little over halfway along the route, about five miles long, as the road climbed out and away from Badger Creek along the side of a steep ridge. The only problem was the condition of the road surface. It was quite rough, cracking and falling apart in an almost continuous stretch. No way to cheat to the center of the road to avoid the cracks and holes. It would have beaten any MINI to death. Thus, unless it gets repaved sometime, definitely not suitable for our application.

This seems to be a recurring theme I'm finding on the back roads in this area of SE MN -- some great potential motoring abounds but probably half get ruled out as being part of a candidate route by poor surface conditions due to lack of road maintenance.

That said, the search will continue...

 

if we take bumpy roads let me know ahead of time so I can chage my boots to the road rashed set!!

 

The Black Diamond road just south of iowa city is fun. when me and my buddies went out and about we found that road to be nice (just ignore the "pavment ends" sign, it really doesn't). has some nice twisteys on it and some straight aways.... if any roads come up let me know

 

I'm always eager to read your reviews of what's hot and what's not! Thanks for checking things out!

 

Hey Miah, do you have some road numbers for the route you're describing? I head down to the Washington area fairly often and am always passing through IA City. I wouldn't mind checking it out someday.

 

Is this Riverside Road you're speaking of Miah? That's full of twisties, and it's a road I plan on hitting hard in the spring. I've been known to take the 35 mph curves at 75+ on the old '79 Yamaha XS11. I'm sure it'll be great fun in the new PW MINI.

 

Hello lostairman

are you from arround the Iowa City area? I have noticed a newer pw MINI out and about and was wondering whos it was.

I am a 03 PW on the south side of Iowa City

glad to see you here

 

I am. I just purchased my Mini in December. '07, Pepper White, checkered mirror caps, southeast side of Iowa City.

 

SE side for me as well well sorta south central kinda

Behind the Kmart on Balsam Ct.

 

It' s super cool there are so many PW MINIs around! Maybe we could have an all PW nite

 

I think that would be a great idea but heck really I dont mind if everyone shows up we just have to lead the group..

 

The road is F52. it's the first paved right off of hwy 1 as you're heading southwest out of iowa city. Awesome to hear that there is another MINI out there. I saw a red one with the British flag on the top over here by me. I think i saw you last week lostairman, but i was in my girlfriends car.

 

I glued together a couple of county road maps that show Miah's F52 Black Diamond Road route and attached it as a zoom-able PDF file, for anyone in the area who wants to check it out.

I also highlighted a possible out-and-back loop from Iowa City. Looks like you could cut down to North English and do part of the return trip on F67. Just an option to consider.

 

Yeah, I've been out driving at every opportunity. If we could just rid ourselves of the cold and show, driving would be much, much more fun. Crack open the sun roof, crank up the iPod ... life would be good.

I've seen the red MINI with the British flag, also.

 

Attached a PDF from Google Maps of Riverside Road. It's just to the left of the purple line that denotes 218S. It starts off fairly straight but, as you can see, gets very twisty as you approach Washington. Almost all of the curves are 35 MPH rated. Should be very fun.

F52 looks outstanding, also. I think I've been on that one on the bike, too.

 

Hi Gang!

Here's something that you'll definitely want to put on your long range schedules!

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...highlight=2009

A national event in our own backyard.

 

June 29-July 2, 2009 - Here's the "official" website for the event: http://www.minimeet09.org/

bump for my friends in 'Sota

 

So are we going to take events one month at at time or what do you all think about getting together here in late March/Early April to set up dates throughout the summer for certain things?

 

I think thats a great idea sit down and plan some dates and events!!

what is everyone elses opinion on the matter and such.. we need to get the ball rolling before spring happens and leaves us in the dust

 

Hi Dan, thanks for your post. We're looking to see if there's enough EIM folk interested in getting together for lunch on Saturday, March 22 -- probably in the local Cedar Rapids area. Hoping to announce something firm within the next couple of days so people can put it on their calendars.

I like your idea of using this "Meet & Eat" to lay out many of the upcoming opportunities and see who's interested in what events.

 

Count me in for lunch on the 22nd. I'm normally doing my podcast on Saturdays, but can slide things around if I have enough advance notice.

 

The Riverside Road would be really fun in a Mini. Used to drive it as a kid on ATVs growing up. Just have to watch out for the sodbusters as there are a few blind curves on it. Hate to match a Mini against a John Deere out there.

 

Folks, here is an e-copy of the EIM 2008 Activity Planning sheet that we circulated at our Meet-n-Eat last Saturday at Granite City in Cedar Rapids. I hope the links function properly for you.

Don't hesitate to contact one of the POCs if you'd like to arrange and host a local meet. We always love to eat, drink, and detail!

Look forward to seeing many of you soon, and in any event during the Des Moines to Galena and Beyond event on 9-10 May!

**Edit: Attachment removed -- see Post #61 for an updated activity planning sheet

 

This is very very cool! Thanks, Gary!!!!!