We will be starting the new year with a MINI field trip to Huffaker Engineering. Huffaker has been designing and developing competitive engines and chassis since 1960, preparing and racing Jaguars, Lister-Jags, MGs, Sprites, BMC & Genie sports cars, Triumphs, Sebrings, and Trans-Ams (as well as others). In 1992 Huffaker designed tube-frame, rear drive GT5 class Mini for the exercise of technology.

Huffaker's current design focus is on Pro Ford GT, Mustang Cobra, Pro Mazda, and club racing including Miata, Sprite/Miget, and other vintage racing specialties. Delta Miatas will be joining us for lunch in Sonoma and on this field trip to Infineon Raceway in the Sonoma County Wine Country.

There are two pre-runs prior to lunch. One will begin in Santa Rosa for Bay Area participants and another run will start in the Sacramento area. Both runs will start promptly at 9am and will converge at Lake Hennessey in Rutherford (Napa County) at about 11am to continue to the Sonoma Valley via Oakville Grade Road.

Please RSVP on the REME Events Calendar or by posting in this forum.

 

The run routes have been finalized (at least for now). A group will be leaving Santa Rosa at 9am. A second group will be leaving from Davis at the same time. We will meet at Lake Hennessey (in Napa County) at about 11am and drive together to Sonoma for lunch. After lunch we will have our tour of Huffaker Engineering in Sonoma.

 

We now have well over 20 MINI/Minis from REME and others from other clubs joining in. All are welcome, and we would like to get some idea of how many total. Please drop me an email if you plan to attend and you have not signed up on the REME MegaBBS.

There will be two early runs, one starting in Santa Rosa and the other from Davis. We will be meeting up at the "Original Mary's Pizza Shack" in Boyes Hot Springs/Sonoma at about 12:20PM and need to let them know how many to expect. Then off the Huffaker Race Shops at Infineon Raceway at Sears Point.

Delta Miatas are joining as well with at least 15 Miatas. Huffaker also prepares the SCCA Miata racecars.

email: norm@redwoodempiremini.com







Cheers

 

To ALL:
If we have you listed on the MegaBBS RSVP as going on this run below, we plan to stop at the Original Mary's Pizza Shack 18636 Sonoma Highway, Boyes Hot Springs, CA at about 12;30PM for lunch. Mary's Pizza Shack can accomodate up to 40 people in their banquest room.
We are quickly approaching this number, so we ask to let us know how many in your MINI or Miata. To be fair, we must make our cutoff at 40, so please either post on the REME website or send me an email if you wish to make a reservation for lunch. If we exceed this number, there are several other restaraunts nearby to eat.
I have listed a link to their menu below: Mary's Menu link: http://www.maryspizzashack.com/menus.html

 

Well as of today, it looks like we have 20 MINIs, 2 Minis, and 10-12 Miatas joining us on this dual run, lunch and field trip. It's not too late to sign up for the run but we are getting short on restaurant space. Fortunately there are other places to eat close by.

 

Wish I could go. Sonoma is so beautiful.......My husband Bob (Sierra chapter BMW ) raced his kawasaki 550 there at Sears Point 23 years ago!! I use to safety wire his bike before the races. Seems like a lifetime ago. Your route is a beautiful drive. We have a lot of snow here now over the Sierras.Staying warm, Lisa

 

Lisa,

Sorry you can't make it. You have a great excuse (several feet). We will catch up later in the year. Hopefully the snow will allow you to get to Las Vegas. Did you get a houseboat for Shasta?

Bythe way, I was racing an SCCA G-Production MG Midget at Sears Point back in 1983. Does seem like a lifetime ago.

Keep warm & keep safe. Don't forget to add me to you newsletter list.

Cheers

 

Hey Norm
Dont forget if it's raining you'll have 1 SLK 350

 

Randy,

According to weather.com, next Saturday 1/13/2007: Sunny & Clear!!!!!

Saturday, Jan 13

High: 53 °F RealFeel®: 53 °F
A good deal of sun


We also have 13 Miatas that are joining us. It's gonna be a BIG group.

 

Update:

As of this morning (Jan 6) we have 28 MINI/Minis and 13 Miatas going on this run.

If you have not signed up for lunch, please do so now. By my count we have 54 signed up for lunch and I have not heard back from everyone who is signed up for the run yet. Need a head count for the restaraunt.

Thanks,

 

Latest Weather - Cold but Clear High 53 / Low 27 SUNNY

SKIES WILL CLEAR BY FRIDAY NIGHT AND WINDS WILL BEGIN TO DIMINISH. THIS WILL SET THE STAGE FOR VERY COLD NIGHTS LATE IN THE WEEK AND INTO THE WEEKEND. OVERNIGHT LOWS MAY BE AS COLD AS THE MID 20S IN THE INTERIOR VALLEYS AND FREEZING TEMPERATURES ARE POSSIBLE IN NEARLY ALL AREAS AWAY FROM THE COAST ON FRIDAY NIGHT AND SATURDAY NIGHT. TEMPERATURES LATER THIS WEEK ARE LIKELY TO BE THE COLDEST OF THE SEASON SO FAR AND WILL BE IN STARK CONTRAST TO THE MILD WEATHER OF THE PAST FEW DAYS.
ANYONE PLANNING OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES LATER THIS WEEK SHOULD BE PREPARED FOR COLD WEATHER. IN ADDITION...PEOPLE WITH SENSITIVE OUTDOOR PLANTS WILL NEED TO TAKE ACTION TO PROTECT THEM FROM FREEZING TEMPERATURES LATE IN THE WEEK.

 

Oh I can't go, foot is still healing and I can't drive that far on it yet. Have fun everyone. Hope to see you all soon.

 

Update for Saturday's Run

For those joining us on this run starting in Santa Rosa, we will be meeting in the Longs Drug's side of the Safeway-Longs Drug shopping center in the eastern part of the parking lot (behind the Shell gas station) nearest to the Flamingo Resort Hotel on the north side of the Farmer's Lane - Sonoma Highway (Fourth Street) intersection at 8:30am. Plan to leave promptly at 9:00 am. Coffee can be obtained from the Safeway, shell station, or Lyon's restaurant prior to the run. There are also a couple of old fashioned coffee shops nearby if you can get there early for breakfast (I am going to try to). We will have extra copies of run maps and cell phone lists there. Any new members of REME or visitors, please see Peter Ziedrich and sign a copy of our waiver of liability form. If you are leaving from Davis, please see Peter at Lake Hennessey. For those joining this run in Davis, we will be leaving promptly at 9:00AM from the Starbuck's Coffee Shop at 2038 Lyndell Ter. #102, Davis. Robyn Saunders will have the cell phone lists for those leaving from Davis.

For those starting from Santa Rosa, Stop #11 on the Santa Rosa route map is where Franz Valley Road hits SR-128. If the weather is foggy, rainy, snowing or severely cloudy we may opt to take a right turn to Calistoga. Otherwise we will continue on course to Ida Clayton Rd. Ida Clayton Rd. is a narrow, twisty road, with fantastic mountain views. If it is cold (below 32F) we may hit some ice so beware. Ida Clayton will connect to Western Mine Rd. There is a section, approximately 2.2 miles that is packed gravel and fairly smooth, but not paved. If we take this section slow and give adequate space between cars, we should have no trouble. However, if you do not wish to drive on any non-paved surfaces, you should take a right on 128 and head to Calistoga. There you can visit the town, get coffee and we should be coming by on highway 29 at about 10:45AM.

Lake Hennesey, Stop #18 (SR Map) or #20 (Davis Map), is where the SR group will meet up with the group starting from Davis. This will be a 20 minute stop. There are "basic" restrooms. The parking lot is fairly small but should accommodate us. The parking spaces are large for parking vehicles with boat trailers so our MINIs and Miatas could fit three per space. Here we will circulate the Mary's Pizza Shack menus and see if we can put together an order and call it in from there.

Infineon Raceway requires a signed "Release and Waiver of Liability" signed by the driver of the car, to gain access to the racetrack. I will have those forms with me. Please make sure you sign the forms here at Lake Hennessey or Mary's Pizza. You will need to print your name, sign your name, and list Huffaker Engineering as your destination. This will save a lot of time getting through the main gate when we arrive. By signing this form you will have access to many areas around the race track. If you have never been to Infineon, I suggest you take the time to look around. Sorry but we will not be allowed on the track.

When we get to Mary's Pizza Shack in Boyes Hot Springs, the first 20-30 cars can park in their lot (which I anticipate will fill up quickly). There is an empty business directly across the street and we can use that lot for the remainder of required parking.

Mary's has a room in the back of the restaurant that can accommodate about 40 members but the rest will have to eat in the front dining room. As it looks now, we may take over most of the restaurant. Sodas can be purchased by the pitcher for $5.25 and you get about 5 glasses/pitcher or you can purchase the 22 oz soda for about $2.00 and all refills are free.

After lunch at Mary's we will depart (right) south down Sonoma Highway. Then we will turn right (west) on Petaluma Ave. and then left (south) on Arnold Dr. (Highway 121) and head to Infineon Raceway at Sears Point, Sonoma CA. The Huffaker Race Shops, 29601 Arnold Dr. Sonoma CA (707) 935-0533 are located just inside the gates and are up the hill to the left. Once you enter through the main gate to Infineon you will take your first left turn up the hill, passing the go-kart track, proceed up the hill and at the top you will see two large rows of buildings. Huffaker Engineering is perched on top and are on the left side as you approach the buildings.

During the run we will have a limited supply of REME T-shirts and MINI Cones available for sale as well as complimentary copies of REMETV 2006 DVDs for REME members. This is a compilation and production by the Electric Crayon (aka Robyn & Alice Saunders) of the 2006 REME runs.

Also still missing a few cell phone numbers.

As of this AM we have about 30 MINI/Minis and 15+ Miatas.

See you all on Saturday, have fun, drive safe, and keep the rubber side down!!

 

Weather & Roads:

According to the Cal Trans and Highway Reports all roads are clear (12, 29). No closures or delays reported.

Although we have had no recent precipitation, the temperatures have been cold. There "could" be some ice on some of the roads we will take. So be careful.

Here is what is forecasted for Saturday, Jan 13, 2007:

Calistoga
9AM 32F 12PM 45F wind: N 6mph

Middletown
9AM 26F 12PM 42F wind: NNW 6 mph

St. Helena
9AM 32F 12 PM 45F wind: N 7mph

Sonoma
12PM 46F 3PM 51F wind: N 8mph

So a warm coat, gloves, and a knit cap & scarf would be the dress of the day especially for our stops. A thermos of hot coffee or hot chocolate would also be handy. Radios charged and set at 7-21. Cell phones and name tags. Cameras as we should see some spectacular views from the mountain tops.

Lights on!!! Radios on!!! Lets rumble!!!!!

 

Thanks to all that were able to join us on a great run. We had 46 cars and 80+ people. It was a crisp, clear, cold, but sunny day.

For those that left from Santa Rosa, the views from the mountains above Santa Rosa, Napa & Sonoma were specatcular. We did travel on some twisty old mountain roads and hit a two mile dusty portion. Hope the car wash is open today.

For those that left from Davis, I understand the roads were smooth and fast.

After a "warmup" lap around the Montecito area of Santa Rosa, we headed out Calistoga Rd. about 9:20AM, then a left on Porter Creek, and then started climbing the hills to Franz Valley. What beautiful valley tucked away between the mountain vineyards. Franz Valley Road then connects to Ida Clayton Rd. where we again climbed. This time Mt. St. Helena (4300 ft.) before our ascent to highway 29 near Middletown. Then it was a right on 29 past Robert Lewis Stevenson Park and down the hill above the Napa Valley. We passed Calistoga and the down Silverado Trail before cutting off to Lake Hennessey for our meet up with the Davis group.

With 46 cars (31 MINI/Minis and 15 Miatas) we filled the small boat ramp parking lot. After a 30 minutes stop we headed back down Silverado Trail and across the Napa Valley on Yountville Cross Rd. before heading up the mountain on Oakville Grade. We ended up stopping for lunch at Mary's Pizza in Boyes Hot Springs.

Even with all the "best laid plans of mice & men", having 80+ drop in at one time for lunch was a struggle. But as it turnout everyone ate and got a chance to visit.

Then is was off to Infineon Raceway at Sears Point to visit the race shops at Huffaker Engineering. For all of us car buffs, gear heads, and race car enthusiasts, this was near heaven. As we enetered, Joe Huffaker was there to greet us and address the group, answer all our questions and give us a personal tour. We first walked into the entry lobby where Joe's SCCA GT5 National Champion Mini Copper and his National Champion FP MG Midget are proudly displayed. He is where Joe had fun telling all his racing stories with competitors Mike Kearney & Doug Peterson. From there we entered the engine building area. What an organized shop!!! Past there we saw the dyno room, with a Trans AM V8 engine on the test stand. We walked through the fab & welding shop. There were a few "customer" cars in the shop, a DProduction Jensen Healy, a MGTD, a Lotus, and a Pontiac GTO. In the corner was a bugeye Sprite body being prepared and built.

Joe and his lovely wife, Leslie, were very gracious and stayed around for hours telling us stories answering our questions. We have invited them to join us on any of our future REME runs. A Big Thanks to Joe & Leslie Huffaker, their entire crew and the people of Infineon Raceway.

Stephan McKeown just gave this run its official name:

1st Annual Dust Bowl Tour (a.k.a. The Huffaker Run)

 

Here is a link to some photos taken and presented by Christopher "Starlord".

during the run
http://starlord.zoto.com/galleries/mnmrun/

at huffaker engineering
http://starlord.zoto.com/galleries/huffaker/

Others from REME Site:
http://www.redwoodempiremini.com/mbbs2/photos/photo-thumbnails.asp?albumid=128

Here are some from robyn Saunders (Califzeph):
http://picasaweb.google.com/Califzeph/HuffakerEngineeringTour011307

 

Here are some links to Rob & Alice Saunders' video and Starlord's

Enjoy!

Here is my video of the M and M Tour that will be saved for use on the REME End-Of-Year video for 2007:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-5421208222477336227

The movie is just too big for YouTube, but actually, the video quality is a bit better on this Google Video link.


Here is a link to StarLord's Podcast of the M and M Tour. This video is part one of a two part collaborative effort, with part two coming soon. The StarLord videos are available in the iTunes Store, as a free subscription. Watch for more joint StarLord-Electric Crayon projects coming soon.

http://youtube.com/watch?v=kbj3qYs7U4U

Enjoy!




(Rob Reme Logo.jpg)