I just got back from the Mt. Hamilton drive. This is the first time that the majority of cars were not silver. We had three reds (owned by me, Yeeman, and Richard) and three silvers (owned by John, Kevin, and Elton). The weather couldn't have been better for November. The temperature was warm enough that I took my jacket off for most of the drive. There were high clouds in the morning with the storm clouds showing up in the early afternoon. Nobody needed to put their tops up until we made it back down to San Jose.

We had two casualties on the trip. I VERY STUPIDLY left my digital camera sitting on the vinyl cover over the convertible top and it jumped off when I took the first on-ramp onto 580 heading for Livermore. I didn't figure out that it was missing until we got to Mines Road and I didn't see the point in trying to go find it then. I later retraced my path and found the remains. The camera is dead, so no pictures, even of the initial meeting.

The other casualty was more severe. Yeeman bounced his car off of a tree when he got off in some gravel while taking a turnoff a bit too hot. It wasn't damaged nearly as bad as I expected it would be while watching it, but the body under the driver's door and right behind the door was crunched in. The car was still totally drivable except that the impact wedged some bark between the rim and the tire causing a leak. We had a little tutorial on the proper way to change a rear tire while we got the car ready to drive out of there. We were only about a block from the junction up at the top so the closest way back to Mountain View (where he lives) was to continue the rest of the drive as planned.

We had a great drive up to the junction and most of us had a great drive up and down Mt. Hamilton. John stayed with Yeeman up to Mt. Hamilton and I stayed with him going down just to make sure there weren't any other problems. It was kind of nice driving through the falling leaves at a slower pace, enjoying the last of the good autumn weather.

Those of you who chickened out because of the fear of rain missed a good drive.

(Sorry I bailed out before lunch, but I wanted to beat the rain back home (but didn't)).

 

Great drive, even the slow stretch, great weather, hopefully no permanant damage. My apologies also for bailing out, got a call from my wife and had to hightail it home. Hope to see most or all of you next week at Larry Hopkins, I'll copy the wiring page and try to check on the decals.
JohnA

 

Just called my insurance. The adjuster will call me this Monday or Tuesday. Hope everything goes well.

Thanks for everyone who helped me to change tires. Thanks Richard (CaliS2k) for his words of encouragement and advice about what I need to take care of after things like that happen. Thanks John (JohnA) and Scott (scottrnelson) for riding slowly behind me for the way back home. If not for you guys, I think I will be in bigger trouble...

I think I am quite fortunate. I didn't get hurt at all. The car only suffers some body damage at driver side rear side panel. I got my deflated rear tire fixed by Tires by Wheels Work at Capitol Ave. The tire and the rear rim looks ok now. No deformation at the rim, just a few scratches. This wheel shop looks like a pretty
professional place. You might want to check it out if you want to do some tire/rim work.

Even though I didn't drive all the way in a "normal" pace. I still feel that Mt Hamilton actually has a very nice stretch of road. The roads are mostly well-paved and have two normal-sized lanes. At the Pleasanton side, it has some long stretch of straights that let you run to 100 (Well, unless you are good, I don't recommend you do that though). It is also quite rewarding to see the scenary once you get to the Lick Observatory at the top.

So I guess now I will hibernate for a month or so. I think one thing I learned in this accident is that I probably should do a relaxed drive on the route we picked before I actually go on to the drive. Then I probably will have a better expectation of what lies ahead....

 

I am so sorry to hear about the accident. I look forward to this Mt. Hamilton ride in the future, but Maury will have to SWEAR he'll be extra careful driving. Since Sears Point last week, I think he'll want to extend himself. I may be yelling at him=="Remember Yee Man!!!!" so he'll slow down. Hope the car is good as new real soon. Ina & Maury

 

How active are cops on this road? I generally go for a drive from Livermore to the base of the observatory once a month or so and don't recall ever seeing any. However, on the stretch of road from the observatory to San Jose I have seen quite a few. (In fact, I got pulled over by one early this year - fortunately it was only for a $10 fix-it ticket for not having a front plate.)

Apart from bikers, I am surprised at how few people have discovered this road. It has to be one of the best driving roads in the country.

 

There are police from both counties up there (maybe three counties if you count the one to the east), but they're only patrolling the road, not setting up speed traps or anything. If you're alert for other traffic and are trying to be safe while driving fast, there is little chance of getting a ticket. You have to be much more careful west of the observatory. I've personally seen speed traps there.

 

I have given up driving west of the observatory (I generally do a round trip from Livermore and back) - it is too crowded and visibility is not all that great.

I don't drive all that quickly relative to the 55mph (I am assuming) speed limit. You don't have to go at very high absolute speeds to have a good time on this road. It is also almost deserted - I often meet less than a handful of cars on the 75-mile round trip. Lots of motorcyclists though.

Until I read this thread I assumed that the road was practically undiscovered (by car enthuasists at least). I hope it remains quiet. If it gets too much of a high profile I am sure some local elected official is going to try to get some publicity for themselves by sending cops with radar guns out en masse.