Miata Mailing List: August 1999, Message #324

sponsored by

dan pedroza <dan@mroadster.com> wrote:

> As a first-time Gapper I wasn't sure what to expect other than twisty
roads
> and interesting people.  And that's all i got. And that's all i really
> wanted.

I agree, we went to have fun playing on the road and relaxing with other
miata people.  Even put up with high prices, hot rooms and no ice
without major complaints.

> $12 for a BBQ sandwich?  i'll take 2...and keep the change.
Next time I will probably visit one of the resturants in the area rather
than
wait for the BBQ sandwich.  Just need to take some others with me.
The bag lunch was a bit enimic, but as hot as we were, it was enough.

> On the way to the Gap I was about midway through Tennessee when i thought
> to myself "Why are you driving  so far in this swealtering heat just for a
> road?"  And then i got ON the road.  I turned into 129 like a little kid
> entering a toystore looking for his favorite aisle.  Its hard not to
notice
> that you're now on the Gap.  5 turns in 5 feet kinda give it away. I can't
> believe that some people were saying "I came in through the Gap and i
> didn't even know it!"

Comming out of Florida, I found it rather easy to figure out where the gap
began and ended.  Too bad we have to drive 675 miles to find such a road.

> Blessing #1:  No sheriffs on the road to harass us.

Yes, that was nice.

> On one of our pullovers we were
> very fortunate. Not more than 10 seconds later there comes screaming
around
> the corner a 10AE that lost control and was all over the road and in my
> lane headed straight for myself, michelle, and Sim.  He was completely out
> of control.  He managed to finally get the car straightened out but had we
> not pulled over, there would have been a head-on collision with my car and
> his.  I was livid.  I screamed at him to SLOW DOWN, and all he did was
wave
> his arm in the air at me as if to say "Oh well, it was fun!" and he got
> back on the throttle for the next turn.

You were lucky, but not alone.  There were a bikers out there that were out
of
control.  There was a semi-truck taking up both lanes and any shoulder he
could
find.  There were also hogs running across the road (not the biker type) and
several really stupid road hogs (not the animal type) including one in an
SUV
talking on the cell phone.

> I admit that i did push my Miata to some of its limits, but the difference
> between me and that 10AE is that i KNOW the limits of my car.  NOT ONE
TIME
> did my tail end come swinging around the corner. not ONE TIME did i get
> into the lane of on-coming traffic to put their lives at risk.  Why?
> because I KNOW my cars limits and i will not push that envelope to see
what
> it can do on such a dangerous stretch of road.  I know that my car is set
> up differently than a stock Miata.  I know that my car is different
because
> i got the chance to drive Magic, MIchelle's '99 Silver, this wekeend as
> well with a stock set up.  I have a big fat front sway bar, aggressive
> alignment, Koni adjustables and BRAND NEW Toyo T1-Ss keeping me on the
road
> safely.  Michelle's '99 was stock.  and it drove differently than mine
like
> night and day. Fortunately she knew that and she drove accordingly.
Others
> did not.  So your Miata has the sport suspension package, huh?  big
> freaking whoop. Do you know how to DRIVE your car?  Or would you rather
> "test" your car and yourself?  That's what an autocross course or road
race
> course is for.  you're alone, and you have a helmet, a rollbar, and no
> oncoming traffic.

Lucky for you that you did not hit some of that hydralic fluid that was
being dripped
on the road by a old pickup truck pulling a trailer with equipment dripping
fluid
on the road.  Then you probably would have found out exactly how well you
knew
your car.  On an open road like the Gap you have to be prepared for the
unexpected and pushing your car to the limit (no matter how well you know
your
car or how good a driver you may be) will evenutally end up with some
mishap.

> (oh, and what if a deer had jumped in front of you on one of the night
> drives?)

Mine was not at night, and it was a hog, then later a semi-truck.  I did not
drive
at night as I only have stock lighting.

> Hell, i propose that we have tech inspection.  If you don't have the
tires,
> then we're sticking you behind that trailer for the drive.  If you have a
> leak and are leaving coolant or oil all over the road, we're sending you
> back to the pool at the lodge.  If your brake pads are worn, you WILL stop
> by one of the vendors to slap on a set of new pads.  If i had it my way,
> i'd require everyone to wear helmets.  If i had it my way I'd keep this
> event as secretive as possible.

A tech inspection area would be a good thing, but will be hard to enforce as
it
the gap is a public road.  I do agree that helmets and roll bars (we had
them
and my son wore his) are a good thing to have and encourage people to bring
them next year.

Sorry to hear about your loss.  Tough ending to a good weekend.

Don Reese
--
Don Reese
'97 Montego Blue/Black Miata (WINdy)
'68 C Code Mustang Coupe

AKA: don_reese@bigfoot.com