This next weekend (October 2 & 3) is the Salinas Air Show. I'm thinking it might be a great last minute cruise if anyone else is interested. Email me at ricknie@aol.com if you would like to go on either Saturday or Sunday. With the Blue Angels performing it ought to be a pretty good show. I figure to head out at around 8 or 9am from Willow Glenn. A good ride would be to go out through the Almaden Valley to Hecker Pass and into Watsonville. Then Take Highway 1 into Castroville, through to the backside of Salinas. I've done it many times, its a great cruise without too many surprises.

SHOW SCHEDULE
Saturday & Sunday, October 2-3, 2004
Gates open at 9 AM Flying Starts at 11 AM

CENTER]Allen Silver Flag Jump
Heritage Flight featuring the F-16, A-10, P-38 and P-51
F-16 Demo
Red Baron Pizza Stearman Squadron
Mike Goulian
Smoke 'N Thunder
Showcopters
Kent Pietch Comedy Act
Canadian Forces Snowbirds Depart
Canadian Forces Showbirds
Sean D. Tucker
A-10 Demo
Kent Pietsch Dead Stick Act
Stars of Tomorrow/Sean D. Tucker/Mike Goulian
Fat Albert
US Navy Blue Angels[/CENTER]

 

Hey that's a cool idea!!!

 

So Loaded8, you up for it?

 

Well, I went by ourselves. For those that are interested in a great road trip, here is my run.

I took Almaden Expressway in San Jose south to it's end. Right on Harry Road and left at the next stop sign (McKean Road). McKean is a two lane, lots of curves without any hairpins that runs out past Clareo Reservoir. Its a great weekend road with not too much traffic. The motorods all know it as well. It turns into Uvas Road, out past Uvas reservoir and into the countryside until it gets to 152, Hecker Pass Road. This is the South side of the 152 that goes over Pacheco Pass from Gilroy. Instead it climbs over the Santa Cruz Mountains and ends up in the backside of Watsonville. Now this road has some surprises, both going up hill and down the backside. The turns are good however, nicely banked and plenty of eyeball room. 152 comes into the South end of Watsonville, connecting to Highway 1. The going there is a little tedious due to the single lane funnel. The weekend crowd that is heading down to Monterey is packing this part. At Castroville you make the turn into downtown (Highway 183) and try not to get lulled into the Giant Artichoke restaurant where you can get your fill and never get out. 183 is a two lane go fast that takes you into Salinas. I found a company parking lot across the freeway (101) from the Salinas Airport that gave me a front row seat without the traffic headaches. Great air show as well as me being the only RX-8 in the neighborhood. It would have been great to be one of a dozen or so.
Next time...aye?

 

Zoomy sounds like fun. I tried to get some friends to go but it was too last minute and I ended up doing a favor for my brother. Next year for sure. :D Sorry you didn't have a whole caravan of 8s to accompany you.