ASTON ELITE's Thrilling Dead Snake Hill Climb
Posted on Fri, Oct 07, 2011 @ 07:25 PM
Obie Silverwood, President of the ASTON ELITE car club, initially wrote this captivating event review for his club's newsletter. We thank him for kindly agreeing to republish it in our blog:
Dear AE friends,
Wow - what a thrilling event! Our eleven competitors slugged it out over a challenging 26.3 mile road course that climbed from 1,900 to 5,260 feet, winding through oak covered foothills, traversing a pine scented National Forest, with a dizzying downhill final leg that was more like an amusement park ride than a public road. Amazingly, finish times of the fastest Aston Martin and fastest Porsche were separated by only 11 seconds.
Silverwood family country home
The evening before the rally the Aston folks assembled at the Silverwood’s country home (photo) for a champagne reception. Present were AE members Randy and Dolly Brewer (V8 Vantage), Don and Terry Lovasik (V8 Vantage), Ed Mitchell and Barbara Posch (V8 Vantage), Randy and Chrissy Hardcastle (V8 Vantage), and Obie and Joy Silverwood (DB7i6), most of whom were staying at the Wonder Valley Ranch Resort – California’s oldest “Dude Ranch.”
Parking Lot at Twin Valley's Restaurant
The ASTON ELITE car club and their guests at Twin Valley's Restaurant
The next morning we caravanned to the old mountain town of Dunlap, where the Twin Valley's Restaurant had kindly cordoned off its parking lot for us (photo) and provided a staging tent, table and cold bottled water. There we were joined by Augie Kuo and Lisa Lejeune (V8 Vantage), Roy and Annie Frye (Porsche 987), David Crabtree (Porsche 987), Steve Williams (Porsche 987), Steve Moe and Christian Gregg (Corvette L2) and Bruce and Marci Cambern (Ford Mustang GT) – Bruce was the Director of World Wide Racing for Ford Motor Company when they owned Aston Martin. Bruce was also the winner of our Blossom Trail Slalom/Sprint event last year driving his 800 HP Cobra.
Preview Drive of the Rally Course
After a registration and orientation meet the group headed out for a preview drive (photo) of the course, which commenced from the parking lot of the restaurant, left onto Dunlap Road for 9.4 miles, then onto Hwy. 245 for 6 miles, then onto Hwy. 180 for 3.9 miles, then onto Millwood Road for 6.4 miles, then onto Dunlap Road again and 0.6 miles back to the restaurant. Dunlap Road was a thrill to drive as it radically curved and climbed up through beautiful oak and wildflower covered foothills. On reaching Hwy. 245, we entered the Sequoia National Forest and the terrain became alpine, with waterfalls and towering conifers. We topped out at one mile altitude at Hwy. 180 and started back down. Millwood Road – the grand finale’ – was unbelievable as it snaked down through breathtaking canyons. Very narrow and with no centerline, this section would require everyone’s best driving skills.
On returning to the staging area, the cars were launched at nine minute intervals with each being timed on its individual run of the 26.3 mile course, the object being to see which could most quickly, safely and legally negotiate the hundreds of tight curves and occasional traffic.
Each launch and return was punctuated by the sound of engines winding out and the smell of hot brakes. Perspiring adrenaline and grinning ear-to-ear, each driver emerged from his car with a story to tell. Pure fun was the essence of the day.
Parking lot at Cedar View Winery
Award Dinner at Cedar Creek Winery
With everyone safely back we settled into a nice lunch at the Twin Valley's Restaurant, hosted by Los Gatos Luxury Cars. That evening, joined by Susan Williams, we reconvened at the Cedar View Winery for a private tasting, hors d’oeuvres and award dinner (photo). The fastest car award went to Roy Frye (35 minutes, 33 seconds) and the fastest Aston Martin award went to Randy Hardcastle (35 minutes, 44 seconds). Los Gatos Luxury Cars also provided a gift certificate drawing for a two-day test drive of a new Aston Martin, which was won by Randy Brewer.
A sincere thank you goes to Los Gatos Luxury Cars for its AE sponsorship, and to the Twin Valley’s Restaurant for their hospitality, and to Augie Kuo, Steve Williams and Randy Brewer for contributing photos of the event. And, a thank you to those who participated.
Sincerely,
Obie R. Silverwood
ASTON ELITE