Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 18:46:15 -0700
Reply-To: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Don Hanson <dhanson928@GMAIL.COM>
Subject: Re: Is it Calming to Drive a Vanagon
In-Reply-To: <AANLkTin2EJRhNHcBNik3gQqzio1aJMYj+_3oxhd_zNKv@mail.gmail.com>
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On Fri, Aug 20, 2010 at 1:43 PM, Donna Skarloken <dskarloken@gmail.com>wrote:
> My normal driving is in and around the SF Bay Area so that can make you
> nuts, although Seattle traffic was on the verge of making me even more
> stressed, which was difficult to believe. Does anyone on the list live in
> Lynwood?
>
> Buckarette
>
Well, SF does sort of take the prize, at least on the west coast. My
racecar engine builder had his shop in Belmont, just south of SFO and I had
to often go there towing a 26' long car hauler trailer with my Ford Diesel
and Alaskan camper on that. He was always 'behind schedual' too, so when I
would have a race on Saturday somewhere around Central California...I'd show
up mid day Friday, to beat the traffic...he would promise that the car
would be done by noon....I would still be there at 4pm, trying to get out to
Laguna Seca or Infineon (Sears Point) for the Saturday morning
qualifying...It was nice to race with a reasonably rested body and
mind...which never happened with that guy doing my motors....Then I decided
to try a guy in Wilsonville, east of Bellvue....Almost as bad, but at least
he was only 5hrs from my house not 11 like Belmont, Ca. I found it quicker
to haul through Yakima and over Snoquallamie Pass, go through Carnation and
get to his place via the Back Door...
I once took a wrong turn, headed from Belmont to Sears Point raceway.
Ended up right downtown in the City, smack dab in the Haight with this long
long racecar trailer and no freaking idea how to get out, to get across the
GG or the Bay Bridge or anywhere else...A couple of city cops, riding dual
sport cop bikes pulled up at a stop sign and go..."You lost?"...I go "Duh"
they go "Follow us, we'll get you back on the freeway" and they proceeded to
send one guy ahead to hold traffic at intersections while the other one lead
me right to an on ramp.....I coulda kissed em....it was S. F. after all...
One local racer guy was at Infineon for a race and we were headed the next
day to Laguna Seca..down by Carmel. He said he was going to go to
Sacramento and Stocton and cross the mountains near Gilroy to "beat the
traffic"....That was about 200 miles extra, but he swore he would save
time....
Ugly stuff, that bay area traffic. (friday off topic) My van works ok
there, though...Since it is usually stop and go...I can go back and get
drinks, play with my dog, whatever...A lot nicer than trying to work traffic
in a rig that is about 40' overall and with a Porsche decal that was bigger
than my whole vanagon......
Don Hanson
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