| Author | Message | ||
     Wyckedflesh |
Unibear this thread is for your idea so all can chime in and we can start nailing down dates and hotel stuff. A rough concept a few of us were thinking April or very early May would be a good time frame to shoot for. We could try to set up at the Rode Inn again as the guys did for the Springerville/Torquefest II run. Los Hermanos in Superior has a ballroom upstairs and can cater food if we wanted to do a Salt River run with a catered lunch at Los Hermanos. OktoberFaster's and anyone else interested please chime in here so we can get this ball rolling. | ||
| Sandblast |
My idea is that the event be near something for our wives and kids who don't ride can do, or at least a really nice hotel, so that I dont have to ditch them and I can be there. Oh hell I'll probably be there anyway... Where in the state are we talking? | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Figure from probably Phoenix to Flagstaff and Prescott east to the 191. Probably some of the route for Torquefest as well as 89/89A AKA the Spars around Prescott. I will look into seeing what family fun can be done and maybe some of the AZers with family can help out with that as well.  We will be glad to have ya Sandblast | ||
| Sandblast |
Sweeet. I rode to Prescott once, I love how the mountain splits the road for a while and you have two lanes going up. My wife grew up out there and she is looking for things to do already. Sounds like a keeper, thanks Wyked. | ||
| Unibear12r |
Wish I could claim this but its really Al's idea. Sounded like great fun to me. Thank you for taking it on. All I know about about AZ is how to superslab to/thru Phoenix so I'll bow to the wisdom of the AZ hooligans as to roads. I've heard the north end is quite nice but I've never seen it. | ||
| Ethanr |
Castles 'n Coasters (Phx) might be open depending on the exact timeframe. Nice little amusement park with a decent coaster (2 loops I think). Might be able to get a group rate if there's enough interest. We have a number of good water parks but I doubt they'll be open...too cold for us locals until the temps are up. | ||
| Al_lighton |
Excellent!!! Al | ||
| Belookin |
If we're looking for some fun and entertainment for the Family-maybe we should consider the Showlow area. There's more family type things to do there vs. further up north where it might still be a bit cold. Showlow is also a good central area to hit more of the "desirable" twisties in Arizona. Better choices for Hotels also for Families. Indoor Pools,HorseBack Riding, Hiking, Kidds Trout Pond fishing, Elk Watching, you know-more Arizona type things to do. Open for Suggestions. Al | ||
| Bartimus |
 I think the Show Low idea is a good one. We can stay at the Days Inn. There are many more things to do there, than in Springerville, LoL. By far, the sweetest road in the state is Hwy 191. Formally known as Hwy 666. (Renamed to be politically correct)  If everyone meets in Phoenix, where they can park any trucks or trailers, (ahem), we can leave heading west over Yarnell pass, then down through the Spars, lunch in Prescott, and then out hwy260 to Payson, and on up to Show Low. It will probably be late, after dark, when we arrive. We can ride the route over to New Mexico, and down through the canyons to Glenwood, NM. Then on through the tight twisties past Daryl's memorial, where we can take a break, and then on into Morienci for lunch. After lunch, we can attack 191, the curves are technical, and spectacular. Here is a link to Jim Witt's topo maps of the route: http://www.pbase.com/smokedaddy/arizona_torque_fest&page=all We should get back into Show Low before 5PM. We can then chow down somewhere, and then commence to drink! The next day, we can take Hwy 60 down off the mountain. Ripping the Salt river canyon, and then Globe/Winkelman/Superior loop. We can stop in Superior for some chow, and bid farewell to our Tucson friends, as we split ways. In Phoenix the rest of the crowd can relax and then prepare to head on home. The Northern AZ riders can opt to take Hwy 260 back home to save time, rather than ride the Salt, and then have to ride from Phoenix, all the way up I-17. (Although Black Canyon city area does have some great sweepers!)  This route will take 3 days to traverse. Day one: Ride up through the spars, and then across Hwy 260 to Payson, and then on up to Show Low. Day two: Ride into New Mexico, and then across to Hwy 191, and back up to Show Low. Day three: Ride down through the White mountains, through the Salt river canyon, and into Globe. We can then determine if we want to do the Winkelman loop, or just head on down to the mountain. Factor in that the California folks are going to take a days drive each way, and your looking at a 5 day committment for them. We need to trim the route down some, probably. I think the New Mexico/Hwy 191 is a must ride. The spars are also, but the distance from the base point may make this route to long. Everyone's got their favorite roads, we can't get them all in. The distance is just too great. I think two 300-400 mile days would suffice. That's still 4 days for the Cali folks.  But then again, LOL. It is an excellent route all summed up. Some of Arizona's finest. So kick this around some.  Nice name for the thread. | ||
| Warp2 |
Couldn't have picked a better route if I tried. Good job Bart!! Count me in for the whole shootn match! | ||
| Belookin |
Same as Warp2. That's the route I choose tooooo! I'm in for all three days. The Winkleman/Superior loop is an Excellent Ride also. Maybe we can do that right after lunch!?! Or before lunch if we're making good time coming down the road from Showlow. I like the intinerary.  | ||
| Jerry_haughton |
Bart, we're in! FB&D | ||
| Al_lighton |
I'm there! Al | ||
| Awprior |
Vacation will be tight, but it's on the calendar. How could I pass up riding with you guys again? Iowa is a whole lot closer than Pennsylvania! Hope I can make it. Alex | ||
| Iamike  |
Alex- I may be interested in it too. After my ride out there with the guy on the Road King, I need to ride with some guys that can turn. We'll talk about it over some beers at your new place next year. | ||
| Wyckedflesh  |
WE need to start nailing down some dates. One of the things is to keep in mind Springbreak for those with kids that want to join us as well as what the weather/road conditions could be in at the higher elevations. This way we can start setting up for blocks of rooms | ||
| Awprior  |
Mike, Sounds good to me. Looking forward to what seems like a heck of a summer... It's going to be tough to trump what I did this past year though. Alex | ||
| Bartimus  |
I'm going to do a pre-ride and find out just how long it does take to get from Phx over Yarnell, to hwy260 and then to Showlow as that will be the first leg in the first day. I'm going to go in two weekends. If anyone wants to go they are more than welcome. (weather permitting) I will nix it if it snows, but rain is exceptable. (hear that Brian?) I think the spring break dates are in March, arn't they? That may be too early to ride in the high country. I still haven't researched the temps in Hannigans Meadows yet, during that time of year. But trust me, it WILL be very cold! | ||
| Wyckedflesh |
Spring break floats from the end of MArch to the middle of April Bart. Let me know what weekends your going, if I am not working I will join you. As I have been getting the weekends off lately, I am about to be nailed to the wall for weekend shifts any week now. | ||
| Warp2  |
http://www.wunderground.com/history/airport/KSAD/2004/3/22/MonthlyHistory.html#c alendar Looks like temps any where from High 60's to low 80's in both March and April. Just depends on the cloud cover. | ||
| Awprior |
Bart, Ride away. Just make sure that those of us in the midwest have halfway decent trip out to Arizona. It was damn chilly through parts of Colorado, and I was there in August. Can't wait to ride with you again. Give me a call sometime. Alex | ||
| V2win  |
St. Louis is watching this thread with interest too. | ||
| Jerry_haughton  |
Lake Isabella is watching this thread with interest, too. | ||
| Al_lighton  |
As is the rest of Socal, and I'm sure most of the Oktoberfast participants. I did the Torquefest routes, and my wife and I did the Flagstaff to Prescott area a number of years ago. There are a lot of cool roads over there that I want to ride. You aridzonians figure it all out, tell me where to be and when, I'm coming! Al | ||
| Iamike |
We don't have a Spring break but that doesn't matter. My old school buddy, who lives in Tempe, & I are turning 50 in April. He is having a party around the end of March I think so I was thinking about coming out there again anyway. While I was there in Sept. we came down thru Payson (which they are ruining with the new 4-lane). I did take a ride up from Apache Jct. on the Apache Trail until the pavement ran out. We left going up thru Prescott/Sedona/Flagstaff, which was a real nice ride, especially since there was hardly any traffic. I'll have to see how the schedule works out for me. But I can work around yours. | ||
| Careyj  |
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| V2win |
Hey guys, We be wait'n to hear some dates and locations. | ||
| M1combat  |
Holy crap... I just noticed this thread . Bart... I'll ride with you as well. I can meet you in Wickenberg on the morning you head out and we can probably just figure out the rest (as far as a place to stay (wooden picnic tables are the best) on the trip). You aren't going to scout the route THIS weekend are you? If so lemme know asap so I can request the time off. It'll be VERY cold up here in the mountains but I'm sure you knew that... It was 8-10F the other night... | ||
| Bartimus |
I did a pre-ride this weekend of the whole route. I did NOT include the ride through New Mexico, and then Hwy 191, since we just did that route and I do know it will take 8 hrs to traverse. The ride from Phoenix, to Wickenburg, over Yarnell pass, Prescott, and then across Hwy260 to Payson, up to Showlow took me almost 8 hrs to ride. I left Phoenix at 0800 hrs, landed in Showlow about 1630 hrs. A long, but VERY enjoyable ride. I only stopped for gas, a group would stop more often. I was surprised to see snow, in Prescott, and in Showlow, and was cold as hell. Remember to bring the long-johns boys and girls! The weather will be similiar in the spring. (up in the high country that is) The last leg of the ride takes 5 hrs to get back to Phoenix. I am going to check with a local indoor go-cart track to see about group rates. I think that will be a good closing to a great weekend of riding. Go carting indoors. (what a concept). Sorry M1, didn't post in time. But there you have it, that's the ride times. Surprise, surprise, eh? I'm going to do another pre-ride in about 3 weeks. M1, if you want to meet me in Wickenburg, that is fine. Anyone else can meet me in Phx. I'm going to scope out the rest areas, vistas, etc. to see about where we want to plan the stops for breaks, scenic views, etc. More than likely, I will overnight in Showlow again. Plan on that, we can share rooms if you want.. Still not sure of the dates. Weather will play a big part, as will peoples schedules. I'm at a new job now, and time off does not look like an option. So I may be unemployed after this ride like I was last summer. LOL Such is life, when you enjoy riding as much as I do. Keep posting your thoughts and opinions, they all will factor into the final dates. BBB  | ||
| Bartimus |
Kobie, those temps are not accurate, that is for Safford, which is much lower in elevation, try getting info from Springerville, or Showlow for a more accurate temperature. (nice job finding that link, though) |
