Sherman,
THANK YOU!! For the invite and event. (Along with all the other people that made it possible)
I needed a swoop to tide me over until i get back from my business trip, and this fit the bill perfectly.
Friday, I had a great run to Texas. I was hoping to have a time closer to 12 hours, but reality set in right around El Paso. Weather was perfect, car did great. I think i had a tail wind after my first gas stop, the gas needle just didn't move! There was a little rain in the final hour running to Leakey. Got in (stopped the watch at 12:58, not bad for 1050 miles) and said hello around and then found some food before they rolled the streets up. I had dinner with the Nebraska crew at a mom and pop joint where everyone was really cordial. I love small towns. (IIRC, Leakey, pop. 452) Came back and BS'd then found my rack and made friends.
Saturday, woke up at 7:30, cleaned up and outside in the 50 degree weather for the run to breakfast. It was early, people had imbibed recreational beverages the night before, so I thought we'd have a relaxed drive in. NOPE. i guess that's one way to wake up... We had a nice loud breakfast. One of the waitresses got frisky with the crowd and stood her ground asking and confirming that someone wanted to be treated like a local?? Awkward silence. I sat at the "big" table next to the elk. No one below 6'3", please...
Now, somehow we had gotten talking about radar detectors and i had Karen's V1 running below my escort. I ran it before breakfast (no pings) and then we forgot to get it back in the 6er. We peeled off in a group of 5 from the big group. Me, Karen and Clint in the M635CSi, Travis in e28, and Ed and Nick in '02s. Nice tame group. Long sweepers favor the big cars, tight and twisty go to the '02s. We make our way back towards leakey and i ended up in the rear with the protection. We were almost back and the detector goes off. I look forward and the group is getting ready to overtake a slower car. "Nonononono!!" , and just as Karen is completing her pass, the truck lights her up. Sneaky bastard. We meet her down the road and she looks shellshocked. Really crappy luck. We screw around a little more, then hit up a BBQ joint for lunch. Smelled really good, but I was still stuffed from breakfast. Sherman suggests that i take off first for the Sisters Run since I have a radar detector and no ticket. Fine. So i get the 5 from our group and figure i'll get a pretty good lead and clear the roads for everyone. Fine. Then I look in the rear view and EVERYONE is back there. Shit man. There were some really great, FAST cars, and i figured i'd have to drive super hard, but i would bite the bullet. Sherman wouldn't set me up, would he? (Sigh)
Man, if I would have known that everyone was gonna follow, i would have waited and just kept a group in the back. Or run last.
But i'm getting ahead of myself. We get on the the Three Sisters proper and after about the third turn, a deer decides that it's time to cross, right in front of me. I stab the brakes and leave 4 beautiful black streaks on the pavement, and a huge plume of blue smoke for the caravan to punch through. Whew. It was pretty close. I take a breath, the tires feel okay, and I push on.
We go for about 20 minutes and the sharks come out to play. Pretty demotivating, but that's what i get for not completing the project... I got a few new stone chips, and was part of a NASCAR style three wide pass. I saw it forming in the rearview and it just couldn't be over fast enough. I got off lucky, i didn't catch a stone in the temple like Pavel...
Great roads! Terrific! (wrong car, dammit...)
We get back and I jaw at Sherman a bit about setting me up. Then I ask Nick (red '02) if I can give his car a run. Built M10, 5 speed, H&Rs over Billies, big sways and brakes and 15" wheels. Great car and so much fun. I do a mini loop (only ONE hour...) all by myself and have a blast. The car really rips. I get the frustration out and feel much better. Got back just in time for dinner and raffle. I believe the hotel staff fed us? It was great. I totally cleaned up at the raffle; an e30 power steering delete, ladies BMW shirt, and $50 Blunt bucks (can't wait to put that up in the garage, very clever!) Stayed up a little while around the fire with friends then called it a night. What a great event!
I was able to match my previous effort for the return trip (1050 miles: 12:56). Amazing. Especially considering the one "rest" day. I slept in a little on sunday, so i didn't leave till 9am. I had exactly 13 hours to get home and beat the gate locking at storage. (8pm) Six minutes to spare, but that last few hours i had to push hard.
As far as the three sisters; I SHALL RETURN!!
Nick (red '02), thank you so much for letting me drive your car. That was a blast, and was exactly the thing i needed to tip me towards turning my '69 into a backroad bomber. So raw and responsive!
To the deer of texas hill country: EFF YOU!! I cannot believe how much smoke can come from four tires with the slightest non-ABS assisted panic brake.
It was terrific to see old friends, make new ones, find new twisties and get my swoop on. You should put Texfest on your list if you're within a reasonable distance.
to our sponsors. 
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weekend, in every way.
I sunk deep into my e21 sport seat seeking some type of shelter as i handed her legitimate fundage & hightailed it across state lines! 
