Date: January 1, 2007 (Monday)
Time: Noon, rain OR shine!
Place: Orange County Health Services
27512 Calle Arroyo, San Juan Capistrano
Host: K. Zack Broadbent, 714-686-5398, racerzack@aol.com
Cost: FREE except for a $1/car facility use fee in Lake Elsinore

Details:
It's been 9 years. In 2006, it looked like it would come to an end. 9 years of driving enthusiasts welcoming the new year with a fun, scenic drive through the hills of Orange, San Diego, and Riverside counties. Primarily Mazdas, but also Hondas, Nissans, Fords, Chevrolets, and yes -- even a Ferrari -- have come together for this legendary drive. 2000 marked the high point, with the Millennium Hangover and 133 cars.

But then, with Ortega Highway scheduled to be closed for refurbishing, the drive went into retirement. It made a final bow on January 1, 2006; it's ninth performance, never to return.

We forgot one thing: the government never operates on time.

According to CalTrans, Ortega Highway's project will resume starting late January and go into February, 2007. When the sun dawns on 2007, Ortega will be open and ready. So, why not bring the total number of Hangovers to an even 10? Nine just felt, well... incomplete.

So, like Cher, Barbra, Whitney, Celine, and Tina, this Diva of Drives is coming out of "retirement" for one more fabulous performance! Rain OR Shine! (but it's NEVER rained us out. NEVER!) We'll trace our path along Ortega Highway and once again pause in Lake Elsinore for an awesome photo op. Then, we'll continue onward to the 27% downgrade which made this run famous. Dipping and curving through scenic avocado and orange groves, we'll finish in Temecula around 4:30pm for an early dinner. (We'll end near a bunch of restaurants, letting everyone go on their own to whichever place they prefer.)

And yes, this time it really WILL be the FINAL performance, making it a DECADE of casual new year's driving fun. You won't want to miss it! Can we top the run's record of 133 cars? Wouldn't THAT be a great finish?! This time, I want to see a bunch of Scions on the drive, too. If I can find a friend to drive my tC, I'll lead in my Miata and have my friend be the "tail" in my tC!

Directions:
Exit Interstate 5 at Ortega Highway (74) and head inland (from the 5 South, turn left). Go 0.2 miles and turn right at the light onto Rancho Viejo. At the dead end/light, turn left onto Calle Arroyo. Go another 0.2 miles and turn right into Orange County Health Services. If you get to a stop sign, you went too far. The parking lot may appear small at first, but bear to the right and you'll see it extends a long way behind some small office buildings.

 

Bump. The drive is still on and I hope to see a bunch of Scions joining in the fun! No RSVP required. This is gonna be a GREAT event!

 

I'll do my best to make it. So far it's penned in on my schedule.

 

way cool! the weather is OUTSTANDING right now, so it's gonna be a great drive!

 

Thanks for organizing the event. It was a blast! Hopefully this isn't the true end. Too bad there weren't many Scions there.

Pictures are located here:

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/vie...927&highlight=