TheSamba.com :: View topic - Day trip to wine country in a 1952 ragtop

Thu Oct 14, 2010 5:57 pm

I had the day off work, and my wife had the idea to take the split window for a long drive. She was still bummed about not being able to join me on the drive to Solvang, so she suggested we take a trip to Napa Valley to our favorite hamburger stand.

Taylor's Refresher has been around since 1949 and has the best hamburger I've ever eaten. There is usually 30-45 minute line just to order your food, but we got lucky going on a weekday.

The trip was 100+ miles and the split ran perfect. A freshly restored 25hp engine is a real perk when tuned correctly, and the car had no problem with some of the bigger hills. Of course we had to pull over several times when a Ford Explorer was 2 feet from our rear bumper.

Just as we pulled home the odometer flipped over 3,000. Not bad considering the car has never had a major problem since being finished.

Who's afraid of a little traffic?

Taylor's Refresher since 1949. Split window Ragtop since 1952

Will

Thu Oct 14, 2010 6:42 pm

Nice!!!

Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:03 pm

Wow... Excellent! What Route did you take?.. I need to do that drive someday soon.

Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:11 pm

From Sacramento we drove 128 West, through Winters, past Lake Berryessa & lake Hennessey (the lake in the pictures). The drive was perfect for a stock split. All the hills were conquered easily in 3rd gear and the road was pretty empty for the most part.

It would be amazing to get a few local split owners together and make this drive together. Melissa and I just did a quick trip (Gramma was watching our 1-year-old), but with a group of people we could hit the various wine tasting locations and make a weekend out of it.

Will

Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:15 pm

oldsplitvw wrote: From Sacramento we drove 128 West, through Winters, past Lake Berryessa & lake Hennessey (the lake in the pictures). The drive was perfect for a stock split. All the hills were conquered easily in 3rd gear and the road was pretty empty for the most part.

It would be amazing to get a few local split owners together and make this drive together. Melissa and I just did a quick trip (Gramma was watching our 1-year-old), but with a group of people we could hit the various wine tasting locations and make a weekend out of it.

Will

I am down.. tell me when! I have been meaning to do just the same Winery trip in my Split... No doubt my g/f would love it. :)

Thu Oct 14, 2010 7:39 pm

There is an amazing drive close to me for an old VW. Its the back way through Canyon CA from Hwy 24 (Orinda) all the way through to Castro Valley (Hwy 580). It follows the Upper San Leandro Creek and Resevoir.. hairpins.. twists and turns and a HUGE stand of Redwoods. The drive is almost creepy as the forest is very Primordial back there (in mid-day it's cold and dark).... and NO Cell Service. :wink:

Fri Oct 15, 2010 8:48 am

You guys suck.
=P~

Fri Oct 15, 2010 11:30 am

lovely bug

Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:05 pm

Fri Oct 15, 2010 1:52 pm

gimmesomeshelter wrote: :D

Im thinking that Okrasa monster would like a little wine trip yes?

Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:56 pm

although i'm in nj i'll be taking out the 52 for a cruise around the farm lands tomorrow.

Sat Oct 16, 2010 6:10 pm

Boy, our farm country looks a lot different in Vermont. Glad to see you Californians drive your cars. It's hard enough to get split owners in the northeast to bring them to a show. :)

Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:33 am

52HoffmanSplit wrote: oldsplitvw wrote: From Sacramento we drove 128 West, through Winters, past Lake Berryessa & lake Hennessey (the lake in the pictures). The drive was perfect for a stock split. All the hills were conquered easily in 3rd gear and the road was pretty empty for the most part.

It would be amazing to get a few local split owners together and make this drive together. Melissa and I just did a quick trip (Gramma was watching our 1-year-old), but with a group of people we could hit the various wine tasting locations and make a weekend out of it.

Will

I am down.. tell me when! I have been meaning to do just the same Winery trip in my Split... No doubt my g/f would love it. :)

If you can stand to have an oval rag ride with you next time, give us a heads-up. Peg and I did that ride many times when we lived near you and we'd like to do it again.....this time in style :!: 8)

Sun Oct 17, 2010 9:34 am

52HoffmanSplit wrote: There is an amazing drive close to me.. that is amazing for an old VW. Its the back way through Canyon CA from Hwy 24 (Orinda) all the way through to Castro Valley (Hwy 580). It follows the Upper San Leandro Creek and Resevoir.. hairpins.. twists and turns and a HUGE stand of Redwoods. The drive is almost creepy as the forest is very Primordial back there (in mid-day it's cold and dark).... and NO Cell Service. :wink:

Sounds great!