2024 Lake Tahoe Run - May 18-19, 2024 (Sat. & Sun.)

Your Hosts for the Event:

Day 1: Enoch & Merlyn Garcia

Day 2: Mary Wolgamot

Run Details:

This is a 2-day run with 2 parts on day 1! We've broken up the day 1 run into two parts in case you are only interested in / available for one portion of the overall run (we certainly welcome you for the whole ride).

Register via MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/2024-lake-tahoe-run-norcal-minis-321324

Day 1 - Saturday May 18th, Part 1

Join us for a cruise through Fairfield and Napa to South Lake Berryessa and Davis, on our way to Rancho Cordova to meet up with fellow MINIacs in the Sacramento area.

Route:

https://goo.gl/maps/uD9LiKKAdDJZET1A9

Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

8:30 am / 9:00 am

Meet-up Location:

Solano College

4000 Suisun Valley Rd

Fairfield, CA 94534

Turn right into the first Solano College driveway off of Suisun Valley Rd; proceed directly ahead to open parking lot (look for Norcal MINIs banner)

Please be sure to be fully fueled upon arriving at Solano College; it will be a bit over an hour before our first stop and there are many twisty roads between there and the start!

Rest stop (15 mins):

Arco / Taco Bell

999 E Grant Ave

Winters, CA 95694

The rest stop for the first half of the run will be scattered between the Arco and Taco Bell off of East Grant. We'll do our best to stay together, but anticipate parking wherever you can find a spot. We'll stage along the side road when we are ready to head out.

Endpoint:

Starbucks

3195 Zinfandel Dr, Unit 1

Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

On your own for lunch, etc. until 12pm (many places to grab food near the Starbucks)

Day 1 - Saturday May 18th, Part 2

From Rancho Cordova, we'll be heading east to South Lake Tahoe via Hwy 16 / 49 / 88, then up 89 and through the Pioneer Trail to our final destination of the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe in Stateline, NV.

Route:

https://goo.gl/maps/dhVtfRCJN39aW1qZ9

Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

12 pm / 12:15 pm

Meet-up Location:

Starbucks
3195 Zinfandel Dr, Unit 1
Rancho Cordova, CA 95670

For those planning to meet us in Rancho Cordova, we anticipate an arrival time of between 11:15-11:30

Rest stop (20 mins):

76
26810 Silver Dr
Pioneer, CA 95666

This is a small gas station (on a lot large enough for the whole group to pull into), so my recommendation would be to fill up during our lunch break if you do not have a full tank at the start of the run.

Optional rest stop (marked in case someone has to pull off, but the group will not be stopping here because it is not large enough for the group to pull into):

Hope Valley Wildlife Area Parking Lot
Alpine State Hwy
Markleeville, CA 96120

Once we get to Meyers, we'll be going through residential areas with traffic signals on our way to Stateline, so the group is likely to get split up. Please observe the speed limit signs; the local sheriff loves to bust visitors.

Part 2 Endpoint:

Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe
50 US-50
Stateline, NV 89449

Turn left across 50 into the driveway, head to back parking lot, park in "A" section (if you want to park together someplace)

Day 2 - Sunday May 19th

Sleep in a bit, but not too much(!), and meet Mary at Starbucks at Town Center.  After a brief drivers' meeting, we'll head for a quick stop at a fun photo spot ON the Stateline!

For the next half an hour or south we'll take in the breathtaking scenery of the Nevada shore of Lake Tahoe.  Mary will provide some anecdotes along the way.  

Another photo spot stop on the Mt Rose Highway, before slipping back into California for lunch.

Mt. Rose Overlook

From there folks can catch Hwy 80 or head down the Western shore to Highways 50 or 88 to get home.

Route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/PLNT5QMjUVX82Hq19

Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

10:00 am / 10:30 am

Meet-up Location:

Starbucks - Town Center 

4000 Lake Tahoe Blvd

South Lake Tahoe, CA 96150

Lunch Options:

If the weather is good, grab some deli fare at the Safeway and picnic at King's Beach. If the weather is not so good, we can go to Spindleshanks Restaurant as a group or just split up and hit the little eateries.

Safeway

7815 N Lake Blvd

Kings Beach, CA 96143

Spindleshanks Tahoe Restaurant

400 Brassie Avenue

Suite B

Kings Beach, CA 96143

530-546-2191

Spindleshanks menu:

Additional Run Details:

Bring something warm to wear; we'll be traveling through high altitude (8000 ft.) mountain passes where there's still snow on the mountains. Temperatures could range from the mid 40s to the upper 50s!

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

We ask that you turn on low-beam headlights - not Auto - to make us more visible to other vehicles either ahead or behind us, including your fellow MINI drivers.

Napa/Sonoma Run - Sunday April 21, 2024

Off the beaten path in wine country.

West bank of Lake Berryessa

Your Host(s) for the Event:

Chris Hanson and MaryAnn Worobiec

Route:

https://maps.app.goo.gl/n7z2jpwrMJd5VtCX9

Download the map for off-line use - we will likely lose cell coverage.

Register via MotorSport Registry:

https://www.motorsportreg.com/events/napa-sonoma-run-off-beaten-path-norcal-minis-595550

Meet-up Time/Departure Time:

9:00 am / 9:30 am

Meet-up Location:

Starbucks 

5121 Business Center Dr

Fairfield, CA 94534 

(In the Costco shopping center parking lot)

Costco will be behind you when looking at this Starbucks

Important Note: 

There will NOT be any options for gas along the first 70 miles of the route! Please make sure to have a full tank prior to joining the run! We won't stop at restrooms for the first hour either, so plan ahead.

We recommend stopping in Cordelia (Exit 41 from both I-80 E & W), 5 minutes away from our meetup location before joining us for the meet-up and drivers' briefing. The addresses are all technically in Fairfield, but many of the road signs here identify it as Cordelia, so don't get confused, just follow your navigation system to the addresses.

Suggested fuel/coffee/restroom stops before arriving at the Starbucks in the Costco parking lot:

• Costco Gas Station (same parking lot as the meet-up)
  5101 Business Center Dr, Fairfield, CA 94534
• ARCO
  134 Pittman Rd, Fairfield, CA 94534
• Chevron
  4470 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534
• Shell
  4450 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534
• Starbucks near the Chevron/Shell gas stations listed above
  4490 Central Way, Fairfield, CA 94534

Run Details:

We will start our April run near where November’s Napa run started: in Fairfield. From there we will head north on the twisty, two-lane roads connecting Fairfield to Napa. Instead of heading into the valley, as last year’s run did, we will continue north along the western bank of Lake Berryessa on Knoxville Road which promises plenty of twisties and spectacular views of the lake. As we reach the northern end of the lake we will take our mid-run break at the Pope Creek Day Use Area; it has plenty of parking, vault toilet restrooms, and views of Lake Berryessa:

From our pit stop we will motor northwest on Napa’s backroads through Pope Valley where we will see miles and miles of vineyards! 

We will continue north into Lake County through MiddleTown where we will connect up with highway 175 and head up into the mountains through the small town of Cobb where we will diverge from 175 and head up Bottle Rock Rd for more twisty roads at elevation.

The end of our run will take us through Kelseyville to The Shannon Mercantile (see “Lunch Details” below).

Lunch Details:

Our destination, The Shannon Mercantile is Lake County’s go-to destination for all things wine and food. In addition to a full wine bar, they offer pre-made sandwiches, salads, and charcuterie from local favorite, Rosey Cooks Catering. Enjoy a selection of non-alcoholic beverages, picnic, and gourmet food items, as well as housewares and gifts. Take a moment to relax or shop in the heart of Lake County, any day of the week. https://shannonfamilyofwines.com/locations/the-mercantile/ Tasting fee is $20 (waived upon 3 bottle purchase). They offer 4 flights to choose from, with 5 wines per flight. They welcome friendly, well-behaved dogs on a leash. They provide electric vehicle charging stations for the convenience of guests.

Additional Run Details:

Please bring your radio, fully charged, turned on, and tuned to Channel 7, Subchannel 21 CTCSS before you arrive at the start. If you don’t have a radio, ask for a loaner at the driver’s meeting. For radio recommendations, please see https://www.facebook.com/legacy/notes/728353274556164/.

Be sure to turn the “VOX” voice-activated setting OFF, or we will hear the wind from your AC, your conversations, and any noise in your car broadcasting to everyone.

Hilly California backroads can be rough, especially after winter storms spawn new and bigger potholes. We will call out cyclists and oncoming traffic on the radios. Most of the route is fairly smooth with a few backroad sections that may be a bit bumpier than others.

There are stretches where local wildlife may be seen on each side of the road. At some point, these animals may decide to cross the road, so please watch out for deer, wild turkeys, etc. trying to get from one side to the other right in front of your car.

We ask that you turn on low-beam headlights - not Auto - to make us more visible to other vehicles either ahead or behind us, including your fellow MINI drivers.