Bryan Appleby
10-20-2002, 06:04 PM
2nd Annual Leaf Peeping Tour – 2002
With the forecast of sparkling skies, we stood in the parking lot at the beginning of our annual Aspen Leaf tour. The coolness of the morning, was a reminder of the summer warmth changing to Fall. The crispness of the morning air only charged our conversation about cars. We had a remarkable turnout of 28 car enthusiasts and 18 cars. The types, ranged the gamut of pickups to racing street cars.
Morrison, Colorado afforded a great launching site for our tour. Our cars were strewn about, in and out of the parking lot at the TNT Kitchen. Everyone stood closely, maybe to capture the heat that everyone was putting off, as we discussed our route for the morning.
Our intended route would allow us some twisting and turning as we climbed out of Morrison, in route to Aspen Park on US 285. The route was initially full of other vehicles, as we maintained a mile long caravan of enthusiasts, commandeering the right hand lane.
We powered through Bailey, without even a hint of slowing. Many of the people along the streets of Bailey were out that morning, pausing a moment, looked our way, pointed and waved at us as we rumbled our big V8 Fords and lesser species of cars through their earlier quiet community. Their smiles were met by ours, as we waved back!
Powering into the valley of South Park, was breath taking. The valley is spectacular, as it is ringed with mountains and below us a herd of Buffalos grazing near the highway. Some of these majestic Buffalos took a moment, to raise their massive furred heads, swaying back and forth as they chewed and watched our quick progress down the incline. Most of us were focused on this down hill run as Adam Mackstellar and Keith Arnold lead the charge in their well appointed Mustang Fastbacks. Myself, I struggled to keep up (yea, right), enjoying the view of two fine Mustangs leaning right then left, using every bit of the roadway!
Albeit, brief dusting of snow was topping the nearby peaks, matching the Wimbledon White of Adam’s number 19 Fastback. Cloutier’s Viper was way in the back of the group, entertaining some of the others in line, as it would spring forward in acceleration, exercising passing opportunities as we worked our way through the South Park (yes, this is the South Park from the Television series) traffic.
Stopping for a pit stop and photo op, we met Matt Snow and his two young boys, as they arrived from Woodland Park, in their beautifully prepared, “I would like to do some open track events,” 600+ HP, 93 Mustang Cobra. Bring it on Matt, we have a few Mustangs that would like to meet you at next week’s Second Creek CECA event! Let me introduce you to Gary Griffith and Don Burch in his STEEDA Cobra . . .
Grabbing some gears, and climbing out of Fairplay, we ascended Hoosier Pass. What a beautiful ride. Hood scoop partially obscuring my view of my son’s (hopefully he is not too upset that I drove his car today) 390 cu, 69 Mach 1, admiring the aggressive lines of his car. Carrie Santonastaso, secured in the passenger seat and her husband, Tony, following decidedly close behind as we enjoyed the panorama of Mountains, with the rumbling in our ears, as a big block Ford FE serenaded us.
Entering Breckenridge was a real treat, as this community was full stroke into their annual Oktoberfest Celebration. Lunch stop was our last stop. We literally surrounded the local A&W Root Beer stand, making our own commotion as we dined and enjoyed Root Beer Floats. Many of us watched as other patrons took a few moments to walk around our now quiet Mustangs, SVT Fords, SVT Cobras and SVT Lightnings.
Some of us then used this respite, as an opportunity to explore the Oktoberfest a little longer. Some retired to North Boulder for a quick tour of the Shelby American Collection, thanks to our fellow member, Joe Bolis! Needless to say, we learned today that we need to schedule more of these types of road tours. Santonastaso, Cloutier’s, Oakley’s, Zager, Snow, Allen, Keats, Speers’, announced a hearty “thumbs up” in repeating this type of touring real soon. Be sure to watch an upcoming schedule coming to you in the near future . . .
Oh yes, we saw a lot of Aspen Trees too. They were real yellow and pretty.
Submitted by Bryan Appleby
Photos by Jeff Keats & Bryan
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With the forecast of sparkling skies, we stood in the parking lot at the beginning of our annual Aspen Leaf tour. The coolness of the morning, was a reminder of the summer warmth changing to Fall. The crispness of the morning air only charged our conversation about cars. We had a remarkable turnout of 28 car enthusiasts and 18 cars. The types, ranged the gamut of pickups to racing street cars.
Morrison, Colorado afforded a great launching site for our tour. Our cars were strewn about, in and out of the parking lot at the TNT Kitchen. Everyone stood closely, maybe to capture the heat that everyone was putting off, as we discussed our route for the morning.
Our intended route would allow us some twisting and turning as we climbed out of Morrison, in route to Aspen Park on US 285. The route was initially full of other vehicles, as we maintained a mile long caravan of enthusiasts, commandeering the right hand lane.
We powered through Bailey, without even a hint of slowing. Many of the people along the streets of Bailey were out that morning, pausing a moment, looked our way, pointed and waved at us as we rumbled our big V8 Fords and lesser species of cars through their earlier quiet community. Their smiles were met by ours, as we waved back!
Powering into the valley of South Park, was breath taking. The valley is spectacular, as it is ringed with mountains and below us a herd of Buffalos grazing near the highway. Some of these majestic Buffalos took a moment, to raise their massive furred heads, swaying back and forth as they chewed and watched our quick progress down the incline. Most of us were focused on this down hill run as Adam Mackstellar and Keith Arnold lead the charge in their well appointed Mustang Fastbacks. Myself, I struggled to keep up (yea, right), enjoying the view of two fine Mustangs leaning right then left, using every bit of the roadway!
Albeit, brief dusting of snow was topping the nearby peaks, matching the Wimbledon White of Adam’s number 19 Fastback. Cloutier’s Viper was way in the back of the group, entertaining some of the others in line, as it would spring forward in acceleration, exercising passing opportunities as we worked our way through the South Park (yes, this is the South Park from the Television series) traffic.
Stopping for a pit stop and photo op, we met Matt Snow and his two young boys, as they arrived from Woodland Park, in their beautifully prepared, “I would like to do some open track events,” 600+ HP, 93 Mustang Cobra. Bring it on Matt, we have a few Mustangs that would like to meet you at next week’s Second Creek CECA event! Let me introduce you to Gary Griffith and Don Burch in his STEEDA Cobra . . .
Grabbing some gears, and climbing out of Fairplay, we ascended Hoosier Pass. What a beautiful ride. Hood scoop partially obscuring my view of my son’s (hopefully he is not too upset that I drove his car today) 390 cu, 69 Mach 1, admiring the aggressive lines of his car. Carrie Santonastaso, secured in the passenger seat and her husband, Tony, following decidedly close behind as we enjoyed the panorama of Mountains, with the rumbling in our ears, as a big block Ford FE serenaded us.
Entering Breckenridge was a real treat, as this community was full stroke into their annual Oktoberfest Celebration. Lunch stop was our last stop. We literally surrounded the local A&W Root Beer stand, making our own commotion as we dined and enjoyed Root Beer Floats. Many of us watched as other patrons took a few moments to walk around our now quiet Mustangs, SVT Fords, SVT Cobras and SVT Lightnings.
Some of us then used this respite, as an opportunity to explore the Oktoberfest a little longer. Some retired to North Boulder for a quick tour of the Shelby American Collection, thanks to our fellow member, Joe Bolis! Needless to say, we learned today that we need to schedule more of these types of road tours. Santonastaso, Cloutier’s, Oakley’s, Zager, Snow, Allen, Keats, Speers’, announced a hearty “thumbs up” in repeating this type of touring real soon. Be sure to watch an upcoming schedule coming to you in the near future . . .
Oh yes, we saw a lot of Aspen Trees too. They were real yellow and pretty.
Submitted by Bryan Appleby
Photos by Jeff Keats & Bryan
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