My First "Hillclimb"

[jpmck03]

So, this weekend I did my first ever "hillclimb." Nothing official, but way fun and totally worth taking the "long" way to visit with relatives!

The route:
50972
PA-74/Veterans Way/Waggoner Gap Road

Northern hillclimb and descent:
50973

Southern hillclimb and descent:
50974


On our way south, we stopped on the southern hill and we met up with a fellow Toyota at the top:
50978

Realized how far up we were:
50977

...and took a quick hike up the mountain in a little nature area to get to this nice view:
50979


On our way home we stopped at the top of the northern hill:
50976

And then made our way back down:
50975

Video of going down the north side of the north hill:
http://youtu.be/L87SG_jmbGQ


Things I learned:
- Slow is smooth (I kinda knew this already...)
- I'm not nearly as good as rev-matching downshifting as I thought I was
- Tanabe NF-210s are a nice improvement in the handling department

[Black_griffin6]

Sweet!
That looks like fun!

I went up to Blood Mountain here in Georgia with a few friends of mine. They all drive Miata's so I was a little worried going on the mountain with them. They were sure surprised when the Yaris kept up better with the leader then a lot of the other Miata's. :laugh:

What other suspension mods have you done? If you had some coilovers on there it would be even better. :thumbsup:

[jayeh]

That is pretty steep. I've done a few of those "25mph for trucks" grades in PA, but nothing that crazy.

[jpmck03]

What other suspension mods have you done? If you had some coilovers on there it would be even better. :thumbsup:

Right now, it's just the NF-210s on the stock struts (my build thread is in my sig... :wink:)... any lower and I know I'd have problems driving around the back roads around here.... but it's not so low that I'm super concerned about the stock struts wearing out too soon... Tokico Blues might partner up with the Tanabes one day though... if I can find 'em cheap on here or MI...

Not sure what next year's "Annual Summer Mod of the Year" will be... maybe a rear sway bar, intake, tint... :iono:

[jpmck03]

That is pretty steep. I've done a few of those "25mph for trucks" grades in PA, but nothing that crazy.

Yeah, I didn't realize how much of an elevation change we did until I looked at the terrain map when I got home... about a 1000ft over a few miles! Never had to take it out of 3rd on the way up or down! And those "10mph turns" were crazy on the way up. Needed to drop into 2nd half way through them on the way up... guess I need to do some practicing those shifts.

And now I have another reason to visit my sister... :laugh:

:burnrubber:

[jayeh]

Yeah, I didn't realize how much of an elevation change we did until I looked at the terrain map when I got home... about a 1000ft over a few miles! Never had to take it out of 3rd on the way up or down! And those "10mph turns" were crazy on the way up. Needed to drop into 2nd half way through them on the way up... guess I need to do some practicing those shifts.

And now I have another reason to visit my sister... :laugh:

:burnrubber:

Going down is more fun in a huge truck. Try that sometime!

[screenprintr]

How fast did you get too going down hill? Looks scary.

Let me add some sound. Weeeeee, weeeeee, Beep Beep! Weeee, weeee, Beep Beep! Weeeee.

[jpmck03]

How fast did you get too going down hill? Looks scary. ...

In the video... about 60 on one of the straights, 30 on the first turn, 40 on the second, I'm guessing 50 in the long sweeper before getting out of the woods... and 20 at the 90 degree one right at the end.

First time was a little scary, second time on the way back was a little better. But I had a secret weapon, off screen I had our GPS in the window... so I knew where the turns were before I got to them... :thumbsup:

[yariseggvvti]

If you have a chance run the canyon, you will be have more fun. Come to Cali and run the canyon.

[screenprintr]

Yariseggvvti,

Which Canyon would that be, Azusa Canyon?