The *Real* Story of My Day with Wrong Wheel Drive (41%)

"Future Heap Owner" (aperiodic) 07/15/2019 at 07:45 • Filed to: the truth; the whole truth; and nothing but the truth, oppo meet, Malibu, LA, socal, Miata, Fiata, Wrx

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I took a business trip down to Irvine again this week, so in order to make up for being in Irvine most of the time I took Friday off so I could go carve some canyons with Wrong Wheel Drive (41%). Here’s how it went!

I surprised even myself by rousing myself at 5:00 AM with little difficulty, and I was out on the road by 6:00. There were more cars out here than I expected, but that’s what they build these freeways so wide for, right? I hit only minor congestion and have time to stop for a leisurely breakfast at Taco Bell and still make the Reel Inn parking lot well before WWD, who had to stop to fill up his Miata first. I made a quick post on Oppo to entertain myself in the meantime.

When WWD arrived — in truth right at the time we agreed upon, even though he had to fill up — we took a little time to chat, apply sunscreen, and take a few photos. I have no idea what’s ahead of me at this point. Driving 100% purely for the fun of driving, with no other purpose, is something I’ve done maybe 30 minutes of total so far in my life, and I’m about to hit some canyon roads people love talking about on the internet. I remarked to WWD that I didn’t think that I would be keeping up, but I think he was thinking about the cars more than the drivers and didn’t seem to believe me.

So of course we headed out of the parking lot up to Malibu Canyon Rd and then Piuma Rd. I proceed to finally open up the throttle on a canyon road without worrying about the vehicle in front of me, and quickly find myself with a stupid grin on my face. WWD figures out shortly that I’m not going to be driving at his pace and dials it back a bit, which I’m thankful for since I’m using his sole working brake light to tell me when I should be braking.

The view to the Pacific from Piuma Rd

We get to a pullout that I recognize from WWD’s posts, and WWD discovers that it was probably a good thing that he had to slow down on my account because his Miata’s cooling system is making a hissing noise. After confirming that the temp was a bit high, we head down another canyon road to Mullholand Freeway back towards his place so he can swap the Miata for his WRX.

He doesn’t mention to me that the WRX is also close to empty, so I laugh a little when he pulls in to a gas station on the way back out. I dunno, I guess driving these roads is just routine for him, but I think it’s funny that he planned a whole driving day and started the morning with both of his cars low on fuel. I make a post on Oppo to tease him, but since I hadn’t posted a picture of his Miata, nobody got it when I posted this photo of his WRX getting filled.

Taking Mullholand Freeway back out, it grows less developed and more fun, and we start to gradually let loose with the throttles again. At one point I glance down at the speedometer and surprise myself seeing the needle over around 90! I think that I’ve only driven 90 or higher a handful of times (maybe it happened a bit more when I was passing people in that Golf R I rented), and those were all on big flat old highways. I don’t have much time to enjoy the moment, since of course this is the spot when we pass a police cruiser headed in the other direction. Fortunately, luck/our guardian angel Dominic Toretto are on our side and the po-po don’t turn around.

After a few more canyon roads, the obligatory stop at Neptune’s Net (just to look), and an aborted attempt to hike Mugu Point the long way, we stop for our midday activity of a punishingly steep climb. We spent most of the way up in a cloud, but the peak was just above the marine layer which made a lovely effect:

On the way back down, we ran into a coworker of WWD’s, who informed of us of a bikini contest happening nearby later that evening (apparently he has a bit of a reputation as a partier).

After the hike, we went to a neat Mexican grocer nearby where we had a delicious lunch of burritos from their deli counter and cane sugar sodas.

The after-lunch drive started with Decker Rd. I forgot this road was the one that WWD said had “first-gear hairpin turns” at the bottom, so I was totally unprepared for those (they’re wild!). Not the best start, but I got back in to the swing of things after that, and I was able to keep up with the Subie on the curvy bits (though he was taking it a bit easier since the WRX is his daily).

After the eastgoing leg that started with Decker, we got back on the PCH and drove until we hit traffic. WWD and I parted ways while I tried to figure out if I was gonna miss my flight (at one point the worst-case estimate of the map app made it very possible), but I ended up making it back to LAX with 15-20 minutes to spare.

I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker > Future Heap Owner 07/15/2019 at 08:14

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No missed flights, tickets, or crashed cars. I'd call it a successful day!

TysMagic > Future Heap Owner 07/15/2019 at 08:24

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No pictures of the bikini contest?

Sounds like you’re learning the magic of the the purposeless drive - quite a fun experience to embrace! 

Future Heap Owner > TysMagic 07/15/2019 at 12:16

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A purposeless  drive sure is great when you’ve got a car built for fun on roads that turn and twist as much as these do!

Future Heap Owner > I like cars: Jim Spanfeller is one ugly motherfucker 07/15/2019 at 12:17

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All three of those were narrowly avoided, but avoided they were!

TysMagic > Future Heap Owner 07/15/2019 at 12:19

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looks like you  had  the right car for it them

CompactLuxuryFan > Future Heap Owner 07/15/2019 at 15:33

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The things I take for granted in CA  Sunny skies, twisty roads, and fast highways. Thanks for the perspective

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Future Heap Owner 07/15/2019 at 17:15

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Sounds like a fun day! It is funny. I don’t often go for a drive just to go for a drive, but no matter the destination, I often enjoy the journey as much if not more so! It makes the drive better to have a purpose in my mind.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > CompactLuxuryFan 07/19/2019 at 22:44

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Of note "mullholand highway" is a one lane each way back road that's 45mph. We just happened upon one part with a really nice straight downhill that just opens up to a spot that I always gun it into in the Miata. I forgot I had double the horsepower I normally drive through there with so we were going a bit quickly there lol. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/19/2019 at 22:47

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It depends. The purpose was to drive, it's not a complete lack of purpose. And considering the roads certainly allow for a near track-like level of driving (especially in a slow car like a miata) it's not just a mundane Sunday cruise. I generally set a "destination" though even if it's just some scenic lookout at the top of a wild canyon. 

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Future Heap Owner 07/19/2019 at 22:52

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Haha I’m glad the bikini contest was a takeaway from the day. It really was a perfect characature of that dude. Also glad the day was enjoyable! I think you definitely got more comfortable with the car as the day went on. On Piuma it was too easy to take off in the Miata and leave you with one less brake light to follow. But even though I was taking it a little easier in the Subie, I was still driving plenty hard enough to have lost you at the earlier pace. Especially since there were some quite tight turns on Latigo (the last road of the day) as well so it didn’t take much time for you to be a competent Fiata driver. Whenever I make a trip up to Portland eventually , you’ll have to show me some cool places in your home turf! But instead of roads it's probably cool bars and whatnot. 

Future Heap Owner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/20/2019 at 01:40

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I had a great time! Thanks again for planning the whole thing and taking the day to show me around.

At first, all I knew is that I was taking curves way faster than I ever had before and I had no idea   how close I was to the limits, but after the first few roads I realized there was plenty of wiggle room and how to compensate for coming in to a turn too quickly, so I started to push it more. Eventually I got addicted to the brief little moments of oversteer I would get while straightening out coming out of the turns. It helps too that most of the times I’ve lost traction it’s been oversteer so I felt that if it turned into more than a brief moment I would know how to compensate.

Portland definitely doesn’t  have any roads as good or as empty as yours , but we have lots of of great restaurants and endless breweries! I hope you and your girlfriend make it up here soon. We are having an Oppo meet the weekend after Labor Day...

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > Future Heap Owner 07/20/2019 at 02:00

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Haha except for those hairpins where that confidence got thrown out the window and shit was basically unreal again. It took me a while to actually be able to enjoy those without just going slow. Now I love ripping it through there although the Miata just does burnouts everytime I go full speed there which is a little obnoxious.

Future Heap Owner > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/20/2019 at 02:13

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Hah, yup, those hairpins were something else!

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/20/2019 at 10:46

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Good point. I agree with that. Especially if you have others involved. Then it becomes a common goal. Also when the roads you are driving on  are in essence a park themselves, I guess that doesn’t hurt!  I will often get to a destination, and still be thinking of driving. Is it weird that I like to park where I can see my car from restaurants and such ? Whatever idc lol.

Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) > mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ 07/20/2019 at 18:24

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Definitely not weird. I certainly have chosen tables to sit at or parking spots based on visibility from the place I'm at. Less for safety and more for oggling 

mXxxxXm24 /O/ /O/ > Wrong Wheel Drive (41%) 07/21/2019 at 13:23

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Ok good, a t least it’s not just me haha