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Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Dec 1 2003, 11:33 PM

I've been thinking about a slight revision to the 9:14 breakfasts here in the Bay Area starting in January 04 to make them better. Tell me what you think please, so I can plan...For all yous guys beyond the reaches of the Bay Area...You are invited too, but don't be afraid to start your own local 9:14 Breakfast if you cant make ours! NoVA did it and they are having lotsa fun!

I know we all like to meet and talk about 914s...but driving them is even mo' better and mo' fun. So instead of meeting just to wait inside a restaurant for tables...lets just go for a drive. You'd need to get your own breakfast beforehand...unless you live on donuts and coffee...

So the thought is to still meet at 9:14 am as normal (maybe a bit earlier if we want to start the drive promptly at 9:14) but just for quick coffee and donuts. Maybe every other or every third month (TBD), chase some twisty roads instead of a sit-down breakfast every month. The drives would alternate months with the regular breakfast and we could meet at different places around the Bay Area for variety.

Is this a winner, or would you prefer to stick to the current regular sit-down breakfasts?

We have alot to talk about after the first of the year (club bizness you know) with the WC Classic and all, so I dont intend to drive every month.

If this works, I could sure use some help from different local chairpersons in the East Bay and North Bay if anyone can volunteer to select the local meet sites and drive routes. I dont expect it to be much work. Let me know if you are interested.

Jeff

Posted by: krk Dec 1 2003, 11:48 PM

Jeff,

I do like the idea of mixing things up a little. There's a difference between the meet's we have in the BigMac lot as opposed to the IHop location. In the BM case, we never actually sat down. People slid in and out as they wanted to, grabbing food./sustanance where they could, but we never really left the parking lot. IHop is more of a sit down deal and circulation halts when the eating commences. That allows for longer conversations -- but if you're stuck near me you'll hear about house reno work....

Doing a drive would add a new feature -- I dunno if we should do it every time, but it would *definitely* be an interesting add on. Oh, to have a running 914..... (brad gave me carbs on the weekend -- the rest is up to me -- doh.....)

kim.

Posted by: Mueller Dec 2 2003, 12:14 AM

My only complaint with the IHOP breakfast format is cost, last time my wife and I went we easily paid $5 per person more than our meal should have cost (meal, drink, tax and tip)

So far I've been happy with my breakfast nieghbors, but it is tougher to mix-it-up like Kim said once sitting down and eating.

A drive would be nice as well.....when B still had the Palo Alto shop, it was fun to leave breakfast and caravan on up to his place.

That would be great for me as well

So far it looks like a running 914 for me before '04 is going to be tough.............

Posted by: nebreitling Dec 2 2003, 01:04 AM

Hi Jeff

First of all, thanks for organizing these things! because of my odd schedule, i've only been twice -- but i enjoyed both a lot.

i like the idea of taking a drive! certainly, there are enough hills and twisties around here for having a good time. so, as long as there is still time and space to simply hang around and shoot the shit, i think a group drive/rally is a great idea.

nathan

Posted by: Brad Roberts Dec 2 2003, 01:41 AM

If/when I end up back down south.. we will do it again.

I dont really care what or where we meet. I have to drive a min. of 75 minutes to arrive down south... attending a driving event after driving.. isnt much fun... then driving home...

I'll help cooridinate North bay drives/events.. but I probably would pass on driving the events down south (I normally plan the day around helping other 914 owners after the breakfast.


B

Posted by: PatW Dec 2 2003, 08:58 AM

I like to drive over Hwy 17 and get coffee at my partners shop Capitola. Folks can eat at the greasy spoon about a block away if they like. Then drive back home on Hwy 9. North Bay'rs can take a left on Hwy 35 and get back home from there.

Pat.

Posted by: fiid Dec 2 2003, 12:51 PM

I like the idea of doing some regular drives. I plan on driving my car a lot more next year than I have been able to this year.

I do like the breakfast as well though, although I do have to say that IHOP SUX. I'm sure there are better diners around the place that we could hook up with.

I'm also up for going to different parts of the bay area for different months breakfasts. We could do one month on the peninsula, one on the east bay then one in the north bay, for instance, and rotate that way.

Fiid.

Posted by: Carl Dec 2 2003, 03:13 PM

Hi Jeff,
If we're going to have a drive then we need to meet a lot earlier than 9:14 to avoid traffic. In early September Meredith and I had a great day taking Hwy 9 to Boulder Creek, then over the hill to Bonnie Doon, then up the coast past Ano Nuevo, the Pigeon Point lighthouse and back on Hwy 84 through Woodside. From Skyline through Woodside was the only crowded part. I think we left ~7:30.

Carl

Posted by: olav Dec 2 2003, 03:58 PM

Hey Carl,

Next time you go for a drive send me an email. Patricia and I would like to join you if that 's ok.

Olav

Posted by: Jenny Dec 2 2003, 04:08 PM

I have no comment. Except to say that IHOP is much safer for my car.

Jen

Posted by: Carl Dec 2 2003, 10:06 PM

Hi Olav,
Sure, you and Patricia are welcome to join any time and that would make the drive fun. We took the tail-dragger that day but it's a good drive in either car. It was a nice day and we walked to the beach at Ano Nuevo and tried to take the tour at the lighthouse but it's closed now due to structural safety problems.

Jenny,

I suppose so but, hey, one little slip-up on the bridge - it could happen to anyone. After all, the IHOP delivery guy could leave a puddle of banana syrup in the parking lot and you'd have the same problem, but without the bridge. That would be different.

The drives are good, you just need to go on another one.

Carl

Posted by: anthony Dec 3 2003, 12:04 AM

I was thinking the same thing as some of you other guys. I kind of missed the old McDonalds/Starbucks location. There was more shooting the shit and car talk than with the sit down format. On the other hand I've gotten to know some of you guys better with the sit down format so each has it's advantages. Maybe we can mix it up?

I think a drive every few months is just about right. I had a great time on the 9/14/2002 East Bay Drive and on the SF-Petaluma pizza drive.

My final wish would be moving the breakfast a little more north from time to time. It takes me a good hour and a quarter to get down to south San Jose. It would be awesome if that time was cut in half occasionally.

Posted by: jonwatts Dec 3 2003, 01:17 AM

I think we should descend on the Ikea in Emoryville every once in a while. I think it might be more centrally located for people coming from all directions. Maybe show up early and park all our cars right out front of the place with a banner that says "914 :: unboring"

Posted by: Jenny Dec 3 2003, 01:25 AM

Yes, EPA is real friendly. Remember that 914's don't come stock with power windows or door locks.

Jen

Posted by: redshift Dec 3 2003, 01:51 AM

I think if I eat 914 breakfasts in 2004, my ____ would blow up, like a _____.


M

Posted by: jonwatts Dec 3 2003, 01:55 AM

Jenny you ignorant slut


Ikea in Emeryville (north of Oakland). Ok so maybe Oakland isn't any better than EPA. I wonder if Ravenna Green is a gang color.

Posted by: ChrisReale Dec 3 2003, 02:38 AM

Im in for whatever. I want to meet the bay area gang

Posted by: PatW Dec 3 2003, 08:24 AM

I'm often up there before 9am at the latest. Forget trying to drive it on a Sunday. The sportbike gang and the pedal bike gang likes to mix it up then. Saturday is best.

Posted by: ppickerell Dec 3 2003, 10:58 AM

I could host an East bay trip. Pleasanton has some cool breakfast spots and there are 2 AWESOME drives close (Mines road and Calaveras road). I am interested in meeting more of you folks. Fiid was at my shop last night pressing herr mueller's bushing. Count me in!

Posted by: Brad Roberts Dec 3 2003, 01:26 PM

Calveras might be a little much for some of them... last time I checked it was still "pea" gravel.

Mines road would be good.


B

Posted by: SirAndy Dec 3 2003, 01:50 PM

what about sat. morning at EASY?
we could kick and punch the 356 crowd just for fun, droll over dirty parts and drink all their coffee.
mr. watts can play at ikea, the geeks can get a good look of pixar through the electric fence while the rest of us has breakfast at the "can't fail cafe" (run by the guys from greenday) ...

Andy

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Dec 3 2003, 02:54 PM

Great comments everyone…I appreciate your input, we are of like mind. Our 9:14 breakfasts are a fun time and we can make them funner (?)…I would like to incorporate all your comments and make this a regular Bay Area-wide event and not just focused in the South Bay. We are extremely fortunate to live in this beautiful region and what I propose below will hopefully attract a wider and larger group.

The original concept for the breakfasts was to meet briefly once a month, grab a quick bite to eat and not take up too much of your weekend, or cost very much, with occasional fun runs. I miss the MickeysDs events for those reasons (and I kinda like the McMuffins). They have evolved to be a more static sit-down event, and I think we could make it more interesting. So lets change it to make it better for every 914 owner in the Bay Area, attract more interest and make 2004 events the best ever.

I have developed a conceptual schedule as below. If Brad will be the North Bay chairman, and Patrick the East Bay chairman we’d be all set. All I need for Brad and Patrick to do is select the meet sites and give me the addresses and I will be responsible for the publicity. For the one drive event in your region in 2004, you also need to select the drive route and prepare map handouts, its really not much work. I have been wanting to drive the East and North Bay hills for awhile…sounds fun. All events would still occur on the last Saturday of each month as before.

I like the idea of Easy’s hosting us for one of the East Bay dates. Maybe Rich B will host us at his House for one of the South Bay dates?


DRAFT SCHEDULE – Bay Area 9:14 Breakfasts 2004

Jan 31 South Bay (San Jose) – Breakfast only

Feb 28 North Bay (Novato) – Breakfast only

Mar 27 East Bay (Pleasanton) – Donuts/Drive

Apr 24 South Bay (San Jose) - Breakfast only

May 29 No event (West Coast Classic is following weekend)

Jun 4-6 Paso Robles - West Coast Classic – (PartsHeaven meet Jun 5?)

Jun 26 East Bay (Pleasanton) - Breakfast only

Jul 31 South Bay (San Jose) – Breakfast only - (Carlesen meet Aug 1st?)

Aug 28 North Bay (Novato) - Donuts/Drive

Sep 25 East Bay (Pleasanton) - Breakfast only

Oct 30 South Bay (San Jose) - Donuts/Drive

Nov – Holiday Break

Dec – Holiday Break

Whaddya all think?

Posted by: Brad Roberts Dec 3 2003, 03:09 PM

Your kidding me ?? The PH meet is June 5th ?? I cant win.


B

Posted by: Jeff Bowlsby Dec 3 2003, 04:00 PM

It was June1, 2003 this year...I assume it will be that same 1st weekend in June this year...

Posted by: Rob Ways Dec 3 2003, 10:10 PM

How about a couple "flash mobs" where we show up at a certain place in the bay area (ie Lombard Street in SF) at 9:14, take a few picts, BS, and do whatever we want from there?

Posted by: Britton Dec 3 2003, 11:36 PM

I vote for this one. I keep hearing about all of these teeners around town, but I haven't seen a single one in SF other than mine!

Posted by: ppickerell Dec 3 2003, 11:37 PM

OK, March 27 it is for the eastbay meet. I will buy the bagels, coffee , donuts etc. and host at my shop. We can either drive Calaveras road which comes out in Milpitas (about 30 miles?) or Mines road which ends up at Mt. Hamilton above San Jose (EPIC DRIVE!) about 70 miles.

Posted by: ChrisReale Dec 3 2003, 11:40 PM

I saw a yellow one like yours in Bernal Heights. The only one I have seen here. tons of 911's

Posted by: Britton Dec 3 2003, 11:52 PM

Yeah, my car is sitting in a garage in Sacramento until I figure out a cheap place to keep it here.
Until then I traded the 914 for the 38L.

Brit