Celica's search for snow

[Jrally]

Last weekend, to decompress from my holidays, my girlfriend and I decided to go for a long Sunday drive in the Celica and search for some snow, rare site around Phoenix. Originally I wasn't planning on doing any off roading, but changing our minds is what expedition travel is all about, right. (and something the Celica is great at) We left home in north Phoenix by heading up Cave Creek Rd. to Dynamite Rd.. Dymanite is a long, very straight road that crosses over the mountains to the east towards Fountain Hills. As someone who loves racing, it's funny that I love this road with no turns. After finally getting across to Fountain Hills, we turned up the Bee Line Hwy, headed for Payson. Still no plan in mind, Laura suggested turing off at 188 towards Roosevelt to find a place for lunch. Jake's Corner worked out great, not too far down the road and burgers made on the grill out back... After getting back on the road, our next big stop was at the Roosevelt Bridge and Dam. Here's where the plans changed again, "lets head down the Apache Trail, 22 miles of dirt and short cut a lot of mountains. A guy in the parking lot at the dam said it was closed, but we figured, if it was closed they would have posted signs. For those who have never been on this road, it's got it all, twisty, exposures, rough, smooth, high speed, scenic, ETC... 12 miles in, we stopped at the Apache Lake Marina to get out, walk around a bit. Ounce back in the car, we come across a couple of mule deer hanging out by the road, then a mile later, SURE enough, the road is closed, gated and locked. (4 miles of the road are being repaired from fall rain errosion) Oh well, we turned around and headed back to 188, turned south through Miami, Globe, Superior, etc. until we get down to the 60 to 202 to 10 to 51 (wow, that's a lot of highway numbers) and finally north back home. Total round trip distance, roughly 320 miles. Race suspension seats, intercom headsets, four point harnesses and 5 hours plus in the car, not a bad way to spend a Sunday.

-Jon

p.s. We did see plenty of snow by the way, just didn't take many pictures of it!!

AMAZING bridge for a dirt road, don't you think..?

 

[Jrally]

This weekend, we decided on a closer trip to town, to test out the revalved rear shocks. The back was just too loose, bottoming out on a fairly regular basis. We took the Celica out today to my old rally testing roads of past. Seven Springs, where the video and pictures from the very first testing of the car in the dirt was taken. It's hard to say if the roads were just a bit smoother than usual or if the rear shock re-valving made that big a difference. The rear shocks are certainly a HUGE improvement, great handling on road, and no bottoming out off road. (mostly) I mixed up the driving out there a bit, rough dirt, smooth, wash outs, broken pavement, etc... I'm very happy with the results.
A few pictures from the day, fun water crossing, from the hiking trail, on the hill top, the FAA radar on top of the hill, and tying up the tailpipe with a coat hanger (rear most hanger broke).

-Jon

 

[BKCowGod]

Looks like fun... All trac?

 

[BKCowGod]

Its a dead link...
But anyways my cousin has a 1998 Celica and he says it handles "okay" in snow (in Boston). Celicas DO NOT have 4WD. Only FWD. If you do get a Celica try snow tires in the winter. That would probably help.

Not only is he a spammer, but he's WRONG too!

 

[Jrally]

RWD, until the '86 model. Mine is an '84, with the 22re engine.

-Jon

 

[Scott Brady]

Digg the Dakar hat.

 

[Jrally]

I'm lovin it, present from my GF. (too bad the coverage this year was so rushed)

-Jon

 

[scarysharkface]

Rally car! :victory:

 

[Storz]

That is cool as hell

 

[007]

Lovin the car!!

I'm building a coupe corolla with a 2tg for rally, so I'll be bending your ear as soon as the support vehicle is done :victory: