The 100K Bucketlist Racetrack Roadtrip Adventure
In what has become a tradition of taking a major trip in between jobs like I did in 2011 and 2012, I continued the trend this year when I left my first full-time in Austin after three years and had already secured a new one starting a month later. So there I was with a gap in between positions and a laundry list of trips I wanted to take in 2016. I was originally going to jump on motorcycle and do a quick trip around Texas when I was suddenly able to leave my then current job earlier than originally planned.
With this extra time gifted me I quickly scanned my potential plans for 2016 and realized I might be able to obliterate two birds with one stone if dates happened to work out. These trips were a bucket list track I’ve always wanted to drive since I was a kid and a motorcycle school I kept hearing about over and over that got the Keanu Reeves thumbs up approval. When I checked both schedules there happened to be an open track day at Laguna Seca on February 20th and a rare Monday school at Socal Supermoto on the 22nd. When the stars align you do not think twice, you pack your trunk full of camping gear, track day tools, spare tires and parts and all your motorcycle helmets and protective equipment.
Now both my car and I are no strangers to track days nor road trips…but never have I ever combined two of my favorite things into a 4,000 mile adrenaline freedom ole fashion ‘murican adventure!
Speaking of my car, at the time this trip was planned it had just hit 96,000 miles and I knew a decent sized road trip would put me in 6 digit territory. So what better way to hit a huge milestone than combining the two things that have made some of the most memorable moments with my car and with my life in general? I looked at 100,000K as an achievement for both me and the car and it’s “birthday” milestone celebration for all the crazy things I’ve done to this poor machine in its first 9 years of life.
SPOILER ALERT:
So without further ado, here’s everything that happened on my way to and from Laguna Seca.
Click on the tabs to expand details and media for each day.
Day 1: Austin, TX - Quitaque, TX
The adventure begins…Laguna Seca here we come
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 2: Quitaque, TX - Texline, TX
Y U NO LIKE MY VTEC???? hope the sound police at Laguna Seca don’t have the same reaction
A video posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
Day 3: TX-OK-NM
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 4: NM - CO - UT
Sightseeing with my significant other. Happy Valentine’s Day 💙🚙💩
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 5: Utah - Arizona
Day 6: AZ ↔️ UT
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
How to park properly at abandoned historic markers.
A video posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 7: UT - AZ - NV
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 9: CALI - Death Valley - San Jose
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 10: Salinas CA - Big Sur CA
A photo posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
Day 11: Big Sur CA - Los Angeles CA
A photo posted by Triplapser (@triplapser) on
Day 12: Cali (LA - Joshua Tree)
A video posted by Brian DeFrees (@defrees) on
Day 13: Joshua Tree, CA - Steins, NM
Day 14: Steins, NM - Austin, TX: Trip complete!
You’ve reached the finish line!
Another road trip and new track in the books for myself and the Si. Stay tuned for a more detailed post about what the car and I have done in it’s first 100,000 miles. Enjoy night timelapse and some more photos from the trip below.
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