Sol Power–BrammoBlog.com

Blog 27: Where I wait on Fed Ex, build a 3D sign for the Marketing tent, ride 17 Mile Drive and then have a tasty Coronarita. Fun.

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Ok, I will quote Protomech here:

God-like powers activate!

Yes, I have my MOJO back, BABY! Who says “NO” to Gavin? NOBODY. Let’s see how Thor feels about this:

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Come on, Thor, you can smile better than that

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Much better…though pretty creepy.

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But I’m getting ahead of myself (as usual). The day did not start with my God-Like powers in full effect. My day started with waiting and an ugly ugly orange Gremlin.

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It was in Kingman, Arizona (about 400 miles from home) that I realized I didn’t have my helmet cam. Way too far to turn back. But I really wanted that cam to record our ride on 17 Mile Drive (that was approved by the Pebble Beach’s Executive Team some time earlier. I had been keeping that info secret). So my wife was sending it by Fed Ex, and I was pacing like a panther waiting for it to arrive. Front Desk to Room to Front Desk to walk around the parking lot to Room to Front Desk. I knew that the Brammo Team was getting to Laguna Seca at 8 am to start setting up and I wanted to get there ASAP. It was now 10am and no FED EX.

There were two positives that came out of waiting…well positives might be overstating it. One, Brammo needed fishing line and scissors. Since I was just waiting around I stopped my pacing and went out shopping. The sad thing is that I now know where the Walmart is in Salinas, Ca. I had hoped to go the whole trip without going into a Walmart, and here it is less than 24 hours in town and already searching one out. Two, across the street was a crazy ugly orange Gremlin. The first car my brother and I shared was a 1974 Gremlin. Gawd that was a love/hate relationship (with the car, not my brother). Just a horrid horrid car, but still “a car“. And it had a bench seat, which is nice when you’re 16.

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Just an awful car in sooooo many ways. Yet I will always love it dearly.

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So, fishing line and scissors in hand, I headed off from Salinas toward Monterey.  I never once saw the sun in Salinas. Foggy, cloudy, damp…Yes. Sun…No. The whole, “The coldest winter I ever spent was a summer in Salinas.” I dressed for New Mexico summer, not a London spring.

It’s at this point that I’m going to go all“Pulp Fiction“ non-linear style. Because I want to cover 17 Mile Drive before I talk about Laguna Seca. Heck, maybe I should cover Laguna Seca tomorrow? So we skip ahead…

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17 Mile Drive: The Ride.

Background. 17 Mile Drive is a lovely bit of road between Monterey and Carmel that runs through Pebble Beach. It follows along the coast and heads inland through some beautiful trees and fun twisty roads. It is a guarded community with private roads and certain rules.

http://www.pebblebeach.com/activities/explore-the-monterey-peninsula/17-mile-drive

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From the website:

Special note should be made of the highlighted area. There is some confusion of when the last non-resident motorcycle riders have been allow on 17 Mile Drive:

Some say 1992, some say 1972…either way, many many years have passed since the last time. At least a generation.

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I knew Brammo would be staying very very close to 17 Mile Drive and I really wanted to ride that road. I knew we would be on CLEAN, QUIET vehicles. And I knew that electric motorcycles would be the absolute best way to enjoy 17 Mile Drive, while still respecting the environment and people living there. So I emailed to Pebble Beach’s public relations executive. And he was absolutely GREAT. A couldn’t ask for better communication nor a more positive attitude. I was a bit shocked, surprised and extremely happy. I expected a “No”, or a “We would like to, but” or no answer at all. Instead they asked for some background and information and then asked some more questions. They actually contemplated, thought it through and decided to try it and see.  Thanks so much Mr. Pierce.

Some background is here:

http://brammoforum.com/index.php?topic=1350.0

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But enough of that: Photos is what this blog is all about.

Bikes charging up at Laguna Seca before The Ride. We had approval for 5 bikes, 5 riders. 1 rider had to cancel, so 4 bikes went.

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The ride was sent up for us to hit the gate at 5 pm. The downside is that the Brammo team had been working so hard getting set up that they started thinking maybe they should just skip the ride. I, and I think they too, were glad they didn’t bail. But you’ll have to ask them.

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Our destination

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A screen capture from video of us at the gate. The security team was expecting us and SUPER NICE.

They asked about the bikes (where are they made, how fast do they go, etc) and didn’t charge us to enter.

Mr. Pierce, they were great. Give them a raise 🙂

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and

Adrian Stewart asking if it was alright for Sarah to ride…forgetting my powers. Nobody says NO to me.

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First Stop is Point Joe and asking strangers to take our photo.

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4 bikes, 5 riders. Our GANG took over 17 Mile Drive.

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leaving Point Joe

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Second Stop…the Famous Lone Cypress. Adam and Sarah posing.

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The Lone Cypress is the official logo of Pebble Beach.

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heading toward the Lone Cypress

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parking at the Lone Cypress

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It is a wonderful drive. And I am so happy to have ridden it with other riders.  Go Team Brammo! 🙂 I hope Pebble Beach finds a way to allow more riders on this lovely roadway.

I did get a few comments already on-line that I thought I would share with you:

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Laguna Seca will have to wait for tomorrow’s blog.

Till Next Time…

Gavin

For more info on Brammo, please visit: www.brammo.com
For more images, photos, discussions and all around Brammo goodness: visit, lurk and maybe join: www.brammoforum.com

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Bonus 17 Mile Drive videos:

from security gate to Point Joe

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leaving the Lone Cypress

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following the other bikes after I had made a wrong turn.

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