The route was set, the meeting place communicated, and there was going to be pizza.  How much more could you ask.

By 11:15 we had 5 cars in attendance: 3 round taillight 2002s, one e30 M3 and an M Coupe.  Mike’s (Meyekel) beautiful Verona 2002 with the shiny new engine showed us how nice a 2002 can be.  Alan Warner’s Sahara 2002 showed us how well a car can hold up to decades of spirited driving (his car has been rolled at least once, and still lives on).  My Atlantikblau 2002 showed us how loud an Ansa sport exhaust can be in a rocky canyons. 

Phil’s (philuxoman) immaculate E30 M3 and Michael’s (MrNvgtr) awesome M Coupe rounded out the drive with some more modern style.

Leg one was a scenic drive behind a group of motorcycles.  Martin (Martin) had arrived carless and took the wheel of my car while I rode with Mike.  Pretty scenery in the canyon, unfortunately no speed.

After we stopped for pictures and to get away from the Harleys, I took the lead and headed to the mountain roads in the area that I grew up.  After two friendly drivers pulled out of the way, we began the “spirited” leg of the drive.  I couldn’t actually see the smiles in the cars behind me, but I could feel them.  Alan and I punished Mike, Michael and Phil on several occasions with billows of blue smoke, but overall the drive was a kick.

We arrived at Beau Jo’s in Evergreen to find a nice “small-bumpered” square-taillight 2002 in the parking lot.  James  and his son Will had come down from Conifer to have lunch with the crew.  After some great pizza (with jalapenos!) and conversation we checked out James’s nice looking ’76 and headed out.

Michael and I had a great drive home through Deckers and Woodland Park and then into the Springs.  We saw some elk, a group of VW Corrado’s, a group of new Pontiac GTOs, and a Sahara 2002!  I was so surprised that I almost didn’t flash my lights.  I really enjoyed seeing that mean looking M Coupe in my rear view mirror.

Thanks to everyone who attended.  I believed everyone had a great time, and I wish we could do that more often.