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Weekend Road Trip: St. George, Utah, Snow Canyon State Park, and Strawberry, Arizona

Posted in Arizona, ILX, Road Trip, Utah on May 1, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 543,124

Odometer (ILX): 162,648

Trip Distance: 886 Miles

Sometimes the best part about planning a road trip is throwing the plan out the window and winging it entirely. What was intended to be a hiking weekend at Zion National Park with a dozen friends and family members ended up getting rained out and rescheduled. While I had been looking forward to checking out the 14-mile “West Rim Trail” hike, Mother Nature had other plans that included thunderstorms in Southern Utah.

Still, my friend Rob and I made the trip up to see what kind of fun we could dig up. And we found plenty. On Friday we worked from “home,” or in this case, from mom’s kitchen table and Wifi network while she served up waffles, “fruit pizza,” and other snacks to keep us fueled. I only wish my office had such amenities! That evening, we met up with an old friend Josh who I’d known since high school but hadn’t seen for over a decade.

Saturday morning started out with mountain of French Toast at Bear Paw Cafe on Main Street in downtown St. George, followed by a hike on the Red Hill (also called the “sugarloaf”) with Rob. The rain wasn’t yet coming down heavily so we scrambled up the rocks for a view overlooking the community.

sgu

Later that afternoon, we visited Snow Canyon State Park off State Route 18. Snow Canyon is a 7,400-acre park just outside St. George city limits that is part of the Red Cliffs Desert Reserve. It has nearly 40 miles of hiking trails and was set aside in 1959 as a state park. Snow Canyon is one of my favorite places for automotive photography and videos. Rob and I hiked around the sand dunes for a little while before heading to a family BBQ.

snow_canyon_2

Thumbs up!

For the return trip to Phoenix, I wanted to introduce Rob to some other parts of Utah & Arizona that he hadn’t yet seen, so we opted to circle back to Phoenix via Flagstaff as opposed to back-tracking to Las Vegas where we’d come from. About 90 minutes into our drive we’d reached the 7,900-foot-elevation Jacob Lake Inn, a historic lodge just north of the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. There’s a small gas station, motel, restaurant, and gift shop on the site. I couldn’t resist the grilled cheese sandwich so we stayed for a bite to eat before continuing on our way. Spy the ILX in the window reflection here!

The Colorado River looked a lot like chocolate milk when we stopped briefly for a photo at the Navajo Bridge along Highway 89A about 40 miles later. The old 1928 bridge has long-since been bypassed by a newer one, but pedestrians are allowed to walk out across it so we did that to get a good view of the river below.

Further adding to the adventure of our return trip was a sign along Interstate 17 just south of Flagstaff that stated “Road Closed 89 Miles Ahead.” Rob took a peek at traffic on his phone and confirmed that things were at a standstill near the Bloody Basin Road exit just a little north of Phoenix. So, we did some quick calculations and decided to make a detour at Camp Verde to Payson, which would add about 30-40 minutes to our trip but most certainly avoid any sort of delay from the road closure issue. That seemed like the most logical plan of attack, so we went with it, and I’m glad we did! Highway 260 from I-17 to the Highway 87 junction was a gorgeous two-lane windy road with very little traffic.

Soon we found our way in a few small towns on the outskirts of Payson, including one called Strawberry. Most homes in that area have log cabin architecture which adds to a cozy feeling in the community. Strawberry is also home to the state’s oldest still-standing schoolhouse, built in 1885, so we had to make a stop there.

“Old school.” Get it? Never mind.

By the time we got back to my place in Scottsdale, it was nearly 6 p.m. and we felt like we’d spent the entire day in the car, but we covered some beautiful ground and enjoyed the road trip! Below are the rest of my photos.

Thanks to PAPA member Larry Edsall for giving me this awesome mousepad!

Dinner with my buddy Josh

This is how long I’ve known Josh: We took these photos of our Hondas together in January 2001. Over 15 years ago! Mine was the red Prelude of course.

Prepare for takeoff!

Breakfast with mom, sporting my NALM shirt of course

Check out that French toast from Bear Paw Cafe!

View of St. George from the Red Hill

tyson_rob

Old tunnel into St. George that has been bypassed by modern roads, and now serves as a storage area.

Picking up my 5-year-old niece Vivienne

Family BBQ with my brothers Payton and Bentley, and mom

Rob getting cozy at the Jacob Lake Inn

Leaving the Navajo Bridge

Check out this Acura brand video entitled “30 Years Young” – pretty cool stuff!

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2017 Ford Mustang Shelby GT350 Track Event in Phoenix

Posted in Arizona, Vehicle Reviews on April 27, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 543,115

Odometer (ILX): 161,603

There’s nothing like a little “horsepower high” to break up a mundane Tuesday! I escaped the office for a couple of hours recently to attend a track event at Wild Horse Pass Motorsports Park in Chandler, Arizona.

pass

The Ford Performance program – formerly known as SVT (Special Vehicle Team), and also formerly known as SVO (Special Vehicle Operations) is the company’s division dedicated to performance and race vehicles. Anybody else remember the long-gone 1998 Ford Contour SVT?

The performance program has recently undergone a lot of changes both in structure and in branding, and Ford has developed a new lineup of vehicles tailored around speed and performance for people who demand more get-up than the average Joe.

nicole_tyson

Many of those vehicles were on display at the track, all the way from the entry level Fiesta ST up to the supercar “GT” model which debuted recently and hasn’t yet gone on sale. Somewhere in the middle of that hierarchy lies the Mustang, and Ford’s engineers have gone to great lengths to make this one a viable contender against the competition.

briefing

Jim Owens, Marketing Manager at Ford Performance, gave our group of 25-30 individuals a run-down on the lay of the land. His organization’s goal is to instill the “addiction” for performance in consumers early on and work them through the product lineup as they mature and are able to move on to bigger and better offerings from the company.

interior

After some safety briefings and an introduction to the track layout, I was saddled up in the passenger seat of the 526-horsepower, 6-speed manual Mustang “Shelby GT350” beast and driven around by a professional driver from Ford’s race team based in Salt Lake City at Miller Motorsports racetrack. Finally I had the chance to do some of the driving myself. The rumble of the V8 powerplant was unlike anything I’ve driven recently. I found the clutch take-up to be intuitive and easy to balance. In a flash, I was already in 3rd gear and I stayed there for pretty much the entire driving portion, taking instructions from my passenger and doing my best to not make a fool of myself on the track.

tyson_mustang

I had a riot! The car revs willingly to the high end of the rev range because redline isn’t until 8,250 RPM. I had a great time pushing the car nearly that limit on the long straightaway and I found it to be a better-handling car than I’d expected. For a $48k entry level starting price, the Shelby GT350 is a helluva play toy for grown ups. Many thanks to Ford for the invitation to the event! Here is a short video showing brief highlights from my day.

Here are a few more photos from the past several days:

On Saturday morning, I went to Tucson and test-drove a clean 1994 Legend GS sedan 6-speed. Oddly enough, this car used to belong to my friend Ryan in Utah 5 years ago! I shared a walkaround video with him.

That afternoon, my friend Leif and I attended a historical tour of the sights in Phoenix surrounding a controversial murder case. Back in 1931, a woman named Winnie Ruth Judd killed her two best friends in a sort of dramatic love affair ordeal. She cut up the bodies, put them into large trunks, and shipped them to Los Angeles via the railway. She later was caught, convicted, and spent 40 years of her life in jail (though she escaped 7 times). What a story!

Our two-hour ride took us to some of the sights in town which were significant in the case, including the home of Winnie’s (married) boyfriend Jack Holleran which we went inside, and a drive-by of the original “murder house” in central Phoenix.

“Hip” Historian Marshall Shore led the tour

shore_luggage

Starting point was the historic (and also very hip) Clarendon Hotel

ILX with the Clarendon in the distance

The scene of the crime!

On Sunday, I had a lake day with friends at Lake Pleasant, a 12-square-mile lake formed from the Agua Fria river. We rented a couple of boats and spent the day exploring around. Here is the approach of Scorpion Bay Marina.

Half of our group on boat #2

I gave my friend Ira a scare. He tracks my location and saw me out in the middle of the water.

Part of the group. Living the Arizona dream!

There was some drama this week when my storage unit roll-up door was backed into.

Luckily, the car was far enough forward (plenty of room!) that nothing was damaged.

Hope everyone is having a great week! Getting closer to Friday!

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Group Road Trip to Skull Valley, Arizona & Kyle’s Pontiac GTO 100,000 Milestone

Posted in Arizona, ILX, Road Trip on April 16, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 543,032

Odometer (ILX): 160,566

Trip Distance: 253 Miles

One of these things is not like the others.

garage

No matter how hard James tried, he couldn’t get his weekly test vehicle, a 2016 Nissan Titan, to blend in with the rest of the participants on this weekend’s half-day jaunt to the Prescott National Forest in north-central Arizona. Maybe that’s because the Titan is a 3.5-ton, 20-foot-long behemoth compared to the cars it accompanied. No matter; we don’t discriminate. In fact, it was fun to get a look at Nissan’s fancy latest truck.

group

It was a perfect day to get out of town (when is it ever not?) so we rallied the troops around 10:00 in the morning and 7 of us headed north in search of cool weather, curvy roads, and tasty eats. Sounds like a winning formula for my kind of Saturday. Our hodge-podge of vehicles spanned a variety of types:

Brad: 2013 Audi RS5
Jack: 2006 Acura RSX 5-speed
James: 2016 Nissan Titan
Kyle: 2005 Pontiac GTO 6-speed
Tyson: 2013 Acura ILX 6-speed

Chandler and Rob also came along for the ride, and they swapped between the cars throughout the day.

i17

This was a special day for Kyle’s GTO as it surpassed the 100,000 mile mark not long after starting our drive. Since interstate traffic was moderately heavy and we had 4 other cars in tow, Kyle opted not to pull over to the shoulder but Rob as passenger was able to capture the odometer reading just in time. Kyle’s car was by far the loudest of our bunch with its roaring exhaust system that probably activates car alarms with just its burble.

kyle_100k

kyle_100k_odo

It wasn’t long after our fuel stop in Wickenburg on US Highway 93 that we veered eastward on Highway 89. Looming ahead of us was what we call the Yarnell Grade: a sharp-curved stretch of highway with two lanes in each direction that climbs from about 2,000 feet in elevation to about 4,700 feet.

yarnell_grade

Some of the turns are posted as low as 25 miles per hour so it’s quite a technical piece of road. Sadly, this is where James had a distinct disadvantage in his pickup truck. I was still impressed at how well he tossed it around given its heft.

winding_road

A Corvette club had parked its cars all the way down the main street in the tiny town of Yarnell, so we didn’t stop there but continued on to the junction about 8 miles down the road where we would head toward our destination of Skull Valley. Nestled in the mountains on Highway 10 lies a teeny little town of 743 people. While amenities are scarce – in fact, just one market – Skull Valley is only 20 miles from the larger town of Prescott so it’s not entirely isolated from civilization.

tyson_skull_valley

The town’s name comes from human remains that were found when the area was settled. Those remains were determined to have been the result of battles between the Native Americans and the early settlers in the 1860s.

gto_rsx

We snagged a few photographs and watched a freight train go clanking by, then changed things up a bit by swapping cars. I took the keys to Jack’s RSX, Kyle took my ILX, and Jack took Kyle’s GTO. Right off the bat I noticed a few things about the RSX that I fell in love with. The overall visibility is amazing thanks to thin A-pillars and a low hoodline. I love how the gauges are set up with zero mph / RPM in the 6:00 position on the dial.

skull_group

Since Jack’s car is not a Type-S, that means it only has 155 horsepower as opposed to the 201 that the S got. But you honestly can’t tell! The car revved excitedly and its light chassis felt nimble. The 5-speed gearbox has that perfect Honda seamlessness to it, and on some of the steeper grades I downshifted to 3rd or 4th gears to get the revs up. The steering wheel has a small diameter and good feel, and perhaps what surprised me most was just how tight and quiet the cabin was for being 10 years old. It made my 7-year-newer ILX seem so loud in comparison.

But, apparently Kyle liked my music selections while he was driving it…

prescott

Rosa’s Pizzeria in downtown Prescott was the next destination for our hungry bunch, so we stashed our vehicles in a 4-story parking garage a few blocks away and wandered over to grab a table. Our waiter had it pretty easy since 6 of the 7 of us ordered the exact same thing for lunch: The “Rosa’s Special” Chicken Martini. Chandler was the only one who had to go against the grain and make things difficult.

lunch

We made a quick visit to Lynx Lake on the way out of town and it was bustling with people out for Saturday recreation, then completed our loop on Highway 69 and I-17 back to the Phoenix area.

lynx_lake

Hope you enjoyed coming along for the drive! The rest of my photos are below.

Northbound on I-17

i17a

Chandler as passenger in the RSX

My ILX as seen from the sideview mirror of James’ Titan

Check that out! Look: a Sugar Daddy and a Big Hunk

Fuel stop at Mobil in Wickenburg

Heading up toward Yarnell on Highway 89

Next stop Kirkland, then Skull Valley, then Prescott. I covered Bagdad in another post.

These pumps in Skull Valley were out of order.

Lunch spot in Prescott

rosas

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A Million Mile Accord, Alaska Trip Planning, & Jack’s New RSX

Posted in Arizona, ILX on April 10, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 543,021

Odometer (G35): 20,246 (Mom’s new car still at my house til Wednesday!)

Odometer (ILX): 160,000

Sometimes just a simple piece of paper can bring back so many memories. I was rooting through a box this week in search of something and came across a Bill of Sale dated March 19, 2005 – just a little over 11 years ago – from when I sold my first car for a whopping $250. Yes, it ran and drove! Funny how I felt the need to clarify “No Warranty” on a car that was 19 years old and had 194,000 miles on it. It’s a little irrational (okay, downright crazy), but I actually do miss my 1986 Celebrity from time to time. Especially that plush velour front bench seat.

celebrity_bos

It’s been an Acura used car lot at my house as usual. Joining the crowd here Scottsdale, Arizona comes this 2005 TL. I helped a friend of mine sell it today for $8,500 with just 83,000 miles. Non-navigation, tan interior, new Michelins. The buyer got a pretty solid deal!

I’m only 6 weeks away from departing on a 7,800-mile, 16 day road trip to Fairbanks, Alaska with my friend Jason. Yes indeed, it’s time to stretch our highway legs and see the north country. Beginning on Friday, May 20th, I’ll be taking you – Wifi access & blogging time permitting – on a trip through 7 states and 4 provinces in my (now-160,000-mile) 2013 Acura ILX.

This trip will be a re-creation of the same journey that my dad and I took exactly 10 years ago in my Legend. In fact, I’m going to do my best to capture photos at some of the identical locations, like this welcome sign to the Yukon Territory.

Planning is well underway, as I’ll be having the ILX serviced prior to departure. I’m also having new Michelin Pilot tires installed next month and I’ll be taking 2 spare tires. I’m an Eagle Scout after all, so “Be Prepared” is a motto that I live by, especially when embarking on such a journey. Jason is similarly busy getting his Mazda ready.

Yesterday I did a little junkyarding in south Phoenix and came across this miraculously straight 1994 Legend sedan in Desert Mist Metallic. It’s a shame the interior was pillaged before I got to it, because I bet it was in really nice shape. The entire dashboard, in fact, had been removed, but from the stickers on the windshield I know that it had 169,000 miles on it and came from Acura of Peoria. Wild guess: Some original owner traded it in with a blown head gasket and the dealership sent it to the junkyard because it needed engine replacement.

I also found an old 1990 Integra sedan that reminded me of my family’s first Acura.

On the Integra topic, here’s a first look at my next car. This is a rare 1992 “GS-R” model in Aztec Green Pearl, owned by my friend Lance in the Seattle area. Lance has been performing an extensive restoration on this 234,000 mile car over about the last year or so, bringing it back to stock condition by sourcing and installing OEM suspension, wheels, exhaust system, and other items. The results speak for themselves. You could eat off this 1.7 liter engine!

Stock ride height means there’s a lot of fender well gap, but it looks “right” for a 1990s period Honda.

Remember automatic seatbelts?

gsr_int

These photos were taken today at HondaFest car show that Lance entered.

Looks great! And I should have my hands on this one within the next couple of months.

I haven’t forgotten about the 1993 L sedan. It still needs quite a bit of work but it starts up reliably.

My friend Devan visited this week from Fort Worth, TX and we grabbed lunch on his birthday.

And my friend Jack became the proud owner of a 2006 Acura RSX. He’d been looking for a reliable, cheap, fun-to-drive commuter to replace his 2002 Lexus IS300, so this fit the bill perfectly. Here’s a photo from the test-drive.

Seller Jacob is also a friend of mine. I was glad to be able to facilitate the deal!

And Jack drove off as a happy camper in his 5-speed RSX.

Finally, here’s a mileage achievement story worth seeing. Planet Honda in New Jersey has taken into the showroom a one-owner 1990 Honda Accord coupe that recently turned its one-millionth mile. The car looks great! And we can’t help but draw similarities to Million Mile Joe who also drove an Accord of the same bodystyle.

Video link here:

Over and out!

10 Comments »

Dad’s Visit, NSX Configurator Website, & Other Updates

Posted in Arizona, Hikes, ILX, Legend, Road Trip, Vigor on March 3, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 542,181

Odometer (ILX): 156,073

My mailbox was overflowing with Acura maintenance coupon postcards yesterday afternoon. Every time they have some sort of promotion I seem to get multiple notices – but hey, I’m not complaining. Especially when the main featured car is Ludacris‘ 1993 Legend sedan.

Clever stuff, people!

And I might be taking them up on this $28.95 oil change at Acura of Tempe the next time I get over there.

The one thing that does put the enthusiasts in a tizzy is the fact that the tagline for the promotion is “Keep the Acura you Love Maintained for Life.” And just exactly how are we supposed to do that when so many critical parts have been discontinued? Thus, us true ” Legend lifers” are left to dumpster dive and go junkyarding every so often to find the parts we’re looking for.

CHECK OUT THESE NEW PLATES! This’ll go on my Legend sedan to replace the existing set. I couldn’t believe the plate combo was available when I went to search for it a couple of months ago. Don’t mind if I do!

Perfect use for this emoji.

It would be selfish of me to keep all 300 days of Phoenix sunshine per year completely to myself, so once a year my dad & stepmom travel down from Utah to partake. I was happy to share some rays. Having lived in Arizona now for 10 years, I definitely have my favorite hot-spots that we try to visit each time I have friends or family in town, but every once in awhile I throw a new destination in the mix to spice things up a bit.

Over the weekend, I introduced them to Sedona on a short overnighter (2.5 hour drive each way in the ILX) to explore the red rocks landscape of that area. Aside from hiking Devil’s Bridge which I’ve blogged about a few times in the past, we also made a visit to the Chapel of the Holy Cross – a church built in 1956 directly into a rock formation.

A definite highlight of their visit was our dining experience on Saturday night. I’d made reservations at Compass Arizona Grill, a revolving restaurant on the 24th floor of the Hyatt Hotel in downtown Phoenix.

My dad’s not big on heights (and for that matter, neither am I) so the ride up to the top in an exterior-facing elevator was just the start of a pretty exciting evening. The restaurant has fixed exterior windows in a circular form with a floor inside them that spins around, making one complete revolution every hour. I was slightly concerned about the implications of being prone to motion sickness and having to sit through a dinner while in motion, but it didn’t end up bothering me at all. Best of all, our 6:30 start time meant we hit the sunset lighting perfectly.

Our high-class ride of choice that evening was my green 1994 Vigor, shined up for the occasion. We also put a few miles on the ILX (Sedona trip) and the Legend coupe (airport run) over the course of dad & Tanya’s 4-day visit. Many thanks to them for taking the time to come see me. I’m extending an open invitation to anyone who reads this – if you’re a fan of road tripping and want to explore the southwest with me and my friends, come on down to visit!

Here are the rest of the photos from the weekend adventures.

Opening night dinner at Oregano’s – our favorite place for a Pizza Cookie.

Meeting up with Chandler and Jack for “Canal Convergence” festival at the Scottsdale Waterfront.

While rummaging through a few old photos, I dug up one taken in 2001 – when I was 20 years old – of me in my Mormon missionary garb standing next to my then-dream car, an Acura Vigor. I figured it would be fitting to take a picture of that picture, in front of my Vigor!

Putting dad to work on home improvements, including replacement of some trim in the garage.

Quick stop in New River at the abandoned gas station called Jack Ass Acres

Just about to enter Sedona, Arizona on Highway 179 – the Red Rock Scenic Byway

Checked in at the Sky Ranch Lodge in Sedona, near the airport

Doing some shopping in the Uptown district

The only McDonald’s in the world with turquoise arches

Midway through our Devil’s Bridge hike

Tanya and me on the bridge. Dad was a little nervous for us here.

With Tanya at the chapel

View from inside the chapel

ILX in Sedona

Dinner group at the restaurant

Great way to start a Sunday morning: Brunch at Cafe ZuZu inside the Hotel Valley Ho in Scottsdale

Tyson, Linh, Tanya, Craig

Airport run in the Legend later in the afternoon

A few other bits of news to share with you:

Just days after I posted my recent “Magic Fives” blog entry highlighting my 155,555 milestone on the ILX, my mom upstaged me. Her 2010 Volkswagen EOS turned over 55,555 miles at 51 degrees at 55 miles per hour at 8:55 in the morning. Congrats, and nicely done!

Who has $1/4 million I can borrow? Now’s your chance to get online and configure your dream 2017 Acura NSX. Mine would be Nouvelle Blue Pearl and loaded to the max with just about every available accessory. Orders are now being taken! I’m told there are over 1 million possible combinations of specific configurations of Acura NSX. There’s a good chance yours will be one-of-a-kind.

http://nsx.acura.com/

And lastly: Check out this beautiful Legend coupe on Ebay being sold by a friend of mine! Just 35,000 miles on a 1993 6-speed.

Have a great rest of the week!

13 Comments »

Drive to Five Review: Climbing Arizona’s Mount Ord in a 2016 Acura RDX

Posted in Arizona, RDX, Vehicle Reviews on February 21, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 542,120

Odometer (ILX): 155,439

Odometer (RDX); 8,397

Trip Distance: 144 Miles

Just 33 miles up State Route 87, my road trip companions and I found ourselves veering off the beaten path to explore a trail called Forest Road 626 that would take us on a dramatic ride to over 7,300 feet in elevation. While only six miles in length, the road offered up a sample of rugged terrain in the Tonto National Forest including patches of snow, rocky ground, ruts, and steep climbs. Sounds like the perfect environment for a crossover vehicle looking to prove itself as a capable, go-anywhere (and do it in style) rig. Enter the RDX.

The Acura RDX, now in its second generation, first debuted 10 years ago at the New York International Auto Show as a 2007 model year vehicle (pictured above). It was a compact answer to the surging demand for sport utility vehicles and it was born as the little brother to the larger 3-row Acura MDX crossover. Today, that little brother has matured, going from its turbo 4-cylinder engine to a larger V6 powertrain when the 2013 model year hit. The RDX also grown dimensionally both inside & out, and with this latest iteration promises to be more refined and luxurious than its predecessor.

For the last several days, I put a Basque Red Pearl RDX “Advance” through its paces to see just how it stacks up. On paper, the RDX is the clear frontrunner of its class. Powering the RDX is a 3.5 liter single-overhead-cam “i-VTEC” V6 engine with Variable Cylinder Management. It delivers a horsepower rating of 279 with a respectable MPG rating of 22 combined.

Acura has packaged its RDX so that it provides a lot of bang for the buck. And it needs to, because the segment in which it competes has some impressive contenders like the Audi Q5, BMW X3, and Lexus NX. My test model came equipped with the line-topping “Advance” trim with 18-inch wheels, remote engine start, parking sensors, heated & cooled front seats, fog lamps and rain-sensing wipers for those 3 months of the year when we actually get moisture in Phoenix.

Has the RDX hit a home run? According to US News & World Reports, Consumer Guide, Edmunds.com, and Kelley Blue Book, it absolutely has, since each of these respected entities has given the RDX a recent award. But this is my review, so I’ll see if I agree with their assessment.

Right off the bat, the RDX wooed me with its Jewel Eye headlights and sexy lines, but I discovered that this is one runway model that isn’t afraid to put on hiking shoes. Demeanor is collected and precise on the highway. From my place in south Scottsdale to Fountain Hills where we made a Starbucks stop, the RDX tracked straight, quietly, and with more than ample passing power at 65-75 miles per hour on the Beeline Highway. Driving aids like the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane-Keeping Assist System (LKAS), when enabled, make the RDX feel almost autonomous when desired.

The good news for the folks who will take their RDX camping or off-roading is that the composure stays intact when the going gets rough. There is good feedback from the steering & suspension but never a loss of control. I found the OEM Michelin tires to be grippy even in the loose gravel as we made our climb. And when faced with a deep section of slushy snow on a north-facing (shaded) section of the trail, I admit I thought about turning back but we pressed onward and the RDX maintained its footing. We used the paddle shifters to downshift when descending the grades so we could stay off the brakes. All said, the driving experience was refined and confidence-inspiring.

From the top of Mount Ord, my friend Chandler waved the “magic key” and granted us access to the small cabin at the base of an 8-story-tall fire watch tower. Chandler works for the Forest Service and his team staffs the cabin and tower every year starting in April which is considered the beginning of fire season. It was incredible to climb a few flights of stairs and catch a 360-degree view of the beautiful Tonto National Forest that surrounded us.

We’d worked up an appetite and made one last stop before heading home to Scottsdale: Lunch at “Jake’s Corner” off Highway 188, a place that’s been a waypoint for travelers since it started as a stagecoach stop exactly 100 years ago. It was perfect weather outside for enjoying a burger and homemade beans with the gang.

So is the RDX a winner? Coming at $44k including destination & handling in fully loaded trim, it’s still $13k cheaper than its big brother Acura MDX that I tested last year, and (as far as I’m concerned) offers just as many creature comforts without sacrificing anything except the 3rd row seat. I consider it a near-perfect solution for someone needing all-weather / all-terrain capability with luxurious amenities and just the right size.

Likes: Style (except for the wheels), performance, handling, packaging (use of space). Dislikes: Touch-screen infotainment, interior color (too light, shows dirt easily), phone pairing disabled while in motion (even for a passenger). I also think the adaptive cruise control should allow for a closer following distance. Even when adjusted to the shortest distance it felt like the vehicle was holding me back too far.

The 2016 RDX delivers unmatched value where it counts the most. Give one a whirl if you haven’t yet! Below are the rest of the photos and a short video from our adventure. Thanks as always for coming along for the ride, and to Acura for letting me put a few miles on a new RDX!

Northbound Highway 87

Starting our climb up Forest Road 626

Narrow trail made for some challenges when encountering oncoming traffic

Right at home in the woods

Now with a nice layer of dust

Taking in the scenery

Hiking up the final stretch to the watch tower

Lunch spot at Jake’s Corner

Dollar bills on the ceiling. This seems to be a “thing” at most western-themed bars around here

Those baked beans were delicious!

And a few beauty shots with the Formula Red NSX & Basque Red RDX. Just because. Enjoy!

5 Comments »

Weekend Trip: Bisbee, Arizona & Colossal Cave Mountain Park

Posted in Arizona, ILX, NSX, Road Trip on February 16, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 542,115

Odometer (ILX): 155,200

Trip Distance: 446 Miles

ilx_in_bisbee_2

“We’ll leave the light on for you.” So says the famous Motel 6 slogan. And I love Motel 6 – for the most part. Accommodations are predictable, inexpensive, and (usually) liveable. But my friends and I showed up at a hotel last Sunday night that not only didn’t leave a light on for us, it left us out on the street with the front door locked.

The time was about 7:30 p.m. and we’d just pulled up – tired and ready to settle in – from a 3.5-hour drive from the Phoenix area. We were standing at the door to the historic 1902 Hotel San Ramon in teeny Bisbee, Arizona just 9 miles north of the Mexican international border. And there was nobody there to let us in.

san_ramon_santiagos

I dialed the phone number written on a piece of paper that was taped to the glass window in the door. “Welcome to Verizon Wireless. Your call cannot be completed at this time.” I tried again and got the same message. I looked at my road trip partners, Armando and Chris, with a bit of desperation. I already knew that vacancy was limited all over this teeny town of 5,000 people on a holiday weekend, and the chances of finding a back-up plan were slim. Would we end up driving 50 miles away to Benson to find a place to stay?

As a last ditch effort, I walked next door to the restaurant called Santiago’s. “By chance do you know the keypad code to get into the hotel next door?” I asked the hostess. The girl disappeared behind a dividing wall and then returned with a woman who was already on her cell phone trying to come to our rescue. Luckily, the two were able to get in touch with the hotel proprietor and find out our 4-digit entry code.

chris_armando

Moments later, we were lugging our bags up a flight of stairs to room #6. The hotel, as it turns out, only has 6 rooms in total. Aside from the check-in experience, everything else about San Ramon was positively charming. Our room was unlocked when we found it, with 2 keys on the dresser. Silk rose petals were scattered on the floor, and 2 small Valentine’s Day goody bags were on top with a few chocolates. Eat that, Motel 6!

It was just a little more than 3 years ago that I made a trip to Bisbee in my Legend. This latest experience was even more rich because I made it into an over-nighter as opposed to a rushed day-trip from the Phoenix area. After a delicious dinner at Santiago’s, Armando and I explored the night life for a little bit while Chris decided to hit the sack.

stock_board

Just steps away from the front door of San Ramon was the Stock Exchange Saloon. Its double doors and neon sign beckoned, so Armando and I went over to check it out. This building, dating back to 1905, once housed a stock brokerage firm called Duey and Overlock. According to the gal behind the counter who was born and raised in Bisbee, this was the only branch of the New York Stock Exchange outside of New York at the time. Today, the venue retains some of the original elements from those days including this board along the back wall under plexiglass. Armando and I cued up a few hits on the jukebox including “Walkin’ on Sunshine” before calling it a night.

tyson_armando_cadillac

lowell2

On Monday morning, I rolled open the wooden windows of the 2nd floor hotel room and admired the perfect weather outside. It was President’s Day, and we departed the San Ramon and took the ILX to have breakfast at “Bisbee Breakast Club” (BBC) a mile and a half away in historic Lowell. If the streets of Bisbee were a snapshot of the 1880s, then Lowell moved us forward about 80 years to the 1960s. The entire main street was lined with classic cars, varying in condition from scrap heap to show-ready. We stepped inside and feasted on chiles rellenos.

mexico

The rest of our morning was filled with sights & sounds of the American Wild West. We stopped just briefly in Naco, Arizona at the Mexican border – but not too close – as none of us had our passports handy and we didn’t want to chance an “accidental” international border crossing. We took a moment back in Bisbee to frame up the re-creation of a photo that I took 3 years ago with my Legend. (Thanks Chris & Armando for being my photographers!). Bisbee’s strong heritage as a copper and gold mining town lives on and I will surely be going back for a tour of the mine soon.

colossal_entrance

I knew we had a 1:00 p.m. cave tour to get to back in Tucson, so by about 11:00 we said our farewells to B-town and headed out. Out last stop on the trip was to a large underground cave about 20 miles east of Tucson that I last visited 100,000 miles ago in September 2013. Our talkative tour guide stretched a 45-minute walking tour (covering roughly 1/2 mile and almost 400 steps) into about an hour and 15 minutes. I learned a few new things this time around, but I was surely glad to surface for daylight at the conclusion.

cave_interior

Thanks for joining for this weekend’s adventure!

Other pics from this weekend follow.

With Chris at the 3rd annual “Concours in the Hills” car show in Fountain Hills, Arizona

The only Honda in attendance was a nicely-kept 1979 Civic

Wouldn’t be called Fountain Hills without an awesome fountain!

Loved this 1989 Porsche 911!

Hiking Papago Park with Chris

Paying a visit to friends on a Saturday NSX drive

Armando showed up in the SVX, so both 1992 Japanese sportscars became acquainted with one another

San Tan Valley, Arizona – on our way to Tucson, we stopped to visit some Legend friends

Gabe and Josh were working on a timing belt / water pump replacement on Gabe’s 1992 coupe

Valentine’s Day gifts waiting for us at the Hotel San Ramon in Bisbee

Bisbee is extremely hilly and the streets are narrow. It’s no wonder the town wasn’t built in squares.

Looking north toward the Stock Exchange Saloon on Brewery Avenue

Historic gas station in Lowell, just down the road

Bisbee Breakfast Club awaits us!

How about that Chile Relleno?

One of the many vintage cars parked along the main road in Lowell

This patrol car was apparently driven by Barney Fife

Looking out at the huge Queen Creek Mine

Last look at colorful Bisbee

Headstoned at Boothill Graveyard in Tombstone on the way through town

Tyson, Armando, Chris at Boothill Graveyard

Awaiting our tour time at Colossal Cave and enjoying the view

Departure from Colossal Cave

Fueling up halfway between Tucson and Phoenix at Picacho Peak

Make sure you stop by Josh Clymer’s blog, TSX Travels, where he’s now on the Final Fifteen countdown to 500,000 miles on his 2005 Acura TSX.

Also, I highly recommend “Lasting Legend” body wash from Old Spice. For obvious reasons!

Signing out for now!

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A 150,000 Milestone, Barrett-Jackson Auction, and Papago Park Meet

Posted in Arizona, Legend, Milestones on February 1, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 541,020

Odometer (ILX): 154,063

Get comfy on your office chair / easy chair / toilet. (I know some of you *cough* Chris *cough* read my blog from there). It’s time to recap the last four days’ worth of activities here in Arizona. I had friends visiting from the east coast for a few days and our schedule was packed with activities, most of which revolved around automotive stuff. Are you surprised? I doubt it.

Among the highlights were a big milestone for one of my Legends, a day at one of the world’s premier collector car auctions (and VIP access while watching a $1.2 million car find its new owner), a scenic desert drive in the Superstition Mountains, a Sunday morning hike near Arizona State University, and a 12-car meet-up in Papago Park with some Acura fanatics. Let’s get this party started. Inline with these stories are four YouTube videos for your viewing pleasure. If you’re so inclined, subscribe to my channel! I need just one more YouTube subscriber to put me at 500, and you know how much I love hitting milestones. Channel Link

Chris was one of my guests. He’s the guy with a ‘twin’ Legend to mine who drove to last year’s Houston Nat’l Acura Legend Meet (NALM) to meet up with me there. I reserved for him the opportunity to roll 150,000 in my car when he flew in for his visit from Baltimore. His request specifically was a “sunset” rollover, so that’s what we had. Around 5:30 p.m. on southbound Galvin Parkway in Phoenix, he hit the 150,000 milestone in my car and Thursday evening we got a few pictures (duh!) to commemorate the occasion. That car has only been driven 18,000 miles in the nearly 8 years I’ve owned it.

After rolling into Papago Park for a more appropriate photoshoot.

And the video:

On Friday, Chris and I spent the entire day at the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction in Scottsdale. This place was a candy store for any automotive enthusiast. Just one drawback: These were some very expensive sweets. I saw cars routinely crossing the auction block for 6-figure pricetags, and each time a vehicle met that amount, the spectating crowd would cheer and clap in excited support. When Chris and I weren’t watching the auctions, we were browsing the automobilia, tire-kicking the classics inside & out, chowing on footlong sausages from the food trucks, and PEOPLE-WATCHING. If I had a dime for every guy I saw with a mullet and a “Camaro SS” cutoff T-shirt, I could have probably bought a Camaro SS!

I’ll spare the details of the dozens of cars that caught my eye as we made the rounds, but I did really enjoy a few things, like this old Cadillac.

This pearl white Dodge Stealth only had 55,000 miles on it.

A 2000 Bentley Arnage with <50,000 miles, sold for $30,000. You’d look like a millionaire for $30k!

There were, of course, plenty of tailfins in attendance, like the ones on this 1958 Buick.

The front ends of those cars are equally shiny.

This one was for Kevin – a rare 1963 Chevy Corvette split-window coupe.

But the real draw was Lot #3007: a 2017 Acura NSX, VIN 001, scheduled for auction at 7:30 in the evening.

So, Chris and I made our way to Skybox #15 which I’d been given tickets to. The Skybox was a flight of stairs up, and overlooking the left side of the stage. Senior leaders from Honda & Acura started filing in by around 6:00 p.m. in anticipation of the big event. Jay Leno’s Ford F-150 pickup truck went for something like $200,000, and a Chevy Camaro “COPO” Edition went for over $300k, so I felt like Acura would be well positioned to get a good price for its new NSX. What I didn’t expect, though, was just how crazily the bids would climb.

Moments before the “athletic red” NSX made its way up onto the stage, all the Acura folks were ushered out to accompany it. Chris and I were about the only people left in the booth to watch from that area. A short video introduction played on the screens flanking the auction stage. All proceeds for the new NSX were to benefit two charities, the Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation and Camp Southern Ground.

At the blink of an eye, the bids were already at $600,000. Then a million. More perks were thrown in – special ride-alongs at the Indy 500, backstage passes to a concert, yada yada. Slowly the price crept one more time to $1,200,000 and then it capped off. The auctioneer’s gavel hit the podium and the car was SOLD to Rick Hendrick, founder of Hendrick Automotive group. Hendrick has been known to buy similar cars for similar prices. Apparently he paid $1M for a Z06 2015 Corvette not long ago. At least he spends his money on fun things!

Hendrick will be customizing his future NSX in the coming weeks and months. After all the one driven across the auction block was in fact a pre-production car and not destined for sale to the public anyway.

With Chris, showing our Skybox view

NSX Project Leader Ted Klaus, and Honda Vice President John Mendel

RealTime Race Team Driver Peter Cunningham

The NSX making its way to the auction block

Up on the stage it goes

Celebrating with VP Sales, Jon Ikeda, after the auction

Text from Ted Klaus showing the SOLD sign with $1.2M written in sharpie across it.

Video of the auction.

That brings us to Saturday, when we finished working on some maintenance on my 1993 Acura Legend L sedan. By this time, my friend Jake had flown in from Virginia so he lent us a hand installing some hydraulic hood struts. Soon afterward, we hit the road in the 1994 Legend GS and the 1992 NSX for a 100-mile round-trip drive to Tortilla Flat, one of my favorite destinations in the region. Slow-moving traffic and less-than-optimal road conditions kept us from really pushing the limits of the cars too far, but we had a great time enjoying the perfect weather and soaking up the scenery. Saguaro cacti dotted the landscape – something my east-coast friends don’t get to see much.

We dined at the saloon-style restaurant and then made our way back to the Scottsdale area. Here are the pics from that day.

Original intake installed – I threw away the aftermarket Ebay setup that the car came to me with.

Jake taking the wheel of the Legend GS. As a BMW guy, he appreciates a car with nice handling!

Just after lunch in Tortilla flat, with John Wayne and walls covered in thousands of $1 bills

Chris enjoying the sunshine so he could take a tan back to Maryland with him

Just before heading back to civilization

Video of Chris at the wheel of the Legend sedan

Sunday morning, I had a brunch spot in mind so we took the Legend coupe to downtown historic Tempe, Arizona. It turned 541,000 miles on the way there, and Jake captured this picture from the backseat, of me capturing the milestone. Documentation of documentation!

We burned off a few of our breakfast calories by hiking up ASU’s “Hayden Butte” to get a nice view of the cloudless winter day.

That afternoon, it was Legend-mania as we made our way to a Phoenix area meet at Papago Park. The guys helped me clean up the cars so they were ready for action. Peter came as well so he could assist with transport.

Shot taken by Jake as he was following Peter (NSX) and me (1993 sedan) to the meet venue.

Jake with the high-miler.

Here’s the lineup!

Can we just talk about Jimmy’s seats for a second? These have lived underneath sheepskin seat covers since new!

Group shot – missing a couple folks who came later in the afternoon.

My 1994 LS coupe

Phil’s 1992 LS coupe

Jimmy’s 1994 LS coupe

Jimmy’s 1994 GS sedan

Tyson’s 1992 NSX

Mirel’s 1994 LS coupe

Mirel’s 1993 LS coupe

Tyson’s 1994 GS sedan

Tyson’s 1993 L sedan

Walter showed up with the famous “Acura Legend Concept” which has been featured previously on the blog.

And Chuck brought his 1988 Legend ragtop (custom)!

Chris got a taste of Vigor-ous driving today.

I sent him to the hills near Superior and Miami off US Highway 60, but snowy weather proved treacherous!

What a whirlwind weekend of car craziness. Huge thanks to my friends near and far for taking part in it with me, whether here in person or via the blog. Adios for now.

Edit: Almost forgot to share – here’s the final (extended) version of that Super Bowl Commercial teaser I showed you last time!

25 Comments »

“Future Classics” Car Show & Barrett-Jackson Visit

Posted in Arizona, Car Show, Legend on January 27, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend): 540,769

Odometer (ILX): 153,863

There’s a new generation of “classic” these days. If you’re like me, you still think 1990 was about 10 years ago… not 26 years ago. That means that the cars I lusted over as a teenager and as a new driver are now hitting that first milestone at 25 years old. Of course I can (and do) appreciate virtually any era of cars: I’d go crazy if I could get my hands on a 1950 Buick, or a 1968 Nova like my brother’s, or a 1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport like one my dad used to own.

But the cars I’m more excited about are the ones that rolled around the streets when I was growing up. Maybe that’s part of the reason why I’m hellbent on acquiring the entire early 1990s model year fleet in my Acura collection.

Hagerty Insurance and ClassicCars.com recognized the growing appreciation for cars from 1975-2005 and put on an event specifically catered to those (oft-forgotten) three decades’ worth of automobiles. It was called the Future Classics Car Show (FCCS). The venue for this first-annual event was “City North” located at 56th Street in Phoenix, just off the Loop 101 freeway. Organizers had arranged to seal off a shopping & entertainment district called High Street for the occasion. I rolled in with my 1994 Legend coupe around 5:30, and judging started by around 7:30. The $10 entry fees were donated 100% to the Red Cross.

I enjoyed the wide variety of cars at the show, and the sense of fellowship everyone displayed. It didn’t matter that I parked in between a Porsche 911 and a Nissan Pulsar – we all got along and enjoyed the show together. Among other cars that my friends brought were Michael’s BMW 635csi, Kai’s Lexus LS400, Peter’s BMW E46 Wagon, Mike’s Acura NSX, Kyle’s Pontiac GTO, John’s Mustang and more.

A definite highlight was meeting Jonathan Klinger of Hagerty, the man who inspired this very blog. You see, from October 2010 through October 2011, Jonathan blogged about his experience in daily-driving a Ford Model A for an entire year on 365 Days of A. It was March 2011 when I started Drive to Five. Jonathan is visiting from Michigan this week and was one of the judges at FCCS.

My friend Kyle and I broke away from the show to head over to the opening night at Barrett-Jackson collector car auctions. Since 1989, Scottsdale Arizona has become a mecca for car enthusiasts each January as over 1,000 vehicles are auctioned off. The Scottsdale auction is Barrett’s largest, and it always brings out the high rollers with fat wallets. Just how much money are we talking about? In 2007, a 1966 Shelby Cobra sold for $5.5 million. Spendy!

Acura is a major sponsor this year and hosted an opening night gala for VIP guests. The venue was decorated in festive garb and offered food, drinks, and live music for entertainment. Here are the rest of my pics from Monday night’s fun.

Right-hand-drive 1989 Nissan 300ZX imported from Japan

Always a sweet treat to see a well-kept Subaru SVX!

I’ve always had a special love for these Lexus SC coupes

My buddy Mike making an entrance in his Acura NSX

Kyle’s mean-looking GTO representing the domestics among so many imports

Barrett-Jackson auction area

Chris, Trey, Tyson. I worked closely with Chris on planning last year’s NSXPO

This 1954 Corvette is Serial Number 001. It will be auctioned this week along with two other VIN 001 Vettes. $$!

And of course, Acura will be auctioning its first production 2017 NSX on Friday night. Any guesses what it’ll bring?

I have my tickets, and I’ll be there! Stay tuned.

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Quick Overnight Drive to Sedona, Arizona: Devil’s Bridge Hike

Posted in Arizona, Hikes, ILX, Road Trip on January 24, 2016 by tysonhugie

Odometer (Legend Sedan): 149,926

Trip Distance: 250 Miles

See my friend Ira perched there atop this natural sandstone arch? I had sweaty palms when taking this picture of him: Visions of a slab of rock fracturing from the arch and sending him down on a 100-foot drop to the earth below. Kids, don’t try this at home.

Ira paid me a visit from Portland, Oregon this weekend. While the PDX area in which he resides offers virtually any sort of outdoor creation within about an hour radius, what he doesn’t have – and what he came to Arizona to see – was some of the natural beauty of the southwest. We hit the road on Friday afternoon in the ILX and headed out on a 2-hour drive to quaint Sedona, Arizona. It’s home to about 10,000 residents and nestled in a landscape of vivid red rock formations. Sedona is popular destination for people who want to “get away from it all” – the whole vibe is one of relaxation, self-discovery, and detachment from the hustle and bustle of daily life.

By the time we checked into the Sky Ranch Lodge on Airport Road (located at a vantage point high above the town), nighttime had fallen. The keys to suite #280 were “real” keys: heavy, brass-colored, old-school things. I can’t remember the last time I stayed at a hotel or lodge that hadn’t gone the route of the credit card-style swiper. Though the city lights were nice, the real view that we wanted to see would welcome us the following morning. A light cloud cover kept the sun from highlighting the colors of the surrounding mountain range, but it was still a breathtaking sight to behold.

We picked up a few provisions from the local AM/PM – namely, in my case, 2 donuts and some chocolate milk. Ira made the better decision by getting a banana and bottled water. Just a 6 mile drive up Dry Creek Road, we found the turnoff for the hiking trail to Devil’s Bridge. By now it was only about 8:00 in the morning and we were only the second car in the parking lot. The first mile or so of the hike was on a rugged road – passable by most trucks, SUVs, and even a Subaru Outback we witnessed with a daring driver at the wheel.

Then, the trail split and headed east toward the hills. We were in shorts – ill-prepared for the 38-degree start temperature – but quickly forgot about the cold as we got our cardio workout in for the day. In all, our hike would take us up the equivalent of about 40 flights of stairs. The sandstone rocks at times were perfectly placed for hiker access. Along with the higher elevation came more snow and mud – leftovers from last week’s winter storms.

“Where the heck is it?” I caught my breath, and asked Ira as we kept trudging along. Then I glanced to my left. We had already arrived. The ice made for a slippery surface upon which to navigate, so I played it extra cautious while feeling my way out – sometimes crouched down and walking on hands and knees – to the arch itself. I took note of how quiet the surroundings were when we stood completely still. Coupled with the fact that no other hikers were in the immediate area, and that we had absolutely zero cell phone signal, it made for a great feeling of peace and quiet. Soon it was time to make the return trek which went by quickly.

Ira and I enjoyed a hearty breakfast at Creekside Restaurant along Highway 179 on the way out of town. It was just what the doctor ordered to satisfy those cravings we’d built up from burning a few calories along the trail. Enjoy the rest of the pictures from our quick overnight trip, and for anyone visiting Arizona who wants a great taste of nature without hiking the entire Grand Canyon, I highly recommend hitting up the Sedona area for a trip to Devil’s Bridge. Here are the rest of my photos from the trip!

ILX at the trailhead

My “Look ma, no hands!” pose atop Devil’s Bridge

Ira back in Scottsdale, driving the NSX on Portland Street – fitting because he’s from Portland

Congrats also to my friend Mirel who picked up a(nother) Legend LS coupe 6-speed!

And one last little blurb here: I was on the news on Friday morning with my car! Tomorrow, there’ll be a car show in the evening called “Future Classics.” It’s open to any vehicle from 1970 through 2005 model year. I am entering my 1994 Legend coupe.

A few of us were asked to report to the 3TV Studio on 7th Avenue for a 3-minute intro to the car show on Good Morning Arizona.

Here’s the video. My (quick!) moment in the spotlight comes around 2 minutes in. And watch for my wave at the very end!

Coming up this week: A visit from a special friend, and a trip to the Barrett-Jackson collector car auction, where the first 2017 Acura NSX will be auctioned to a lucky new owner this coming Friday night. I have my checkbook ready.

Signing out for now!

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