REVscene - Vancouver Automotive Forum

BIC_BAWS · 08-08-2018, 08:24 AM

Normally, I'd post this in Travel chat, but I'm not looking for typical tourist-y things to do. We already have options laid out for the kangeroo zoo and probably riding ATVs.

I'm planning to go to Kelowna for the weekend on the 16th to the 20th. My friends and my idea of fun is doing car things - hopefully not any wrenching.

Is there any car things to do around that time? Any cool car things to check out? Any cool roads to explore? Going to be driving my E46 and a FB6 Si (9th gen).

Thanks!

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320icar · 08-08-2018, 08:51 AM

Knox mountain hill climb. Not sure when it is though

BIC_BAWS · 08-08-2018, 08:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 320icar

Knox mountain hill climb. Not sure when it is though

Already passed, but do you know if that road is open to public regularly? I know the hill climb is a completely closed off event.

bcrdukes · 08-08-2018, 08:56 AM

I'm sure your new suspension will enjoy the drive up Knox Mountain.

Traum · 08-08-2018, 09:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

Is there any car things to do around that time? Any cool car things to check out? Any cool roads to explore? Going to be driving my E46 and a FB6 Si (9th gen).

If you can get there earlier or stay longer, they have some last minute spots available at the Area 27 academy for the Aug 14 - 16 session, and Aug 19 - 21 sessions.

https://www.area27.ca/academy-27

Otherwise, the drive from Kelowna to Vernon is always something I enjoy a lot.

underscore · 08-08-2018, 11:35 AM

Knox is always open, but the speed limit is low and there are tall, steep speedbumps bolted down every day aside from the hillclimb.

Depending on when you get in on Thursday there's AutoX at Okanagan College starting at 5pm (I think, it might be 5:30).

For fun driving roads you can go to Tickleberries in Okanagan Falls, depending on how much time you want to take you can either go straight there, or go down Hwy 33 to Rock Creek, then over to Osoyoos and back up. Either way I highly suggest taking Eastside Road on the east of Skaha Lake instead of the highway between Penticton and OK Falls. If you are just coming down through Penticton then I'd add a detour down Green Mountain Road to Hwy 3A, then down Fairview White Lake Road and back up Green Lake Road to OK Falls. Then when you're in Penticton grab a burger at Burger 55.

You can also take this big loop if you've got a whole day to spend driving, or just do the run from Vernon to Fauquier and back if you've got less time (note the back road from Kelowna to Vernon, I find that better than Westside Road for traffic, but doing a loop to Vernon and then back down Westside Road is always good too) https://goo.gl/maps/39DKA61dj9S2

6thGear. · 08-08-2018, 02:39 PM

I just came back from Kelowna this past weekend. We took the Crows nest going up versus the Coq. Much more fun windy roads and less traffic. Not really a "car guy" thing but it'll at least start the trip off right with a fun drive up there. Just watch out for RCMP helicoptors looking for excessive speeders

underscore · 08-08-2018, 04:25 PM

^ I forgot about that, definitely go Hope -> Princeton on Hwy 3 and then take 5A north to the Connector. It's technically a bit longer than the Coq but it's very scenic and traffic is usually light so I always make better time than I would on the Coq. I've seen very heavy speed enforcement (I think we saw 5 or 6 full speed traps the one time) aimed at the Vancouver traffic (ie eastbound Friday, westbound Sunday) on 3 between Hope and Princeton on long weekends but 5A has been all but deserted every time I've taken it which is nice (seeing max 10 cars the whole way). Also stop at the Hope Slide for a crazy view on the way. Bring cash if you may need fuel in Princeton, one time when I was there the one gas station lost their cell signal and couldn't take cards.

The added bonus is the hills aren't as steep as the Coq so it's easier on less powerful vehicles, if you take 5A you still have Pennask to climb over the Connector though. Taking 3 from Princeton -> Penticton I found wasn't as interesting and adds a lot more time but it would let you avoid Pennask as well.

Also I don't know where you're starting from but taking 7 to Hope instead of 1 can be interesting as well (albeit slower) but I think there's a fire near the hwy somewhere along there right now so check the road report before you go.

edit: I found this old video I made of the drive up Knox, it's older but I believe the speedbumps are still the same. Jump to 1:12 to see what I mean.

RRxtar · 08-08-2018, 04:36 PM

Knox mountain is closed to vehicles due to forest fire risk. Its not that interesting anyway.

If you want to drive a twisty road, go drive westside road. from west kelowna to vernon.

spigot52 · 08-09-2018, 02:22 AM

https://www.facebook.com/McCurdyCornerShowShine/
http://www.okanaganautocross.net/vie...php?f=42&t=303
http://www.okanaganautocross.net/vie...php?f=40&t=302

XSSIV · 08-09-2018, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Traum

If you can get there earlier or stay longer, they have some last minute spots available at the Area 27 academy for the Aug 14 - 16 session, and Aug 19 - 21 sessions.

https://www.area27.ca/academy-27

Otherwise, the drive from Kelowna to Vernon is always something I enjoy a lot.

I requested a quote yesterday for their membership. I recall it was around 30k originally. It's up to 55k AND you have to go on a waiting list for god knows how long... rough. We need an autobahn!

6thGear. · 08-09-2018, 10:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RRxtar

Knox mountain is closed to vehicles due to forest fire risk. Its not that interesting anyway.

If you want to drive a twisty road, go drive westside road. from west kelowna to vernon.

Right. I forgot we had to check and make sure Crows Nest was open because of the forest fires. Luckily for us it was open and the fires we saw was super minimal

acrophobia · 08-09-2018, 08:33 PM

Trip to Area 27 in Oliver to watch some sweet cars turn laps?

BIC_BAWS · 08-12-2018, 08:21 PM

Thanks for the recommendations guys! We're gonna try hitting up some of those routes you recommended, but I don't think we'll make it for AutoX or Area27.

Are there any other weekly meets around Thursday, Friday, Saturday?

underscore · 08-13-2018, 01:07 PM

Just a heads up the air quality up here is absolute shit right now, it's so smokey you can see it just looking across the street and the air quality index is off the bad end of the scale. So if any of you have any sort of respiratory problems you may want to adjust your plans.

Gerbs · 08-13-2018, 07:19 PM

^
You think it'll be like that for the rest of summer?

underscore · 08-14-2018, 10:25 AM

It's hard to say, but it's certainly possible.

BIC_BAWS · 08-19-2018, 08:09 PM

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone! Westside road was a blast! Took Coq on the way there, and Crow's Nest on the way back. Lots of traffic on 3A on the way back and saw a cop on the median doing radar on 97. Surprisingly 3A is pretty similar to sea to sky, way less opportunities to pass slow cars tho.

Apparently air quality was a 10+ aka really bad, but I didn't really find it that bad.

For the next person that's looking for this info, make sure you fill up in Hope before leaving to Kelowna.

Traum · 08-19-2018, 09:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BIC_BAWS

Thanks for all the recommendations everyone! Westside road was a blast! Took Coq on the way there, and Crow's Nest on the way back. Lots of traffic on 3A on the way back and saw a cop on the median doing radar on 97. Surprisingly 3A is pretty similar to sea to sky, way less opportunities to pass slow cars tho.

IMO, Hwy 3 / 3A is more fun to drive heading east than it is heading west. The Coquihalla is just that -- the Coquihalla. Heading east an endurance test for your engine (and cooling system), and heading west tests (kills?) your brakes.

Quote:

For the next person that's looking for this info, make sure you fill up in Hope before leaving to Kelowna.

I usually fill up in Abbotsford since it has the cheapest gas -- going either east or west, prices are more expensive. With my cars, filling up at Abbotsford has always given me enough gas to get to Kelowna (via the Coq), and I would imagine that it should be enough to at least get me to Pendiction (via Hwy 3).

underscore · 08-20-2018, 12:50 PM

We took 97C/5A/3 both ways this weekend since we were in the Matrix and I didn't feel like having to be hard on it over the Coq. I filled up in West Kelowna and got 7.6L/100km using about 30L to downtown Vancouver. Granted I was driving in "family mode" but we also had all the baby stuff piled in the back so it cancels out.