Slipstream - May 2006

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Hill Country Porsche Tour Photo by Andy Miller by Joe Rybarski Clyde Barrow, Bonnie Parker and the rest of their gang paid a visit to Hillsboro, TX on April 30, 1932. They robbed a gas station and, in the process, “accidentally” shot and killed the owner. Some 74 years later, the Maverick Region Porsche Club descended upon that same town as the muster point for the 3-day Hill Country tour. Our cars were better and our intentions peaceful, but some felt it was we who were being robbed by the gas station. 13 cars and nearly twice that many people headed out under glorious weather. Farm-to-market and ranch roads constitute the majority of paved thoroughfares linking the lightly populated towns throughout the Hill Country. Due to limited local traffic, the roads are in great shape and are very popular with leisure drivers. Of particular note for our driving pleasure on this first morning were FM 580 (S) and 581 (W). We came across more than one group of misguided souls driving Z-3’s, and of course motorcycles were everywhere, but they all seemed to be going in the opposite direction of us so it was cool. After 3-1/2 hours of driving we were ready for lunch. Cooper’s BBQ in Llano was recently named by Texas Monthly as one of the top three BBQ restaurants in the state. The drill here is that you line up by the pit, point out what you want and they sell it to you by the pound. Unusual for this type of operation is that they actually manage to bar code everything you buy and scan it at the checkout. That surely speeds things up, but it’s just a little unexpected at a place where they cook your food in a steel pit sunken in the dirt. After lunch we tackled the Willow City Loop (WCL). This area is known for an uncommon density and variety of wildflowers and attracts tourists from all over. However, due to the lack of rainfall recently, there was a dearth of wildflowers, so we basically just drove the loop and enjoyed the roads. At the end of the loop, or at the beginning depending on how you look at it, is an establishment called the Knot in the Loop Saloon. This place had been a barn up until three years ago, and you can figure that out rather quickly upon entering. However, the proprietors are friendly, they have restrooms, and the locals stare at you with the look that says “you ain’t from around these parts, are ya?” A round of soft drinks for all and we were on our way. Fredericksburg was the next significant town on our agenda. With its numerous galleries, wineries and shops full of stuff you Relaxing before dinner at Haven River Inn Photo by Andy Miller don’t need, a majority of the group elected to stay and take it in. Stalwarts pressed onward to the Haven River Inn, our overnight base in Comfort. Saturday morning came quickly and we lit out with the expectation of more great driving. Notable on the first leg of the trip was a rapid and dramatic transformation from nearly barren scrub land to lush green foliage. It doesn’t take much water to get native Texas plants to green up and this area seemed to define who got rain and who didn’t. First stop of the day: the Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop in Leakey. It is located at the intersection of FM 337 and Hwy 83 which forms the locus of any Hill Country drive. Knot in the Loop Saloon (Flora Lin, Carol Rybarski, Renee Wainwright, & Judith Moore in background) As you first enter the Motorcycle Stop you can’t help but conclude that Houston is not the only city in Texas without zoning laws. However, the place didn’t collapse while we were there, and the hundred or so motorcyclists who were also in attendance seemed to enjoy our vehicles as much as we did theirs. With restroom and T-shirt needs addressed we were on our way. The rest of the morning’s tour took us past Stonehenge II and a replica of Easter Island. These recreations, located near Hunt, were built in 1990 and are roughly 2/3 size of the originals. Because they sort of appear to you after rounding a curve, there is a certain surprise element to this art which adds to its entertainment value. An additional surprise element came shortly thereafter when a small boulder jumped out in front of one our vehicles in an apparent suicide attempt. We are happy to report that both rock and vehicle are fine. The pilot of said vehicle is still recuperating. We concluded the morning drive back in Leaky, this time stopping at Vinny’s Italian Restaurant for lunch. The food was very good and the atmosphere cordial. The 78-year old proprietor looks to be about 20 years younger, and he mentioned to us that his mother is 108. This propensity for long lives is probably due to good genes, but knocking back some of their lasagna might be a good alternative to that “apple a day” thing. Our afternoon agenda took us on some notably curvy roads and required a good bit of attention paying. It is in areas like this that the Porsche really shines and drivers get to forget about the payments and think about the pedals. Smiles abounding, we made our way to the Lone Star Motorcycle Museum near Vanderpool. The real gear heads among us enjoyed checking out the rare examples of bikes from around the world and through the century. 14
Photo by Andy Miller Spectacular Hill Country Road Non gear heads sought satisfaction from pecan pie at the Ace café located within the museum. From there we headed back to the Haven River Inn where dinner was also served as a special concession to the group. The entrée was a honey pecan chicken. Upon requesting the recipe, we found the sauce was essentially half butter and half honey. You could probably put that on a shingle and have people asking for seconds, but this chicken dish was exceptional and a real treat. Sunday morning’s drive started to angle us back to the DFW area on roads that continued to amaze. We drove past the Falkenstein Castle which is near Burnet. It has been filmed as part of the “Bridezilla” series on the We network, and the plans for it were actually taken from those drawn for a castle designed but not built for King Ludwig II of Bavaria. Not unlike the experience of seeing Stonehenge II coming around the curve, this castle can cause you to Photo by Andy Miller forget you’re supposed to be looking at the road. Soon thereafter we attacked a portion of State Road 4 which is uncommonly beautiful, but also contains several roller coaster-like sections that are quite exhilarating when driven properly. At the conclusion of SR 4 we settled down and took lunch at Napoli’s in Lampasas. This lunch was more leisurely than usual and we had a chance to make inquires of the lady on our tour who had apparently managed to discreetly change her clothing several times while riding in an open top convertible. Of course, this writer pledged to guard her identity with the zeal of a White House reporter. So Cathy, you can rest easy knowing your secret is safe with me. The day concluded with a final stop in Gatesville where we refueled, said our goodbyes and the headed home to scrape about 9 pounds of bugs off the car and anticipate the next tour! Frio Canyon Motorcycle Stop in Leakey German Engineering With Southern Hospitality. Personal Service. At Nine-Eleven, we’ve built a reputation for understanding our customers’ needs — quality service, convenient location, state-of-the-art diagnostics, and personalized service that is unmatched in the Metroplex. When you trust your car to us, you will have the peace of mind that it will be serviced correctly the first time. Every time. Access. We strongly believe in access to those who will actually work on your car. Our technicians are available in person, by phone, and even by pager if you have questions or need timely information about your car. Facility. Our clean shop, well-stocked parts department, and comfortable waiting room ensure that you and your car will get the kind of service you deserve. Maintained tools and equipment. Clean cars. We are meticulous about details. Parts. Our parts department is also second to none. Our knowledgeable staff will assist you in finding that necessary part or after-market option you require. We are an authorized dealer for high-performance Recaro seating, Yokohama Tires, Bilstein Shocks, Bosch, and many others. This ensures that whether you are a casual driver or an enthusiast who needs race prep assistance, Nine-Eleven has the experience and knowledge to keep your car running at peak performance. Newkirk Crown Rd. Cindy Lane IXXI Royal Lane Joe Field Rd. Emerald I-35 Nine-Eleven Enterprises, Inc. Service, Accessories & Parts for BMW, Mercedes & Porsche 2120 Cindy Lane, Dallas, Texas 75229 972-241-2002 www.nine-eleven.com Convenience. We are conveniently located near the intersection of Stemmons and LBJ Freeways in Dallas. We offer emergency towing service 24 hours a day and have arranged for special rental car rates with area rental agencies. Come by for a visit between 7:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Monday-Friday, or call for a service appointment. 15
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