When I bought the Westfield, I envisioned using it for head clearing blasts in the mountains, and the occasional track day. I never thought I would use it for road trips,
but I have since learned that touring in a se7en is a fantastic experience. The primary advantage to these cars is the incredibly involving driving experience. The car feels hard wired to your senses, and when touring the same connection is felt to the environment. The lack of doors and roof, and the proximity of your rear end to the pavement leave you feeling part of your surroundings, rather than just a spectator looking out at the passing landscape. In this respect it is like riding a bicycle, only much faster, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but not quite as stupid.
To date I have done five tours in the car. The first was USA2005, an amazing three week journey that saw well over fifty se7ens converge in the Western US. Forty of which crossed the Atlantic on a boat from the UK, and landed in Houston between hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From there the group made its way through West Texas, New Mexico, and into Colorado where my wife and I joined up. We then headed to Utah, down to the Grand Canyon, into Las Vegas where we attended a drive through wedding, and finally over to California where we drove Highway 1 from Cambria to the tour’s end in San Francisco. Including travel to and from the tour, we covered 4000 miles in two weeks. A fantastic adventure that I doubt I will ever surpass. The whole story is available in both written form (PDF file) and in photos.
The second tour was not quite as ambitious. PNW2007, done under the auspices of the USA7s Club, was a loop beginning and ending in Northern California, passing through Oregon and Washington, and then spending a few days crossing British Columbia. I joined up in Portland and then headed up to Canada where we were stuck in a brutal 2 hour traffic jam in Kelowna (45 minutes to travel the last ½ mile to the hotel) over to Whistler, then on the ferry to Vancouver Island before finally returning to Washington where I headed home. The rest of the group continued down the Pacific Coast until they returned to the starting point in Vacaville.
The third tour was a quick blast down to Monterey for the Historic Race Weekend in 2010, followed by a 5-1/2 day tour through the back roads of CA, OR, and WA. An abbreviated write-up with pictures is located here. Fantastic trip that included the single best day of driving I have ever experienced. Amazing roads, great company, and no tickets or break downs. It doesn't get any better :-)
Tour #4, was a repeat of tour #3. Some aspects were better this time, but one of the roads on day 2 had severely deteriorated over the intervening two years and was quite miserable. Overall, a great trip. Pictures and the story are here.
Tour #5 was a short, solo trip that covered only 725 miles over 2-1/2 days. Heading south to Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier, then North to Winthrop and the North Cascades Highway, before heading home. A short write-up and pictures are located here.
but I have since learned that touring in a se7en is a fantastic experience. The primary advantage to these cars is the incredibly involving driving experience. The car feels hard wired to your senses, and when touring the same connection is felt to the environment. The lack of doors and roof, and the proximity of your rear end to the pavement leave you feeling part of your surroundings, rather than just a spectator looking out at the passing landscape. In this respect it is like riding a bicycle, only much faster, or riding a motorcycle without a helmet, but not quite as stupid.
To date I have done five tours in the car. The first was USA2005, an amazing three week journey that saw well over fifty se7ens converge in the Western US. Forty of which crossed the Atlantic on a boat from the UK, and landed in Houston between hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From there the group made its way through West Texas, New Mexico, and into Colorado where my wife and I joined up. We then headed to Utah, down to the Grand Canyon, into Las Vegas where we attended a drive through wedding, and finally over to California where we drove Highway 1 from Cambria to the tour’s end in San Francisco. Including travel to and from the tour, we covered 4000 miles in two weeks. A fantastic adventure that I doubt I will ever surpass. The whole story is available in both written form (PDF file) and in photos.
The second tour was not quite as ambitious. PNW2007, done under the auspices of the USA7s Club, was a loop beginning and ending in Northern California, passing through Oregon and Washington, and then spending a few days crossing British Columbia. I joined up in Portland and then headed up to Canada where we were stuck in a brutal 2 hour traffic jam in Kelowna (45 minutes to travel the last ½ mile to the hotel) over to Whistler, then on the ferry to Vancouver Island before finally returning to Washington where I headed home. The rest of the group continued down the Pacific Coast until they returned to the starting point in Vacaville.
The third tour was a quick blast down to Monterey for the Historic Race Weekend in 2010, followed by a 5-1/2 day tour through the back roads of CA, OR, and WA. An abbreviated write-up with pictures is located here. Fantastic trip that included the single best day of driving I have ever experienced. Amazing roads, great company, and no tickets or break downs. It doesn't get any better :-)
Tour #4, was a repeat of tour #3. Some aspects were better this time, but one of the roads on day 2 had severely deteriorated over the intervening two years and was quite miserable. Overall, a great trip. Pictures and the story are here.
Tour #5 was a short, solo trip that covered only 725 miles over 2-1/2 days. Heading south to Mt. St. Helens, and Mt. Rainier, then North to Winthrop and the North Cascades Highway, before heading home. A short write-up and pictures are located here.
