So I just had a training class in Livermore today. I get out early, it's a nice day, and I've got some nice new tires I'm curious to see just how much better they are than the run flats. So I take Mines Road home. Some of you know it. Those that don't...imagine a 60 mile long auto-X course that's disguised as a narrow, tight and twisty road.

First off, I will say that I'm very happy with the new tires. Gives me a renewed love for the car. There was hardly anyone out there (which is good because there is no place to pass unless the pull over), and I was just going at a spirited pace with the roof off and my gay ass dance/electronic music blasting away. About 10 miles into it, there's a fucking '06+ Miata in my rear view right on my ass. Whoa. Where'd he come from? OK sure, I'll give him a run. It's been a few years since I've driven the road, and I've never taken it in this direction, so my confidence could've been a whole lot better. The corners that weren't blind I took at probably 9/10ths and if there was a straight I would start to leave him. But every blind corner I just couldn't take them as fast as he was willing so he'd get right back on my ass. So after a few miles of this, I slow down and give him he wave by. I figure he must know the road way better than me so I'll let him lead. As he passes, I see the mini cage and the camber kit he's got going on along with a healthy sounding exhaust. After seeing all that, I think I'm gonna take a beat.

And did I ever. I could gain back ground if there was a straight section. But in this particular area, you're lucky to see a straight over 500 feet long, so he kept creeping away till the next thing I saw was some other slow moving car that he no doubt got around a lot quicker than it took me to do.

My car does not like that road at all. My front spoiler scraped the ground from dips, road crown, or brake dive about a hundred times. And a couple shots to the floorpan from some particularly shitty road irregularities. But the view from top of Mt. Hamilton was nice...