Pics Of Our 2006 Overture: Prelude To The Minnesota Driving Season(LARGE PICS) - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

schnelleM5 · 12th April 2006, 04:20

This past Sunday we innaugurated the 2006 driving season with a scouting run through the Bluff Country of Southeastern Minnesota. Despite three years of driving the backcountry roads in this area of our state, close to my home, many hitherto undiscovered gems of asphalt beckoned to be explored.

My family and I were joined by Stacey(STamulinas) and his wife Charmille as well as Grant(GWells), who brought along his new Mustang GT for a shakedown drive.

It proved to be yet another glorious and memorable day...

In front of our house just prior to leaving for the rendezvous point. The sun, still low in the Eastern sky, had yet to cut through the chill of the early Spring morning air.

Brand new Toyo T1Rs, which I am running this season on the recommendations of a very experienced and successful professional road racer. They were carefully mounted and Hunter Road Force balanced with BMW weights by my trusted and superb Master Tech Jeff, at Park Place BMW in Rochester just four days previously.

Rendezvous point, McDonald's in Rochester. Car talk over a light breakfast. Our route reviewed and maps distributed, we synchronized our Motorola two way radios and rolled out.

At speed along a very scenic and fast stretch along the Zumbro River. Grant's Mustang GT belted out a very sonorous, OEM exhaust note which was audible even when he was on point!

Do conservative Minnesotans just have an affinity for black cars, or is it just us?

Unfortunately, Grant had to break away quite early due to prior commitments, but kudos are due him for having the enthusiasm to join us for part of the drive.

Turning onto one of my favorite roads.

Three miles of fast left-right transitions, elevation changes, and off-camber curves up the coulee and back down again. The hillside and trees still barren from the Winter, amplifying and reverberating the roar of our V8s at full song.

A break by the side of the road, Whitewater State Wildlife Management Area.

Timelessly beautiful sights for my eyes to behold. The sinuously curvaceous and classic lines of our e39M5 complimented by Mother Nature's soft lines, textures and palette.

In this part of Minnesota, the pervasive limestone bluffs contribute to the alkalinity of the streams and creeks, resulting in a blue-ribbon fishery for trophy Brown Trout and another wonderful thing...no mosquitos!

For those who thought Minnesota was flat and featureless prairie..

Topping off with 93 octane at the BP in St. Charles. Downright cheap at $2.789/gallon! Note Stacey's brand new Michelin PS2s

We emerged from the hinterland to take a lunch break. Top sirloin and BBQ pork at The Old Barn Restaurant, nestled along a lazy bend in the Root River just outside of Preston.

On the attack once again following lunch. Fast and tight descent from the bluffs down to Lanesboro.

Passing a 1-horsepower black beauty from another time. Amish buggy on the plateau outside of Lanesboro. See what I mean about Minnesotans and black vehicles?

Very fast and tight descent into the tiny hamlet of Choice. Population: Less than 25. No guardrails here, just rudimentary cattle fencing. A short but precipitous drop to the pond below awaits those who over-cook this corner.

Continuing the descent. A fairly flat corner...

...Followed by a banked curve. Not of the magnitude of the high banking at Daytona, but still pretty cool.

Hey, the guardrail is on the inside of the curve

Ascending and nearing the top of the coulee after passing through Choice. This part of Minnesota, The Bluff Country, was untouched by the advancing glaciers of the last Ice Age, and retains its ancient and diverse geologic features, for which my M5 and I are eternally grateful!

One of myriad bridges over the Root River, just outside of Lanesboro.

Afternoon break in historic Lanesboro, parked in front of a turn-of-the-century bank on the main drag. Ice cream and Amish caramel-cashew brittle to soothe already grumbling stomachs. We stocked up on the fabulous home-made German Bratwurst at Das Wurst Haus, across the street. Pity they did not have their delicious Braunschweiger ready yet. Next time...

SL 55 prowling Main Street. Note Wisconsin plates.

Yellow Jacket Wasp on my side-view mirror. Harbinger of Spring.

We part ways in front of the bank...until our next drive.

Final shot, leaving Lanesboro and beginning the drive home.

2006 promises to be another exciting and rewarding season. We will undertake our first official group drive at the end of this month, and will be joined by Colin(m5bub) and his fiancee Elisa in their e60M5(Sapphire Black, of course), now finally past the 1200 mile break-in, as well as other friends, old and new.

Thanks for reading.

Richard in NC · 12th April 2006, 05:02

As always, great pics and great story.

aw/ir02smg · 12th April 2006, 05:30

schnellem5,

very nice writeup. if nothing else, you gave me an opportunity to see a part of our country i have not seen. beautiful.

btw, i thought your handle sounded familiar! had to think for a second.

jack

EM5PWR · 12th April 2006, 05:56

that was a nice write up ..

what's up with the black ????

Anzir · 12th April 2006, 05:59

If this was the scouting trip, I can't wait to see the pics from the actual drive!!

BmwNut · 12th April 2006, 06:13

As always Al, a wonderful writeup supplimented by fantastic pictures. Those roads look similar to what I have around here, which is a word is awsome.

Terk · 12th April 2006, 06:47

Al,

Another great pictoral story of your many adventures.

Look forward to the next chapter.

T.

SASAM5POWER · 12th April 2006, 07:20

Very nice write up, and even better pics!!! I wish we had roads like that around here!!! I guess top speed runs will have to make up for it!!!

KevinM · 12th April 2006, 07:24

Hi Al,

Great write-up and pictures as usual!

Let us know how you like the Toyo tires.

Best,

CSharp · 12th April 2006, 21:11

Hey fellow MN member. I just picked up my M5 last month and was wondering what local members were on the board. I am in Hopkins, so about 70 miles from you guys. I used to be in the mn audi club and that was 1000 strong, but I haven't had much chance to make a connection to other M/bmw owners yet. Shoot me an email if ever have another event and have an opening. Nice write up btw.