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North County San Diego

Messages
15
Likes
13
Location
San Diego
#1
Anyone else around the San Diego area? I picked up my FiST a couple months ago from a member on here, and have yet to do a Palomar Mountain or surrounding area drive. I would love to do a group run up there sometime, if others are interested in doing that.
 


WannabeST

Active member
Messages
587
Likes
751
Location
Riverside,CA
#2
I'm from Riverside, but my girlfriend loves San Diego so we visit every few mounts. Would love the excuse to drive a new mountain. Let me know when you set this up.
 


OP
S
Messages
15
Likes
13
Location
San Diego
Thread Starter #3
I'm from Riverside, but my girlfriend loves San Diego so we visit every few mounts. Would love the excuse to drive a new mountain. Let me know when you set this up.
For sure! I will keep you updated. I'm having some noise coming from my front brakes, even when I'm not braking, so I need to pull those apart to take a look and probably will replace the pads anyhow. With other things going on as well, I'm thinking maybe August sometime to do a drive up Palomar.
 


WannabeST

Active member
Messages
587
Likes
751
Location
Riverside,CA
#5
I'm down for that. Let's direct message though for time and date. Also if you have the stock radiator you might have to keep the heater on full blast as to not overheat. Palomar is a beast of a mountain.
How long is it? My usual mountain road is just over 10 miles and has a 5k ft elevation gain.
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#6
Elevation gain is about 5k ft I think in 10-12miles. First time I drove it with stock rad and overheated quick, 2nd time I added the oil cooler and got maybe 50% before having to put the heater on full blast(I called this the Mt protocol) 3rd time I had the mish oil cooler and 160degree tsat and got maybe 80% before having to put the heater on full blast. This time will be a new test as my oil cooler blew up and now I just have the ebay rad and 160 tsat. I expect it will go well though as the ebay rad has been nothing but good so far. I do recommend that we do it early Sunday morning as it get congested with other car enthusiasts. The last 3 times I did it I left my house at maybe 4am arrived at the base 0510ish which was a good time in my opinion. Also I do believe a stock radiator using the mt protocol(heater on full blast all windows down) most likely will make it to the top without overheating.
 


OP
S
Messages
15
Likes
13
Location
San Diego
Thread Starter #7
Elevation gain is about 5k ft I think in 10-12miles. First time I drove it with stock rad and overheated quick, 2nd time I added the oil cooler and got maybe 50% before having to put the heater on full blast(I called this the Mt protocol) 3rd time I had the mish oil cooler and 160degree tsat and got maybe 80% before having to put the heater on full blast. This time will be a new test as my oil cooler blew up and now I just have the ebay rad and 160 tsat. I expect it will go well though as the ebay rad has been nothing but good so far. I do recommend that we do it early Sunday morning as it get congested with other car enthusiasts. The last 3 times I did it I left my house at maybe 4am arrived at the base 0510ish which was a good time in my opinion. Also I do believe a stock radiator using the mt protocol(heater on full blast all windows down) most likely will make it to the top without overheating.
Agreed on starting very early, not only to avoid other cars, but also bicyclists. I have a Mountune radiator in my car. I haven't had any overheating on other drives, but Palomar Mountain is quite steep and more demanding than what I have done in it so far.

Generally, I go up the South grade which is more technical, and down the East grade which is faster and the turns are not as tight. There are some other fun roads near by that we could do as well.
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#8
Agreed on starting very early, not only to avoid other cars, but also bicyclists. I have a Mountune radiator in my car. I haven't had any overheating on other drives, but Palomar Mountain is quite steep and more demanding than what I have done in it so far.

Generally, I go up the South grade which is more technical, and down the East grade which is faster and the turns are not as tight. There are some other fun roads near by that we could do as well.
Lol yeah I should have just got the radiator to start with. A lot of work for nothing. Ah. Cool how early do you go? I just went up and down the South grade.
 


OP
S
Messages
15
Likes
13
Location
San Diego
Thread Starter #10
I haven't been up there with a "fun car" in a while. Years ago, I had an E36 M3 that I would take up there, along with an NA Miata I drove up there occasionally. I still miss the M3, but couldn't justify buying another with the cost of them nowadays. The Miata was fun, but definitely lacking in power driving upwards. Typically, I would go at around 6:30am on weekends, if not a bit earlier, or sometimes before sunset.

I recently bought my Fiesta ST from a member on here, so I can't claim to have built it myself. Here's his original for sale thread: https://www.fiestastforum.com/threa...-title-11-5k-obo-san-diego.32232/#post-510401
It's been a blast so far, and I've been wanting to take it up Palomar Mountain. No major changes from when I've bought it yet, just fluids and I will be installing some EBC Blues in the front soon. Once I get those in, I'm game to set up a time to do the drive!

How are you liking the X37 in yours?
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#11
Yeah yours looks dope, nice mods. Cool having a tune from Randy. I love the X37, more power would be fun but do I really need it? I would love to add fuel and see how far I could take it but smog is a thing also. Some day I wish I would have kept it stock with the Monster E40 tune. It was fast enough then really. But anyway excited for you I couldn't stop driving the car when I first bought it, and it's still fun. Party on wheels. Yeah just give me a heads up so I can go over my car too and change the fluids and whatnot.
 


Clint Beastwood

2000 Post Club
Messages
2,609
Likes
2,351
Location
Laguna beach
#12
Last time I went up in a car was with my SRT4, haven't gone in the FiST.

I used to ride motorcycles up there all the time but stopped in maybe 2015 or so when locals started throwing sand and gravel in corners to mess with bikes. Just not worth it.

I tend to avoid group rides/drives because inevitably someone gets dumb at some point and drive way beyond their ability.
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#13
Last time I went up in a car was with my SRT4, haven't gone in the FiST.

I used to ride motorcycles up there all the time but stopped in maybe 2015 or so when locals started throwing sand and gravel in corners to mess with bikes. Just not worth it.

I tend to avoid group rides/drives because inevitably someone gets dumb at some point and drive way beyond their ability.
If the Wannabest ST wants to lead up we'll all have to stay behind a non turbo fiesta. He might be the most experienced of us... Would be fun to watch him Jam up, But I feel you I got two tickets in the last couple of years.
 


Clint Beastwood

2000 Post Club
Messages
2,609
Likes
2,351
Location
Laguna beach
#14
If the Wannabest ST wants to lead up we'll all have to stay behind a non turbo fiesta. He might be the most experienced of us... Would be fun to watch him Jam up, But I feel you I got two tickets in the last couple of years.
I remember at our SRT4 meet a nissan sentra SE-R decided to tag along and his brakes were burning on the way *up*, dude almost binned it in a corner, so a few of us radio'd to say we'd all slow waaaaaaay down so he'd stop pushing it. Young kid, really excited to run with us but just didn't have the ability, was full throttle all the time, then brakes, then throttle, then brakes. I haven't seen brakes smoke like that in a long time
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#15
I remember at our SRT4 meet a nissan sentra SE-R decided to tag along and his brakes were burning on the way *up*, dude almost binned it in a corner, so a few of us radio'd to say we'd all slow waaaaaaay down so he'd stop pushing it. Young kid, really excited to run with us but just didn't have the ability, was full throttle all the time, then brakes, then throttle, then brakes. I haven't seen brakes smoke like that in a long time
Yeah last time I was up there with a Lexus over weighed with 4 people he was leading, his rear end kept over rotating, it didn't look too safe. I think we are all mature enough to have a group ride with no shenanigans though.... Right?
 


Messages
35
Likes
22
Location
Newport Beach
#16
I’m in Newport Beach so it’d be a bit of a drive for me but it sounds like fun. I’m familiar with GMR, is it anything like that?
 


Messages
137
Likes
112
Location
san diego
#17
I’m in Newport Beach so it’d be a bit of a drive for me but it sounds like fun. I’m familiar with GMR, is it anything like that?
I would say it's worth the drive. Average grade on GMR is 3.8 over 26miles. Palomar is like 6.9 and 10-12 miles. Palomar is more aggressive, but I've never done the GMR. South Palomar Mt road is by far the most technical and aggressive mt road I have done though. There is a observatory on the top of the mountain also which is a cool feature. I've never done a night run but star gazing at the top on a clear night should be phenomenal.
 


Messages
116
Likes
69
Location
San Diego, CA, USA
#18
If anyone ever wants to meet along the 76 near PALA CASINO Exit off the 15, I know a GREAT set of canyon roads and we can also run Palomar MTN! Im from the Oceanside/Vista area! 2018 FiST :)
 




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