Tag: drive

  • Happy Birthday to Me!

    2002 Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe
    It’s a rather unusual 80 degree day in Colorado on March 17th, what’s a birthday boy to do? Take the M Coupe out of winter hibernation of course! And that is exactly what I did. With the kids napping at my parents’ house, my dad and I drove back to my house and released the coupe from it’s winter home. I already knew what this birthday present was going to be, but it didn’t make it any less fun to unwrap.

    M Coupe Indoor Car Cover
    Winter Home Under Cover
    M Coupe Indoor Car Cover
    Unwrapping the Perfect Present
    Imola Red and Black Interior with Color Matched Puma Driving Shoes
    Puma Driving Shoes

    Even though it has looked great under it’s tight, black, form-fitting cover, it looks even better without it. The drive also gave me the opportunity to try out two of my new modifications. First, my wife had bought me some imola red and black interior color-matched Puma driving shoes for Christmas (does she know me or what?). I had not had a chance to try them out yet. They lived up to the hype and will now be worn on all drives going forward. I had also only had one opportunity to drive using my new illuminated ZHP shift knob after installing it last fall. If anything, I like it even more than I remember. It completely transforms the shifting action. My dad probably got tired of me saying how much I liked it. Who knew such a small thing could make such a big difference. Man does it fell good to be back in the saddle again.

    BMW M Coupe Imola Red and Black Interior
    Back in the Saddle Again
    Stove Prairie Road in a BMW M Coupe
    Stove Prairie Road

    We headed up Rist Canyon and back to town on Stove Prairie road which is one of my favorite routes. There were a few too many motorcyclists out, but it didn’t ruin the beautiful weather and even better roads. On our way back into town I pulled off on an overlook on the ridge over Horsetooth Reservoir, and my dad took some great photos. My wife used her photo editing skills to make them even better. See what you think:

    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Horsetooth Reservoir
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Front 3/4
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Profile
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Rear 3/4
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Profile Detail
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Black & White Close-Up
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Rear 3/4
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Big Rock
    Steel Gray over Imola Red BMW M Coupe Horsetooth Reservoir
    Hood Detail

    Needless to say, I had a very happy birthday.

  • 1st Annual MCBG Fall Drive & BBQ

    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    The Coupes in the Canyon

    As promised, there was just no way we  could hold ourselves to just one BBQ per year. This time, we included a drive too which will undoubtedly be part of every future BBQ. The day started early for Colby, Lindsey and Kevin who met at 10 AM in Loveland to start the drive up to Estes Park where Alex met them later. On their way back, my wife Jenn and I joined up with them at a little general store in Masonville from which we headed north on what most of us now call our new favorite road in Colorado: Stove Prairie. It was a beautiful day for a drive with blue skies, perfect temperature, and the aspen leaves turning a stunning shade of yellow. We probably would have appreciated it more if it hadn’t all gone by in a blur. After a “spirited”, grin-inducing drive up Stove Prairie, we breathlessly pulled to the side road where it meets up with Highway 14 in Poudre Canyon for a few photos. The group ended up including:

    • Alex’s 2002 Imola Red over Imola Red M Coupe
    • Colby’s 2002 Alpine White over Imola Red M Roadster
    • Kevin’s 2002 Alpine White over Black M Coupe
    • Lindsey’s 2000 Cosmos Black over Dark Gray M Coupe
    • Jenn and My 2002 Steel Gray over Imola Red M Coupe
    M Coupe Drive
    The Lineup
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Stove Prairie and Highway 14
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Looking Back Up Stove Prairie
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    I Love Steel Gray in the Sun!
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    A Beautiful Day for a Drive
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Ready to Move Out

     

    Jenn then took over driving duties in Colby’s M Roadster, so he could take some moving photos as we drove through Poudre Canyon. They started in the front of the pack and worked their way back getting photos of each coupe.

    Jenn Driving Colby's M Roadster
    Jenn Driving Colby's M Roadster
    M Roadster Photos
    Colby Doing His Thing

     

    I had a tough time narrowing the photos down to even this many. The results are amazing:

    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Alex's Coupe Leading the Way
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    My Coupe
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Beautiful Scenery
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    My Turn for Photos
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Getting Creative
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Lindsey & Kevin
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Lindsey & Kevin From the Back
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Everyone from the Back
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Fun's Over

     

    Alex’s buddy drove his car back, so he was able to take some nice photos as well.

    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    My Favorite Shot of the Day
    M Coupes - Poudre Canyon
    Alex Making the Most of His Roof Rack

     

    Some great individual photos were taken throughout the day as well.

    Steel Gray M Coupe
    My Steel Gray M Coupe
    Steel Gray M Coupe
    My Steel Gray M Coupe
    Steel Gray M Coupe
    My Steel Gray M Coupe
    Steel Gray M Coupe
    My Steel Gray M Coupe
    Steel Gray in Imola Red M Coupe
    Alex's Beautiful View
    Imola Red M Coupe
    Alex's Imola Red M Coupe
    Imola Red M Coupe
    Alex's Imola Red M Coupe
    Imola Red M Coupe
    Alex's Imola Red M Coupe
    Cosmos Black M Coupe
    Lindsey's Cosmos Black M Coupe
    Cosmos Black M Coupe
    Lindsey's Cosmos Black M Coupe
    Alpine White M Coupe
    Kevin's Alpine White M Coupe
    Alpine White M Coupe
    Kevin's Alpine White M Coupe

     

    We then took a few back roads to my house for some food, drinks and more photos.

    M Coupe Driveway
    Dream Driveway
    M Coupe Driveway
    Dream Driveway
    M Coupe Driveway
    Side View
    M Coupes and M Roadster
    Staring Down the Roadster
    M Coupes and M Roadster
    M Roadster Included
    M Coupe Backsides
    M Coupe Backsides
    Imola Red M Coupe Interior
    Through the Windows
    Imola Red and Alpine White M Coupes
    Alex's and Kevin's Coupes
    M Coupe Group
    The Group
    M Coupe Driveway
    And I'm Spent…

     

    Thanks to Colby, Alex, and my sister Lindsay for the great photography. I can’t wait to do it again.

    If you’d like high res versions of any of these photos or want to see more contact me or visit Colby’s Flickr page or Alex’s SmugMug.