Gold Camp Rd, CO.

[Veebyes]

How is this one in early October? Watch the weather. It is Colorado & mountains. I know that. Not the first trip to CO at that time of year.

Wondering the type of road? From Google & Bing maps it appears to be gravel. Is it? As long as it is not a 4WD rated road I am happy.

[EnzoColorado]

From Cripple Creek to Canon City, Shelf Road is even more interesting than Phantom Canyon, but it's really narrow, as in one lane narrow so you may have to back up in places if there are oncoming traffic.

[2milesup]

Veebyes wrote:

fanrgs wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Fanrgs, any road good enough for a MG is plenty good enough for my TV.

Just to clarify, we took the MGs on the paved High Park Road, not on the gravel Gold Camp Road. We try to stay on paved roads when driving top down to reduce caravan dust for those unfortunates bringing up the rear!

As for being near a mechanic, anyone with a car that old is his own mechanic. Plus we travel with tools, extra parts, cell phones, and, when we are not near a cell tower, 2-way radios in the first and last cars. The club trip last fall covered 1,200 miles in Colorado and New Mexico, which doesn't include the 50 miles traveled through the gold aspen-covered hills by "train" (Galloping Goose #5) on the C&TS Railroad.

Reminds me of a joke from a British car website:
Q: Why haven't the British developed a computer industry?
A: They can't figure out how to get a computer to leak oil.
:W

[fanrgs]

We generally get a number of Minxes, MG Magnettes, Morris Minors, and original Minis at our annual September British Car Conclave in Denver. And two of our Triumph Club members have small Herald convertibles.

Interestingly, the oldest English cars I have seen on the highway were 25 Roll Royce Silver Ghosts in Chama last fall at the same time our MG club was there. One very trusting owner even let me drive his 3-speed, 7-liter 1913 Ghost on back roads around town. One of our club members posted a video of my arriving back at the motel and getting out of the car on Youtube. Needless to say, my grin didn't leave my face for two days!

[Veebyes]

fanrgs wrote:

Veebyes wrote:
Fanrgs, any road good enough for a MG is plenty good enough for my TV.

Just to clarify, we took the MGs on the paved High Park Road, not on the gravel Gold Camp Road. We try to stay on paved roads when driving top down to reduce caravan dust for those unfortunates bringing up the rear!

As for being near a mechanic, anyone with a car that old is his own mechanic. Plus we travel with tools, extra parts, cell phones, and, when we are not near a cell tower, 2-way radios in the first and last cars. The club trip last fall covered 1,200 miles in Colorado and New Mexico, which doesn't include the 50 miles traveled through the gold aspen-covered hills by "train" (Galloping Goose #5) on the C&TS Railroad.

Since you are an English car buff check out this one. 1946 Hillman Minx Drop Head Coupe. It is what I learned to drive in. Up until 1981 it was the family one & only daily driver & the oldest car in Bermuda.

[fanrgs]

Veebyes wrote:
Fanrgs, any road good enough for a MG is plenty good enough for my TV.

Just to clarify, we took the MGs on the paved High Park Road, not on the gravel Gold Camp Road. We try to stay on paved roads when driving top down to reduce caravan dust for those unfortunates bringing up the rear!

As for being near a mechanic, anyone with a car that old is his own mechanic. Plus we travel with tools, extra parts, cell phones, and, when we are not near a cell tower, 2-way radios in the first and last cars. The club trip last fall covered 1,200 miles in Colorado and New Mexico, which doesn't include the 50 miles traveled through the gold aspen-covered hills by "train" (Galloping Goose #5) on the C&TS Railroad.

[Veebyes]

Fanrgs, any road good enough for a MG is plenty good enough for my TV. My first thought was that you were awful brave taking a MG so far from a service place. My first vehicle was a used 1965 Mini 850. Like MGs, a blast to drive the English country roads but woefully underpowered by todays standards. Also constantly needed oil level checking & lightbulb replacing. Gotta love British Leyland.

[fanrgs]

Yep, it is definitely a gravel road, a very long one. Generally in good condition in the fall, no steep grades, mostly long sweeping curves and no hairpins once you are on the old railroad grade, and very scenic when the aspen are changing.

Two other places I would suggest visiting while you are in the Cripple Creek area are the Phantom Canyon Road (but only in a TV or toad, not in an RV) and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. Like the Gold Camp Road, Phantom Canyon is an 1890's railroad grade, but, unlike Gold Camp, it is narrow gauge, not standard gauge. So, smaller radius curves, steeper grades, and narrower roadbed, ie., more exciting to drive! Florissant is little known to Colorado tourists, but worth spending half a day and maybe having lunch at their picnic area--as we did on an MG car club trip I led last fall.

If you would like to head southwest from Cripple Creek, but you don't have time or a suitable RV to take through Phantom Canyon, I have an alternative. Leave from Florissant and take the High Park Road to CO 9 and US 50. This "back road" (Teller Co. 1 to 11) is a good paved road, despite what some maps show, and more scenic than the alternative of US 24 to Buena Vista. The MG club drove High Park Road last fall and had a great time on it top down on a sunny, fall afternoon.

Have fun planning your trip and even more fun driving it!

[Lynnmor]

I was there a long time ago, it was gravel then. The only problem I had was a jerk on a dirt bike deliberately blasted me with the course gravel. When I found him later, I threw a hand full of gravel in his face.