Epic E30 Road Trip with Hang Glider on the Roof - Colorado, UT, NV, Area 51, Yosemite

Cloudbase · 07-09-2012, 11:14 PM

I did a "speed run" to Yosemite National Park a few weeks ago. I had the opportunity to fly my hang glider in Yosemite for a Yosemite Foundation movie called One Day in Yosemite. Flying in Yosemite is beyond amazing, but that was only half the fun. Driving across the Nevada in the E30 was the shit. There was a 4 hour period were I saw 8 other cars. The hang glider on the roof slowed me down considerably, but I still managed 20mpg cruising in the high 90's. The long straights were broken by awesome twisty sections through mountains about every 45 minutes. I was a little worried about breaking down, but the E30 ran like a top. I had to add a half liter of oil, but that was it!

E30 Specs: 1989i converted to is with lots of other bits. 220,000 miles on original M20. H&R Sport Springs, Bilstien Sport Shocks, E90 Drop Hats, Z3 steering rack and 1.9 shifter, E21 Recaros, 17" BBS RGR's, Thule Rack with Rocky Mount Laramie Trays and custom hang glider attachment.

Hang Glider Specs: Wills Wing T2C 154. Carbon fiber crossbar, outer leading edges, and sprogs. Rotor harness with carbon fiber back plate and bolt in main. Icaro Fflight LT carbon fiber helmet. I just posted those so I could type carbon fiber a bunch of times!

I posted just a few pics below. I tell the full story through 100 pics on my blog:

http://cloudbaseimaging.blogspot.com...-100-pics.html

Movie footage will not be up for a couple months.

E30 loaded up with my Hang Glider

Super close ground clearance at my secret camp spot

Nevada

Mono Lake

The Sierras

The Launch Across from Half Dome

Hang Gliding

Scallywagon · 07-09-2012, 11:27 PM

Nice shoot-up, how'd you get into hang gliding?

Yosemite is really waffleswaffleswaffleswafflesing cool, diverse little playground.

sweet6e30 · 07-10-2012, 07:21 AM

WOW. you lucky SOB.

MR 325 · 07-10-2012, 07:25 AM

Some absolutely awesome pictures. How does the hang glider affect the MPGs?

nadocaster · 07-10-2012, 07:25 AM

You are my hero. This is awesome.

I am so using my E30 to go canoe tripping next summer.

SpeicherBimmer · 07-10-2012, 07:30 AM

What an awesome trip; those pics are amazing. I love it out West, just wish the wife did. I'm toying with doing an E30 roadtrip to Munich and back but I'm a bit worried about having a break down. Great post!

Cloudbase · 07-10-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Scallywagon

Nice shoot-up, how'd you get into hang gliding?

It's a lot easier and safer then most people think. You take lessons just like learning to fly airplanes and get ratings from USPHA. Google USHPA.org and there is an FAQ.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MR 325

Some absolutely awesome pictures. How does the hang glider affect the MPGs?

I got about 20mpg after cruising in the high 90's. At slower speeds it bumps up to 22-23. My wife's Element gets 16 with the glider cruising at 65!

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeicherBimmer

What an awesome trip; those pics are amazing. I love it out West, just wish the wife did. I'm toying with doing an E30 roadtrip to Munich and back but I'm a bit worried about having a break down. Great post!

Do it! The breakdown threat is just part of the adventure.

07-09-2012, 11:14 PM	#1
Cloudbase E30 Mastermind Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Boulder, CO Posts: 1,517	Epic E30 Road Trip with Hang Glider on the Roof - Colorado, UT, NV, Area 51, Yosemite I did a "speed run" to Yosemite National Park a few weeks ago. I had the opportunity to fly my hang glider in Yosemite for a Yosemite Foundation movie called One Day in Yosemite. Flying in Yosemite is beyond amazing, but that was only half the fun. Driving across the Nevada in the E30 was the shit. There was a 4 hour period were I saw 8 other cars. The hang glider on the roof slowed me down considerably, but I still managed 20mpg cruising in the high 90's. The long straights were broken by awesome twisty sections through mountains about every 45 minutes. I was a little worried about breaking down, but the E30 ran like a top. I had to add a half liter of oil, but that was it! E30 Specs: 1989i converted to is with lots of other bits. 220,000 miles on original M20. H&R Sport Springs, Bilstien Sport Shocks, E90 Drop Hats, Z3 steering rack and 1.9 shifter, E21 Recaros, 17" BBS RGR's, Thule Rack with Rocky Mount Laramie Trays and custom hang glider attachment. Hang Glider Specs: Wills Wing T2C 154. Carbon fiber crossbar, outer leading edges, and sprogs. Rotor harness with carbon fiber back plate and bolt in main. Icaro Fflight LT carbon fiber helmet. I just posted those so I could type carbon fiber a bunch of times! I posted just a few pics below. I tell the full story through 100 pics on my blog: http://cloudbaseimaging.blogspot.com...-100-pics.html Movie footage will not be up for a couple months. E30 loaded up with my Hang Glider Super close ground clearance at my secret camp spot Nevada Mono Lake The Sierras The Launch Across from Half Dome Hang Gliding __________________ JOY IS AN E30...

07-09-2012, 11:27 PM	#2
Scallywagon Mod Crazy Join Date: May 2010 Location: Ventura, CA Posts: 745	Nice shoot-up, how'd you get into hang gliding? Yosemite is really waffleswaffleswaffleswafflesing cool, diverse little playground. __________________ ( f ; _ ; )f braaaaaaaaains! e30Parts\|e34Parts

07-10-2012, 07:21 AM	#3
sweet6e30 E30 Addict Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Montreal, Canada Posts: 539	WOW. you lucky SOB. __________________ my build here ---> http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/show...ht=lemans+blue

07-10-2012, 07:25 AM	#4
MR 325 Moderator Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: La Crescenta, CA Posts: 31,477 Images: 1026	Some absolutely awesome pictures. How does the hang glider affect the MPGs? __________________ 1991 E30 M-Technic 327i Turbo --- 1986 E30 325iS --- 1997 E36 M3/4/5 Ported, Polished, & Rebuilt M20 Cylinder Heads CLICK HERE! Castro Motorsport 12600 Sherman Way, North Hollywood 818.765.3606 - Ask for Chris

07-10-2012, 07:30 AM	#6
SpeicherBimmer Grease Monkey Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Speicher, Germany Posts: 350	What an awesome trip; those pics are amazing. I love it out West, just wish the wife did. I'm toying with doing an E30 roadtrip to Munich and back but I'm a bit worried about having a break down. Great post! __________________ '87 335i

07-10-2012, 07:25 AM	#5
nadocaster Member Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Upper Canada Posts: 46	You are my hero. This is awesome. I am so using my E30 to go canoe tripping next summer.