On the tour you’ll be seeing a very historic property. Von Dutch, the famous pinstripe artist, used to live and work on the property. Steve McQueen, who had a hangar at the Santa Paula Airport, used to hang out with Von Dutch and gear heads alike on the property until his death in 1980. You’ll see updated parts of the property where there is private storage garages for our private clients, as well as open-air spaces for clients. The entire downstairs is climate controlled and the perfect home for any car that is seeking a space for a short or extended period. There will be brought up two of our muscle cars to the “C” building where there is a showroom style floor to display them for fun. Picnic tables can be covered up for people to sit on as well.
Here’s what you need to know….
Meet at the Walmart at the corner of Newhall Ranch Road and Copperhill
Event is free
08:45 am – Meet to sign waiver
09:00 am – Depart
09:30 am – Arrive at Collector Car Vault
11:30 am – Lunch at Zapparelli’s Pizzeria (Santa Paula)
2019.10.04 to 2019.10.13 – Southwest Caravan-Albuquerque Balloon Festival & National Parks
All of a sudden, October was here and the much anticipated (by some) Southwest Caravan was a reality. The caravan was scheduled to include the 48th Annual International Balloon Fiesta in Albuquerque and then to continue on to enjoy National Parks and sites off the beaten track in our wonderful Corvettes. Four couples ultimately participated in the event, Jeff & Leeann Carley; Brian & Kathy de Avila; Gene & Cindy Schmidt and Mike & Judy Woodings.
The morning following our October General Meeting, our adventure began at Denny’s on Sand Canyon as we rolled east to our first “roadblock”, construction on Pearblossom Hwy in Palmdale. Ugh, but not too bad. Off again to another construction delay before we even got to Victorville. Dang. The first day continued fine where we all enjoyed a relaxing lunch at Pirate Cove on the Colorado River with our friends Greg and Pat Attl. Off again eastward for our first night at Flagstaff, we learned of another roadblock ahead when we reached the Havasu turnoff from I-40. We had to detour back through Bullhead City due to an overturned big-rig closing the Interstate and blocking our route to Kingman. We rerouted as required and “DANG again” 14 miles from Flagstaff for more construction with our forward movement slowed to 4 mph! Flagstaff was a welcome stop after all that, but wait, there is more! Jeff Carley reported to us that he believed he was having trouble with his Vette, the left rear was sagging, not from overloading. Initial parking lot diagnosis pointed to an issue with the left rear lowering bolt.
Early morning follow-up at Marxen Chevrolet in Flagstaff confirmed a broken lowering bolt and the prognosis was the car was ok to drive to Albuquerque where parts were ordered for delivery on Monday. The remainder of Arizona on Day 2 was scenic but uneventful. We found downtown Winslow crowded with a classic car show so on we went to Gallup, NM and the Hotel El Rancho for our first taste of New Mexico “red or green” cuisine. After arriving in Albuquerque, it was a short day in preparation for Day 3 and an EARLY start for the Balloon Fiesta.
The crowds were huge at 5:30 AM as we arrived at the Fiesta Park and Ride for our bus trip to the Balloon Park on the north side of Albuquerque. The mass of people was even larger as we entered the park as hundreds of hot-air balloons were in various stages of inflation in preparation for the 7 AM mass ascension. Jeff, you remember Jeff, didn’t even think about bolts that morning with all of the balloon excitement! We found Old Town full of balloon fiesta tourists at mid-day and opted for a drive through the Bosque and visit to Los Poblanos Historic Inn and a drive through the Village of Corrales. The early start of Day 3 called for some relaxation in the afternoon before dinner at the famous Frontier Restaurant on old Route 66, across from UNM.
On Monday, Day 4, Jeff and Leeann broke away for their needed bolt repair at Bruce’s Corvette & Auto Service and were happily good to go for the rest of the trip as well as for a visit to an Albuquerque quilt shop while the remainder of us made our way to Santa Fe. We drove east of the Sandias through Madrid up NM-14, the Turquoise Trail. Despite missing Santa Fe, the Carleys still smiled their way through Day 4! Santa Fe was founded in 1610 (before the Pilgrims landed ay Plymouth) and is the oldest state capital. It’s old and scenic with plenty of choices of places to eat or spend your money, from high end art to the native jewelry in Palace of the Governors. As we returned to Albuquerque, the Schmidts’ status changed slightly with Cindy flying back to LA for an overnighter to appear on local television leaving Gene with us until her return. Meanwhile, Judy, with not only New Mexico roots, but New Mexico connections as well, arranged for those remaining to enjoy an afternoon wine and cheese get-together at her cousin Katie Santiannes’ home prior to our dinner with local family at El Pinto in the North Valley.
Day 5 was an easy day as we headed north to Durango, CO. We departed from Albuquerque without Gene as he awaited Cindy’s return flight but he continued to enjoy Albuquerque for another day with a trip up the Sandia Tram and a hook-up with cousin Katie for more Armijo family visiting. Our 3-Corvette caravan visited the Aztec Ruins National Monument in Aztec, NM, to walk the grounds of a 1,000 year old Pueblo settlement. We then rolled into Durango, still with time for Leeann and Judy to take in a visit to the Stitch A Quilt Shop. Gene and Cindy followed us as darkness fell and our caravan was back together again.
Day 6 was our day for the narrow gauge railroad ride to Silverton through the amazing canyon along the Animas River. The scenery was beautiful with the changing seasons and the temperatures were chilly and the air was thin at 9,300 feet in Silverton. The Durango-Silverton RR was a kick and made for a fun day.
Day 7 was a little longer with us ending back in Arizona at day’s end. Enroute, we covered a lot of backroad miles too. Our first stop of the day was at Mesa Verde National Park outside Cortez, CO. Mesa Verde is famous for over 600 cliff dwellings of the Pueblo people, quite a sight. It was then off to Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona and Utah meet. The Navajos have the corner (or 4 corners) on the market there with $5.00 a head to see a survey monument afixed to the red earth there. Off again to our lodging in the woods in Jacob Lake, AZ took us by Monument Valley and through a Hopi Pow-wow in Kayenta, AZ. A great caravan day.
Day 8 had North Rim Grand Canyon on our calendar. The views are much different than those typically seen from the South Rim and the canyon is more up close and personal. Another cool day with club jackets a must at over 8,000 feet elevation. With less that 10% of Grand Canyon visitors coing to the North Rim, it is worthwhile trip for those who enjoy the road less traveled. Brian and Kathy missed the Grand Canyon visit as they peeled off from the caravan to visit relatives and take in the Prescott Corvette Car Show, hooking up with SCVCC alumni for a quick “howdy”. Day 7 then took our remaining Vettes to Kanab, UT for the night.
Day 9 had Bryce Canyon National Park as our visit of the day. Once again, a beautiful but cool day with ice in the puddles at 8,800 feet elevation. The sights were glorious and easily accessible, except for Bryce Point with limited parking. Parking attendants were less than cooperative about us trying to save parking space for one another and that will just remain a story for another day. We went on to caravan to St. George, UT, where yet another quilt shop was visited briefly before we rolled back to Pacific Daylight time and entry into Nevada. The Schmidts continued to Las Vegas for personal and show time on the Strip while the Carleys and Woodings opted for Mesquite. Rested and ready to roll on Day 10, the Carleys headed home to Parker, AZ where Jeff will re-address the lowering bolt issue and the Woodings made a stop at Cracker Barrel in North Las Vegas, having passed by six others during the caravan. Love those biscuits.
The International Balloon Fiesta is the first week of October every year and we are already looking forward to another caravan including the Fiesta then along in another route to the south next time for more Southwest attractions.
Late on a warm Sunday morning, we gathered in the shade of the Walmart parking lot trees, where we met for a little social time before heading off to Ventura for our miniature golf adventure.
We cruised down Highway 126, into the only slightly cooler weather along the coast, where we were welcomed with plenty of easily accessible parking at the Ventura Golf n’ Stuff amusement park.
After checking-in with the staff, we met our golf pro, and were promptly fitted with our club and individually colored golf balls that would be ours for the rest of the day – providing we could find them. Then, dividing into teams of mixed doubles, we headed off to the first carpet covered tee box.
Because the groups quickly stretched out along the links, it was difficult to keep track of how everyone was doing. But hearing the crowd murmurs ahead of us, followed by the energetic, but restrained applause of the spectators, it was evident that some of the teams were doing quite well.
Although, I can attest to the fact that the afternoon was certainly a lot of fun, it was clear early-on that our approach to the holes was proving somewhat troublesome. Even after a bomber off the first tee where we all seemed destined for Augusta, the windmill obstacle swept away any hopes for a career in the pint-sized PGA.
Undaunted, we followed the teams of T-Mac and Woodings through the course where our team experienced a couple of back-to-back super-bogeys on the second six that put us way behind, adding more time to the ever-increasing obstacles. On the bright side, we only encountered one water trap, and that turned out to be at the snack bar where they charged $5 a bottle!
Anyway, with a few birdies being left by the gulls along the handrails, and a few wayward drives on the mineshaft-dog-leg, our eight-teen over final round sealed our fate from ever receiving a coveted green jacket.
However, the talk around the clubhouse was that Tom Tomlinson had topped the leaderboard, and was last seen running around waving his golf towel in the air, and high-fiving with the spectators, although this could not be confirmed.
Regrouping back at the cars, we headed down the 126 again to meet in Santa Paula, this time at the Chapala Mexican Restaurant for a well-deserved dinner. Here, the private backroom provided a warm, but private sanctuary to enjoy cold drinks and cocktails while we had plenty of time to share extraordinary tales of fairway fables.
But the chatter soon subsided as everyone turned their attention to the appetizingly colorful dishes of tortillas, tamales, and tapas that proved to be a great ending to another terrific SCVCC event!
A group of twenty-six cars gathered at our usual southern meeting spot at the Chuy’s parking lot, which also included doughnuts provided by Mike and Judy Woodings—so you know it was going to be a good day.
Following the drivers’ meeting, we headed off to Agoura Hills for our first stop, lunch at the Ladyface Alehouse and Brasserie.
When we arrived, we pretty much had the place to ourselves, so they seated us inside, as opposed to the patio, which was nice- and certainly a lot cooler.
The menu at this local micro-brewery is geared around a French/Belgian theme, so the brewpub fare ranges from your basic burgers and fries (oops, I mean pommes frites), to duck confit and
steak tartare, with lots of good stuff in between, oui oui!
After lunch a few people had to breakaway, while the remainder of us headed over Kanan-Dume to the Pacific Coast Highway, which took us down through Malibu, and the customarily heavy weekend traffic, and on to the Pacific Palisades. Getting into the Getty Villa itself can be a little tricky if you are headed south on PCH, so we had to circle the wagons and then double back to make the main gate, but we all made it in fine shape.
With everyone at the Getty Villa, we again gathered together for our docent lead tour of the grounds and gardens.
We learned from our young docent that the place was built as recently as 1975 (that’s recent for many of us), and is modeled after the ancient architecture of Greece and Rome, and more specifically the Villa dei Papiri, which was buried up to its ears by the eruption of Mount Vesuvius a really long time ago.
We also learned that the stories of the Greek Gods played a heavy roll in the design and architecture of that period, and was subsequently copied throughout the Getty. As these stories go, the Greek deities spent a lot of time hanging out in their togas and flip flops, drinking wine, and splashing around in the pool.
Clearly they had too much time on their hands, because it led to a lot of self-brooding, bickering, temper tantrums, and frolicking with mortals. That behavior then translated to incestuous lovers turning themselves into garden snakes, others being turned into trees, and at least one being shot with a lead arrow, and of course there was that whole thing with that snaky-headed Medusa turning people to stone…basically there was way too much drama back then…I’m just saying.
Undaunted however, Getty’s design includes many of these Greek stories and exact replicas of the intricate tile, paint and plaster from the afore mentioned roman residence. We also learned much about columns. Having been tested several times by our docent about these marble monoliths, I can attest to the fact that they are, Corinthian, Ionic, and Doric. Good information to have during a Scrabble game if you are digging-in for that triple word score.
From start to finish his was a fun and well planned Saturday. If you would like to attend our next event, we will see you for a fun day at Golf n’ Stuff in Ventura, on Sunday, September 8th. Check the website for more details.
Our Surprise Breakfasts are always a lot of fun, and this one did not disappoint!
We gathered on a perfect So-Cal Saturday morning at the Copperhill Walmart for coffee and chatter before the drivers’ meeting where we were promised to be taken west along Highway 126 towards the coast. There, we would be given additional instructions.
The Corvette caravan made its way to Ventura, where we were instructed to take a right at the Pacific Ocean, and head north on the 101 freeway.
Twenty miles or so up the coast we were told to take the Evans Ave. exit, and BOOM, there it was–the always refreshing Summerland Beach Café! There was much rejoicing.
Having the outdoor patio reserved exclusively for our group was nice, and we could not have asked for a more perfect coastal morning to dine alfresco. The food, as always was very good. From the Crabby Bill’s Benedict and Wonder Wa-Full, to the Marvelous Mary and the Bikini Factory, the funky beach menu has something for everyone. Of course, the chilled water and fresh squeezed O.J. are nice added offerings.
With breakfast done, we were told about the second leg of our surprise adventure- the historic Santa Barbara Courthouse.
Normally a trip to any courthouse comes with an expected level of anxiety in anticipation of the bureaucratic experience that awaits us, but not for this trip.
This magnificent, ninety-year-old facility is steeped in Santa Barbara history, and contains a treasure-trove of art and craftsmanship that has to be seen to be believed.
Surrounded by its extraordinarily beautiful architecture, the facility is awash in original art and murals that include the incredible wrap-around mural in the appropriately named, Mural Room.
The highlight of the tour is the clock tower that not only houses the intricate clock mechanism, but offers an amazing, 360-degree view from the top of the tower itself.
Although as beautiful as the courthouse is, it would not have been presented in its true historical lime-light without the amazing staff and docents who went out of their way to provide the best experience possible for our club.
All in all, our Secret Saturday was another excellent adventure. If you missed it, be sure to watch the club calendar for your next chance to participate – you’ll be glad you did!
Come join us for some fun and laughs while miniature golfing. Afterwards we will be stopping at Chapala Mexican Restaurant in Santa Paula for an early dinner. Depart noon, miniature golf at 1pm, early dinner ~ 4pm
Golf N’ Stuff Family Fun Park
5555 Walker Street
Ventura, CA 93003
Chapala Mexican Restaurant
245 S 10th St.
Santa Paula, CA 93060
According to Wikipedia, a picnic is a meal taken outdoors as part of an excursion – ideally in scenic surroundings, such as a park, lakeside, or other place affording an interesting view, or else in conjunction with a public event, and usually in summer. Our third annual SCVCC picnic definitely fit the bill in all aspects. We had a meal. The event was outdoors, in a scenic park. It was part of an excursion with our beautiful caravan. It celebrated an event, out member appreciation. And, it was scheduled on the second day of summer. Well done Activities Committee for such attention to detail!
Since our first annual club picnic in 2017, a tradition was born and our picnic event has improved with each outing. We again held our picnic at Steckel Park, on Highway 150, north of Santa Paula. The park offers everything needed for a gathering of a club our size.
There is plenty of parking for a Corvette Corral. There are pavilions for dining and games. There is open space for competitions and plenty of shade for just hanging out. Steckel Park was the place to be on June 22 for our member appreciation event!
Events like this don’t just happen though. We don’t just show up at a designated spot for a caravan and roll into our destination with a lot of prior planning and preparation. The Activities committee and their picnic support team have been meeting and preparing for months making this one afternoon possible and our thanks go out to all who worked so hard to make our picnic a success.
As always. picnic day started early for our set-up team as they claimed our spot at Steckel Park and went about the set-up activity, once again making sure every detail matched Mark Ware’s extensive preparation spreadsheet.
At a reasonable start time of 10 AM, attendee members gathered at the designated assembly area in the Walmart lot for headcount and sign-in and payment of parking fees, eager to move on to the awaiting picnic. Light traffic allowed us to keep our 19 Corvettes together in a spectacular caravan westbound on CA 126 all the way to our destination.
Once there, we rolled into our reserved “Corvette Corral” we caravanners all witnessed the splendid set-up that was waiting for us. Both covered pavilions were decorated, game areas laid out and equipped with all types of picnic games and music was in the air.
The staff from Laird’s Butcher Shop in Santa Paula was on hand and already preparing our picnic feast as we arrived. Their cooking skills seem to improve with every event we attend in the Santa Paula area. They add to our pleasure at not only our picnics but at the Santa Paula Chevrolet bi-annual BBQ events as well. Picnic baskets of old were nice, but BBQ is a great call.
PIC 8While music played in the background, picnickers went about visiting and competition in the events on the lawn. Bocce ball, croquet, cornhole game, Jenga, bingo, and the Corvette tabletop race competition were all available. The volleyball was flat and there was no spiking this time out.
The call to eat went out and the line quickly formed to pick and choose from the Tri-tip, Chicken, sausages, and all the trimmings available for our picnic lunch. As soon as the BBQ sauce was wiped from the corners of our mouths, dessert was on everyone’s mind. With the many choices available, the blackberry pie apparently was at the top of the list and disappeared in a blink of the eye.
Throughout the afternoon, there were numerous raffle prizes given out and a nice 50-50 pot as well. All of the bases were covered!
The bottom line in this report from your writer’s point of view is that all in all, the picnic was fun, delicious and again a success.
Besides the Activities committee it is all of the attendees who are to be thanked too for coming out and adding to the fun of the event. We appreciate each and every one who worked and played together as a club to make Picnic 2019 a fun time. Well done!
Nineteen Corvettes gathered on a beautiful, top-down Saturday morning for some small talk and coffee at our usual southern meeting spot. Following the short drivers’ meeting, we began the short drive to Sylmar, where we gathered again in the lower level of the Nethercutt Museum to find ourselves folded-in with several other car clubs, an Elk’s lodge, and a number of civilians who were all there for the tour.
Our guide, Kyle Irwin, a full-time employee and curator for the museum, was extremely knowledgeable and offered a lot of interesting facts about the displays, museum history, and some behind the scenes information. During the tour we were also given plenty of opportunities to wander around the magnificent automobiles, Art Deco hood ornaments, ornate music boxes, Hümmel figurines, and an impressive collection of mechanical musical instruments.
Kyle was quick to point out that everything in the collection is fully functional, and the point was emphasized during the tour finale when he turned the mighty Wurlitzer pipe organ loose against a vintage Steinway player piano, and the resulting duel was an impressive performance of one-hundred-year-old technology.
When it was over, it wasn’t really over because there was so much more left to see, but we simply ran out of time! So, I guess we will just have to go back again at a later date.
After the tour, our group, less about fifty of our new-found tour friends, made the drive to Mission Hills and the famous Bear Pit, Missouri-Style Bar-B-Q restaurant. What specifically is Missouri style BBQ you may ask? Well, it’s simply a broader term for traditional Kansas City Style BBQ, which is a slow-smoking technique over a hard-wood fire, and then served with a thick, tomato-based barbecue sauce. This held true for lunch which included the full menu of ribs, brisket, hot links, chicken, and all the fixings, including their legendary garlic toast.
This was a fun, well planned event that made for a great Saturday morning adventure. If you were not able to attend, and have never been to the Nethercutt Museum, you owe it to yourself to take some time and check it out. The Nethercutt family, and by extension, Merle Norman Cosmetics, has spent 63 years building this collection of concourse quality cars, and an array of other rare collectibles that has become their local legacy.