leonine99

Matt..... Prom comes once in a lifetime, we'll have another drive next month. Have a blast and reap memories that will last a lifetime.....and be safe. Taking your date in the Caribe 1600? She'll be the Belle of the Ball..... ALSO! I have been a bit remiss, the exact spot of our assembly is about 1/2 - 3/4 mile up Glendora Mountain Road - there is a large electronic Road Condition sign (like on the freeway - it can ice up on this road in the winter since it gets up over 3000 ft) There is a dirt area to pull off for us to stage right before, so when you see that sign - that hopefull has no messages on it - look for the group pulled off to the right and join in. Jeff

For those of you that are planning on attending Saturday's (6/6) Mountain Drive and Open House, if you haven't already dropped an email to confirm your attendance, please go to the socalvintagebmw.com website or drop an email to socalvintagebmw@yahoo.com. We would really appreciate you doing this at your earliest convenience so we can have an accurate count. We need to know how much food to have for you guys after the drive! We will meet at 8:15-8:30 at Glendora Mt. Road, and heading off about 8:30-8:45. Here's a map point of the assembly point: http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=34.164095,-117.838916&daddr=&hl=en&geocode=&mra=mi&mrsp=0&sz=18&sll=34.163407,-117.838942&sspn=0.002517,0.004334&ie=UTF8&ll=34.145624,-117.839012&spn=0.080553,0.138702&z=13 This will be a fun run through the mountains and then an open house at Ireland Engineering AND Groma Fabricators afterwards - how cool is that? Check out Groma's hot tii that is currently for sale: http://bringatrailer.com/2009/05/28/bat-exclusive-impressive-1974-bmw-2002tii/ I have a feeling this car may be driving with us....but don't quote me on that. If not it should be on view at Groma after the drive. Thanks! Jeff

Come join SoCal Vintage BMW on Saturday June 6 for a special day of driving and modification dreams! We'll take a mountain drive through the San Gabriel Mountains via Glendora Mt. Road and Back out via CA 39 (route subject to adjustment). After that, the real fun begins! We'll drive back to the Ireland Engineering and Groma Racing Fabricators headquarters for an Open House and a BBQ! For those that have never been to these shops in Duarte, it is a MUST SEE!!! Those that have been there will tell you, there is amazing work going on at Groma and so many of you are already running with Ireland equipment. There will also be Open House only deals, so be ready to buy! Go to the www.socalvintagebmw.com website and drop us an email so we can get a hard count as soon as possible!! Thanks John & Jeff

Twin..... Come down to our show in October and you'll double your fun.....and since a bunch of us SoCalers came up, we know we'll see a lot of you NoCalers in Oct....! Those that came last year, you're not being called out! Jeff

It really was great to come up from SoCal and see a bunch of you guys again....I even sold off some of my extra stuff, and Michael was kind enough to take my paint! A damn shame the auot trans on my e30 crapped out in SJ.....now I have to figure soulutions out from 300 miles away.....oh well. Jeff

Very clever...its unfortunate though that my local dealer is one that I want to have as little to do with as possible...... Jeff

We'll have a caravan leaving early Friday from LA....4 cars so far......stay tuned Jeff

I'd like to get a hard count for anyone who is really going to go on the caravan to Bay Area 02 this coming Friday. The plan on the drive is leave early (7-8AM) in the day, head over the grapevine on I-5 to Coalinga, then cut west to head to CA 25 and go north along the Airline Highway. We'll stop at Pinnacles National Monument for a stop for a bit - unless there's total opposition to it, then back on the road to Hollister for another break to visit with Michael Dubois who has a shop there, about 2 PM. From there is more open, I have to run to the San Jose airport about 3:30, and that's an hour or so north of Hollister - I should be back down there about 5. That afternoon Michael has offered to throw some burgers on the grill and/or have a fun drive on Quien Sabe (?) road near Hollister, which he says is a fun drive -although after 5+ hours of driving I'm not sure how many would be up for that, but its open. Part of all this is how many folks are going, so I'd like to get a hard number as soon as possible, so Michael can know whom to expect - or not. I'm not up on the lodgings situation, so anyone coming along should make their own arrangements, either near Hollister - which is about 2 hours south of the meet site in Brisbane - or closer to the meet area - there are a lot of hotels near SFO. Anyone who is definitly going to go should drop me a note at jeff@socalvintagebmw.com, or use the email link above. Anyone coming from other points (Ventura, Central Coast, etc) we can always set up a meeting point along the way. Thanks! Jeff

Did anyone fire off some good Bimmerfest photos...? I know there were a bunch of cameras - I want to see what I missed while I waited for AAA on the side of US 101 and then trundled back to Jack F's shop in Van Nuys on Saturday. And then Sunday my E30 wouldn't start.....jeez! New battery, a damn expensive weekend and I didn't even get anywhere! Jeff

Well, we got the caravan to Bimmerfest together alright enough and the OC guys got up in fast time, 45 minutes - a couple of photos below at the meet spot (my Verona 02 in the second shot) We all rolled about 6:30 and were sailing along until I heard a metallic 'zip' sound from the rear about 15 minutes later. I threw a shoe (Kentucky Derby talk) just shy of Lindero Canyon - left rear passenger tire blew out, and when I came around I noticed I had a drip leak coming out of bottom of the gas tank, so I was a DNF for the day. I got to watch a lot of blinged out e46's etc zoom by waiting the 40 minutes for AAA to show up. A very nice fellow named Eric in a sweet Verona black plate 1600 stopped to check on me, and I sent him on...hope we get to talk again soon. Anyway, my day was done before it got started, and Ron P, sorry for the gas drops splashing back at you ( kinda NASCAR style), JB4 told me you were trying to catch up. The one time I try to lead the pack and drive fast......oh well, I heard the parking up there was the usual mess.....I think I'm taking the E30 to Bay Area in two weeks.....sheesh! Jeff

Jose, Given the tightness of schedule I don't think we're going to stop at Camarillo at this point. email me and I'll give you my number and you can ring me that morning for our 20. I suspect we'll be rolling by Las Posas about 6:45. Jeff

Caravaners, The guys coming up from OC and points south have said they will endeavor to be at Burbank/405 by 6:15, so the caravan to Bummerfest will leave pretty much when they arrive, maybe after a minute to say hellos.......I'm thinking it will be a good idea to go one exit past the Polo Grounds and double back on Via Real, most traffic will be coming from the south and getting off at the exit south of the grounds......lets hope the parking staff are civil as they take our $40...... Jeff

I received a note from Tim at BimmerFest as far as trying to get the vintage cars in en masse..... Hi Jeff, Sorry for the delay getting back to you, as you can imaging we're going over time here getting things organized for the show. The best thing to do would be to come as a group at 7:30 for concourse parking. This will not only help you avoid the lines, but also put your cars right in the thick of things with premier parking. You can see how the concourse is right in the middle of the show - http://eventreg.bimmerfest.com/v/Bimmerfest_2009_Layout.jpg Concourse parking is $40, but to avoid the lines and get premiere parking it is well worth it. Please show up in a group so we can park you together. Looking forward to seeing the vintage BMW in just over a week! Tim I wrote back stating all of us getting there at 7:30 was not realistic, given the distances some folks were driving, coming from OC etc. I did offer up to him that we might be willing to pay a premium (say $30) to be able to come in all as one group and park together, and I pledged we'd get there in the 8-8:30A range.......I know this is still wicked early coming from OC, but what are the thoughts? I'll let you know what Tim says. Getting there at 7:30 would involve leaving about 6:15-30 - from Sherman Oaks..... Jeff

I've dropped a note to the BF folks asking for us to come in en masse seperate from the usual entrance line. I'm not expecting much, but let's see what we can shake out. Maybe getting off the 101 at one of the earlier Carp exits and driving up Via Real might help, or going past and doubling back on it (that would be a smart organizers solution). Stay tuned. Jeff

Ok, so we're going to organize a caravan up to Bimmerfest in Carpenteria on Saturday May 2. We'll have the first assembly spot at the 405 and Burbank Blvd (just west of the freeway on Burbank in the small parking area). Depending on how many folks further up the line chime in, we may also stop at the McDonalds at Los Posas/101 in Camarillo for a quick pick up of the rest, and then head up the 101 to Carp. Probably want to get there by 8:15-8:30, so we'll leave about 6:15. Here's their registration link: https://eventreg.bimmerfest.com/events.php?action=insertregistration&EvId=3 Last year they charged double at the door, so I don't know if they will do the same this year, I'll register for sure, and I recommend anyone going do so as well. We're bringing some free swag (tshirts, etc) from lasts years meet, so anyone on the caravan will get some - and you are more than welcome to wear it at Bimmerfest! We'll also do a caravan on Fri 5/15 heading north to the Bay Area meet in Brisbane. Check for more info and updates at our website, www.socalvintagebmw.com

We'll get a SoCal Vintage caravan together to head up there, we may assemble at 405/Burbank Blvd and/or Las Posas in Camarillo. I'll put up a seperate thread and we'll take it from there. Cheers! Jeff

Hmmmm.... I suppose you'll need an IE or Ingraham special radiator to handle cooling the water off from those pesky fuel rods. Still, better than having push rods! Jeff