On January 1st, ten AHA members attended the Annual New Years Day Tour d' Orange. In attendance in their Big Healey’s were Dick and Carol Ames, Steve Kirby, Dave & Jackie Deamer, and my-self. Tom Scherer and Dexter Kaytis, with his granddaughter Paige, brought their Bugeye’s, Randall Clary and Chuck & Dawn Lakowski had their Jensen Healey’s, Phil Caliva was in one of his Alfa’s and Marty Hovivian in one of his Jaguar’s. It started out as a brisk, clear 45-degree morning which was not bad, except for the wind, but it warmed up nicely by the time the drive started.
Upon reaching the starting point, which by the way was back at its original location in Costa Mesa, we all gathered across the street and drove in together and parked in one of the business lots. This starting point might have worked out; but the old coffee shop at the location was gone and there were only 3 porta-johns and a single food truck (which arrived late) with the worst coffee in the world for the over 300 cars there.
Hopefully they will get the logistics straightened out for next year.
The drive was uneventful for most of us but Tom Scherer’s Bugeye fouled a plug while waiting in the mile-long line to get onto PCH and he headed home. I noted that the Deamer’s car was also not running correctly as they drove by everyone in line and headed back to Seal Beach.
Other than one of the new Dodge Challengers getting in an accident in Rancho Santa Margarita the drive was pleasant and we reached the end-point in Irvine at around 10:30 and enjoyed an early lunch at Red Robin.