The big news this month is that registration is open for California Healey Week 2019! If you haven’t done so already, please go to the website to register, www.austin-healey.org.
This year’s Healey Week is a little different than in the past, particularly since it is an “all-weekday” event. After much discussion with the Board and many Members, it was decided that the benefits of much lower hotel room costs and much less crowded event venues outweighed the downside that some may have to take a couple more vacation days to attend. Most Club Members are either retired or are at the stage where their work schedule if pretty flexible, so the Monday to Friday schedule should not be an issue. We will see.
The event itself should be a blast. The Temecula Creek Inn is a lovely “old California” resort, with ancient oak trees and rustic charm abounding.
This is a laid-back property where you can park right outside your room door. Big enough to have a great restaurant and bar, but not so big that our group gets lost in the shuffle. The rooms are all very nicely appointed, modern, and well-equipped with fridges and K-cup coffee makers and everyone has a furnished balcony or patio with woodsy views. The buildings are only two stories and you have a choice of upper or lower floor, so please specify when you book.
As for events, we have a full schedule. As usual, we’ll kick things off with a Welcome Reception on Monday evening, followed by Peter Roses’ Poker Rally on Tuesday morning. The Rally ends at a great restaurant (I’m not telling) where you can grab a bite before heading to nearby Lake Elsinore to participate in the Gymkhana to be held on the brand-new asphalt parking lot at the Storm Baseball Field. Thank you, Ed Neumeyer, for organizing the Gymkhana! Tuesday evening cocktail hour will feature the ever-popular Rocker Cover Racing preliminary competition and a prevue of the Silent Auction items. We have organized free shuttle transportation to the nearby Pechanga Resort and Casino, which offers eleven different dining venues (and or course not a few slot machines and table games).
Wednesday is another great driving morning around Palomar mountain with a visit the charming village of Julian. The drive ends back in Temecula at the Wilson Creek Winery, where you can enjoy tastings and lunch, or if you prefer, take a private winery tour with five tastings (optional with a $25 charge). We have something special in the works for the afternoon Tech Session, more on that later. But in the evening, after the Rocker Cover racing finals, put on your hats and boots for the Cowboy BBQ at the Stone House, a secluded woodsy dell on the property where we have all sorts of fun and games planned. Thursday is Car Show Day and we are right in the heart of Old Town Temecula where our cars will get lots of lookers and shoppers will be in paradise. This Old West town is overflowing with restaurants, wine tasting rooms and craft beer vendors. You are sure to find something tasty for lunch. Time for a little nap before joining the fun at our Gala Awards Banquet and Silent Auction. Wow, are we done yet? Not quite. If you are so inclined, we are organizing a 9-hole golf tournament for Friday morning. You have time to participate before the 12-noon checkout time or stay a little longer and have lunch and play the back nine. I am not sure we could pack any more into a Healey Week, but if we think of something, we’ll probably add it! See you in Temecula!