A hardcore group of Healey aFicionados met at 0645 for a great breakfast at Chucks Cafe, about one block east of the Belmont Pier (Long Beach area) to start the day properly, and use the “Old Phil Caliva method” to not sit idling for over an hour until you are parked in your spot. Our group had no preference for our parking area, so we only sat idling about twenty-Five minutes and still managed to score a good area for our group, as you will see from the great pictures our buddy Chuck Lakowski took for this story (great job Chuck!!) As we ate our breakfast we were honored by a nice visit and shared breakfast with our great friend and Wire Wheel/Tire Supplier for most of our So. Cal. Healey group, none- other than Mr. Nate Jones. We had a nice time and then we jumped into the show staging line.
Our Healey group was made up of the following Members: Monica Lago-Kaytis, Clay Kaytis, Greg Aden, George Merino, George Mc Harris, John Hummer, Paul Van Wig, Chuck Lakowski, Chris Keen, Phil Caliva; and later in the morning we were visited by our good friends and members Jay and Katie Miller, Frank Vigneron with his wife and daughter (my apologies for not catching their names!).
As mid-morning arrived the heat rose up to over 100 degrees and it felt like we were, as they say, Cats On A Hot Tin Roof, even though we had a great spot in the shade most of the day. The high temperatures kept most spectators away and in my estimate, from entering this show for the past twenty-Five years, the crowd was about 10,000 folks, usually they get over 30,000 folks, including dogs, kids, and bicycles. My old friend and boss Ralph and Patti Lairson from our days in Heavy Marine Construction showed up with an exceptional white Cadillac and my old High School friend’s niece, Kery, showed up with her new ride, a great 1932 Ford Hot Rod Rag/ Top Pick Up with bright Flames.
The cars on display varied in types and makes, but a fantastic selection no less. Most of the American Muscle Cars makes showed up, Vintage Cars, Hot Rods and of course a few Rat Rods. A huge contingency of Low Riders was at hand, not my cup of tea but the workmanship that goes into their builds are far superior to our normal Automobiles! A few Off-Road Machines were on display, a few Exotics and what caught my eye was a early 1900's Dodge Hearse.
Driving home the heat was even worse and it sure was great to get a shower and an “Old Man” nap. It is always a pleasure to drive the old cars and bond with the old gang, but this particular time you had to be a real diehard to join in.
As Always, Cheers and Ciao