West, the 1913 Simplex on this tour that I mentioned earlier was following me again today. I cornered the owner, William Balduff, long enough today to find that his "rear only" brakes had been "updated". The wife, Marilyn, siad this is because William likes to drive fast. This car is very capable of running 70-80 miles an hour down the road.

No wonder he was following me so easily in the Caddy!

Well, my family's all dressed up, my hair is combed, my ears are clean, on the outside anyway, and we're all ready to wrap up the week with a wonderful banquet. I'll be adding today's pictures tomorrow morning, if I'm sober(Don't have to drive tomorrow!

Wayne

8:24 pm Wayne time. still no pics. Must still be hungover. Anyone else out there seen him? Don't forget to check under the lampshades!

Geez, can you guys give me a break!

Admittedly, I got in at 1:00am CA. time this morning, but was still able to get up in time to help Dave Chiotti move one of his fleet back to a repair shop (Ok, here it comes!!!)owned by Rick Sanguinetti, another Redwood Region member. Rick owns the green and tan '54 Olds, you may see in some pictures. And yes, it was the Caddy I was driving, but there were no bent fenders, blown tires, or "what's that clicking noise!" problems.

We've been busy today, had to get a rental(Dave wouldn't sell me the Caddy)first before driving south. Does anyone have a Chevy Trailblazer? Does it wander all over the road, as if it's waving it's "fish tail"? This suv is brand new, like 35 miles when I picked it up, had to even remove the plastic off the seats. The floor mats are still in the plastic bag in the back seat. I wasn't impressed.

Ok, drove down across the Golden Gate, through San Francisco, further south and pulled off at San Jose for lunch. The town is beautiful, nothing like I remember, with 100 foot tall palm trees lining both sides of the streets downtown. We ate lunch at an Italian restaurant, the kind that has the Italian bread with the olive oil on the "side". Mike and I showed our rednakedness by smelling the oil, then just eating the bread, something like a cat smells the food, but, "Nope, ain't touching that!"

We're now at Santa Cruz, CA for the night, about to eat at a fancy seafood restaurant (Crows Nest) on the Santa Cruz Harbor. I pulled my socks off and found that I have just enough cash for one last really good meal!

Bear with me, I'll post more pictures of our last day on the yesterday's tour tonight.

Gotta run!

Wayne

Wayne, we thought you were falling down on the job . After all you're the offical tour reporter for this tour and good reporter shares the news quickly.

Sorry, I'm late David, just got back from dinner on the ocean front.....$63.00 for the 3 of us.

Stand by!


Wayne

Thursday, last day of tour...

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We leave a little late today at 9:00 am heading up the hills to Sonoma, CA.

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As we traveled north, I caught up with Frank and Diana Kilpatrick of Sonora in their very nice 1938 Pontiac business coupe. Of course, you can see the everpresent Simplex up ahead. We spotted a 6-8 point buck deer in the vineyard, but I couldn't get a good shot of him (with the camera guys! ), without stopping and having Jim and Sharon Raines run me over from behind in Dave's 1939 Studebaker.

continuing tour...

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We had a little bottleneck on the way as everyone slowed to check out the old Chrysler on the side of the road.

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Toscano Hotel (I hope that's right), built 1850's. The whole town square was from the early 1800's as Sonoma was an early stage stop in those days.

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Sonoma Barracks built in 1836 by General M.G. Vallejo.

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City Hall in the center of the square, built in 1908.

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Patti Dearmin and friends enjoying lunch in Sonoma. AACA President, Dave Berg, eating with Jim and Sharon Raines in the background.

OK, this is car related. The wife's in a dress shop, you see. I managed to hold her purchases down to a few bars of special "smelly" soap.

So, I'm looking around and notice the changing room below. Yep, it's one of our car show tents, redesigned to be a beach changing room. It folds up into a small "trunk sized" carrying bag. You've see them!? Yes, but in a dress shop. The lady said they leave the top off as it gets too hot inside the building. It was getting a little warm in that dress shop too, about then.


Yep, that's the truth and the whole truth, so help my Corvette.

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Closing banquet time guys! Our President Dave Berg was telling everyone of the changes in store for all members next year, including new incentives for new members to join the AACA. Everyone enjoys Dave's stories.

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Probably the only time Mike would ever have a picture with 3 Directors at one time. Touring in the AACA is probably the best time to catch our Directors not always on the go.

some banquet pictures....


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My family was honored to be sitting at the same table as past AACA President, Lloyd and Jane Riggs from Walnut Creek, CA. (picture with Dave Chiotti in background). Lloyd was president in 1993. Mrs Riggs related that it was a lot of work that year, but very enjoyable to look back on. I've heard that statement a lot from past presidential families.

Wayne

Golden Gate Bridge, Yep, we're headed back south again. I want to make one statement about this picture. How many cars do you think those plastic center pylons would keep on the right side of the road, here in the east.

Chaos, complete chaos I tell you!

Pictures from the David Chiotti Collection!

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A beautiful shot of the Packard pulling the hill.

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One of Dave's "backyard pets". I'd title this one "BUSTED"! The masked villain doesn't look as dangerous in the daylight. Darn, how did I let this happen!!!


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Someone took a picture of the photographer taking pictures of the group traveling downhill....

TOUR CHAIRMAN!!!

I got quite a kick out of your accounts! Good job! (Kind of irrelevant, but David Chiotti's my grandpa...)

Well, that's just great, Lincoln! I'm going to tell you that Dave and other Redwood Region members too, had a lot to do with the way this tour turned out. All of us from coast to coast thoroughly enjoyed this tour. Dave took a lot of ribbing from me, even the last night during the Closing Banquet, when I told Dave, that "If I didn't learn anything else out here. I learned how to pronounce ChiOtti!"

My family has been all over the Fort Ord Military Reservation today, probably even a few places we shouldn't have gone. It was really depressing for me to see the places that I used to travel around back in 1967 going to the wreckingball, or into disrepair. I guess that story is for another time. If anyone wants me to share some touching pictures, just e-mail me at

hot32rodder@yahoo.com

Wayne

Wayne,

Thank you for taking the time to submit the daily updates. Great job!

Hope you folks enjoy the rest of your trip...

PJH

Thanks Pedro. Good to hear you on here again and feeling better. I think my hard drive just gave up the ghost along with some pictures. I'll know more when I get home Tuesday.

Take care guys,
Wayne

Oh, yes, we get the whole 'Chiotti' thing a lot. He didn't mind, I'm sure. And he probably gave as good as he got! :-)