The San Diego Bay Rallye and Luau was a great success. The club event was held on the parade ground (grinder - for those military types) of the Naval Training Center in San Diego, California.
It was touch & go as to whether we could find a location for the event, but at the last minute we found that NTC (recently turned over to the City of San Diego) had the space and was eager to rent it. It turns out that it is extremely difficult to find a location that will allow overnight camping without making reservations more than a year in advance.
Saturday's activities included a Rallye around San Diego, several "fun" events back at the NTC parade grounds, and a fantastic Luau and entertainment.
The day began with a chuckwagon (Egg McManx) breakfast followed by the Show 'N Shine competition. Since this was not an off-road event we were pleased to have some members bring their beautiful "street only" cars.
At 10 AM a drivers meeting was held to explain the rallye rules. We learned that the event was to be a time-distance rallye (i.e the minimum time for each leg is determined by the distance and speed limit). We also learned the rallye instructions included a set of questions that must be answered about landmarks that we would pass along the way.
At 11 AM the rallye began with the first leg taking us towards the Cabrillo Lighthouse monument. Most of us were unlucky enough to get lost after taking a wrong turn into the Point Loma college campus. After figuring out the difference between an "Option" and an "Opportunity" we finally made it to the first checkpoint (late).
We then headed out to the lighthouse and got lost again and subsequently learned that a Left Turn is required at all "T" intersections unless otherwise directed by the instructions. After driving past the Cabrillo National Cemetery we should have understood the meaning of a "Grave Situation" to answer one of the questions correctly. The instructions then took us through Mission Bay Park to Kate Sessions Park where the second checkpoint was located. We were allowed an intermission for lunch with a great view of the Bay from the side of Mount Soledad.
After lunch we headed off towards Old Town and the Presidio. We then proceeded back to Point Loma and the final checkpoint at the Naval Training Center.
The "fun" events after the rally included: a "Blind Driver Slalom", a "Push Drag" , a timed Tire Change, a "Piston Toss", and a "Guess the Parts in the Box" game. Each of the events added time or points to our score for the rallye. The "Blind Driver Slalom" required a blindfolded driver to drive through a series of gates (two rubber cones) in the parade ground area with verbal directions from his navigator. The "Push Drag" was an elimination race (pushing only - i.e. no engines) over a 20 yard course.
The day ended with a Luau and entertainment. The Luau was terrific and included teriyaki beef, roast pork, and fresh baked salmon with many delicious side dishes including the polynesian poisson cru (marinated fish in coconut milk).
"Great Job Winnie!!!!!" The wonderful Polynesian entertainment was provided by the Fred Thomas Trio.
Sunday's drive took us first to Balboa Park and the San Diego Automotive Museum and then to Coronado Island.
At the museum the club was delighted to find "Old Red" prominently displayed among the museum's historic automobile collection. "Old Red" is the world's first fiberglass dune buggy built by Bruce Meyers. The car had been lost for years but was recently discovered in Michigan and has now been returned to its originator. The car will stay in the San Diego Automotive Museum for a period of time for the public to admire.
The results of the "Show 'N Shine" are as follows
BEST OVERALL...........................#386 - Mark Rose
BEST MEYERS MANX................#360 - Roger & Lydia Parsons
BEST MANX-TYPE......................#120 - Jay Hulet
BEST TOW'D.................................#638 - Steve Reeder
BEST OFFROAD...........................#229 - Brian Searle
BEST STREET...............................#386 - Mark Rose
BEST UNCONVENTIONAL.........#27 - Andy Felix
MOST IN NEED OF TLC..............#469 - Steve & Pam Widdowson
FARTHEST TO GET HERE .........#47 - Scott & Karyn Drolet (Simi Valley)
EARLIEST MEMBER PRESENT.#27 - Andy Felix
NEWEST MEMBER PRESENT....#675 - Jim Vourlitis
The sponsors who provided gifts for our drawings included :
ANDY'S AUTOGLASS....................Vista CA
B & R BUGGIES..............................Oceanside CA
FIBER-TECH....................................Santee CA
GENE BERG ENTERPRISES..........Orange CA
GOLDMINE VW PARTS.................Whittier CA
JOHNNY'S SPEED & CHROME......Buena Park CA
JOHNSON'S BUG MACHINE..........Santee CA
KAR TEK...........................................Chino CA
KYMCO MOTORSPORT..................Costa Mesa CA
LATEST RAGE..................................Norwalk CA
OFF ROAD WAREHOUSE...............Escondido CA
THE OVW CO....................................Escondido CA
RACE READY....................................Chula Vista CA
SCAT..................................................Redondo Beach CA
steve's...................................................El Cajon CA
SUPERVISOR.....................................Redlands CA
UNIQUE IMPORTS............................Mission Viejo CA
VW PARADISE..................................San Marcos CA
WEST COAST METRIC....................Harbor City CA
Base of operations at the Naval Training Center (NTC)
Bruce ends up with the Philepe Award again due to a bad distributor cap
Kermit rides with Steve Reeder on his Tow'd
The Manx Club at the San Diego Automotive Museum
Old Red at the Automotive Museum
Bruce gets ready to take pictures at the Automotive Museum
Dave tries to set the record for changing a tire (and fails)
This beautiful purple Manx type comes with "backup" transportation
Linda Wright checks out "Manx Store" items & buys those winning raffle tickets from Winnie Meyers
