Surf 'N' Safari
San Diego Miata Club event
Thursday, October 8 to Sunday October 11, 2015
Photos: Steve & Chris Berry, Mark & Debi Harvey, Bev Rich, Mark Booth (San Diego Club), Dan Garcia (San Diego Club)
After finding different routes to San Diego, six OVMC cars and 12 participants met up at the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach for Surf 'N' Safari 2015. Sunshine and warm temperatures greeted us upon arrival and kept us company throughout the event. Just over 100 cars were in attendance, including half a dozen brand new 2016 cars. Thursday night was spent getting unloaded and getting our cars cleaned up after the five or six day journey. An evening dessert night was held to allow us to reacquaint with friends from other clubs.
On Friday, we had four different runs to choose from, each highlighting the incredible sights of southwest California, and several different runs were taken in by OVMC members.
That evening there was a superb bbq burger and hot dog supper along with a local guitarist to entertain. During a break in the music, we were entertained by our own Rolly, who performed two of his poems. Needless to say the crowd was almost in tears with laughter.
Saturday turned out to be another 100+ F day, which caused most people to forgo the rally and take advantage of the pool and nearby beach. Saturday night was banquet night, and a local band provided great dance music.
Sunday was the windup day. During the weekend, members of the host club looked over the cars in the parking lot and chose some to be recognized at a "Concours d'Elegance" drive by. Three OVMC cars were recognized; Steve and Chris in the NA category (not surprising... Steve was seen using a toothbrush to clean his car again!), Rolly and Sharon's for their NC and Jadine and Alison took home the "Thelma and Louise" award. A followup barbecue at a local speed and service business, Rocky's and Goodwin Racing, put the final touch to a very memorable weekend.
San Diego Miata Club event
Thursday, October 8 to Sunday October 11, 2015
Photos: Steve & Chris Berry, Mark & Debi Harvey, Bev Rich, Mark Booth (San Diego Club), Dan Garcia (San Diego Club)
After finding different routes to San Diego, six OVMC cars and 12 participants met up at the Hilton Garden Inn Carlsbad Beach for Surf 'N' Safari 2015. Sunshine and warm temperatures greeted us upon arrival and kept us company throughout the event. Just over 100 cars were in attendance, including half a dozen brand new 2016 cars. Thursday night was spent getting unloaded and getting our cars cleaned up after the five or six day journey. An evening dessert night was held to allow us to reacquaint with friends from other clubs.
On Friday, we had four different runs to choose from, each highlighting the incredible sights of southwest California, and several different runs were taken in by OVMC members.
- The "Who Knew Run" took us on a journey on some rural roads that felt like a roller coaster! Twists and turns so tight you could see your own taillights, and grades so steep that San Francisco would be jealous. What a view! And what humble abodes we saw! Homes the size of small hotels surrounded by immaculately landscaped properties behind brick and stone walls and iron gates.
- The "Drive To The Stars" run was a wonderfully twisty windy series of back country roads which culminated in a serpentine trip to the top of the mountain and its domed treasure, the Palomar Observatory. Here the major claim to fame is the famous 200-inch Hale Telescope. Scientists the world over have been surveying the heavens through this magnificent telescope since 1948. We left the mountain on a different and similarly exciting paved road affording vistas of California farm land and remote ranches.
- Another Friday run was to the Desert area of Borrego Springs. To get there we travelled through 3 micro climates; coast, mountain, and desert. The desert area featured metal sculptures by Ricardo Breceda. This run was not short of twisty road and mountainous terrain, and a total of 200 miles were covered.
That evening there was a superb bbq burger and hot dog supper along with a local guitarist to entertain. During a break in the music, we were entertained by our own Rolly, who performed two of his poems. Needless to say the crowd was almost in tears with laughter.
Saturday turned out to be another 100+ F day, which caused most people to forgo the rally and take advantage of the pool and nearby beach. Saturday night was banquet night, and a local band provided great dance music.
Sunday was the windup day. During the weekend, members of the host club looked over the cars in the parking lot and chose some to be recognized at a "Concours d'Elegance" drive by. Three OVMC cars were recognized; Steve and Chris in the NA category (not surprising... Steve was seen using a toothbrush to clean his car again!), Rolly and Sharon's for their NC and Jadine and Alison took home the "Thelma and Louise" award. A followup barbecue at a local speed and service business, Rocky's and Goodwin Racing, put the final touch to a very memorable weekend.
