Messages

[OK... Time for another road trip!]

OK... Time for another road trip!
FATHER'S DAY ROAD TRIP - LONG BEACH/PALOS VERDES
***Open to ALL auto marques including your daily drivers***
***Classics, Performance, Tuners, & Rods are especially welcome but most especially Vipers!!!***
> Sunday, June 20
> Meeting place: Starbucks 1788 E. Willow St., Signal Hill
> Meeting time: 8-9:00 am (social hour)
> Depart: 9:00 am (sharp!)
> Group size: limited to first 25 RSVPs
> Distance: 58 miles
> Duration: 3 hours including (3) 20-minute stops
> Destination (optional): Noble Bird, Long Beach Marina, for lunch
> Free – no cost, just fun
This road trip will begin in Signal Hill (Long Beach area) and proceed to Palos Verdes-- a chill kinda drive with a few stops for taking pics and socializing. It will end in Long Beach Marina for those who want to join a group lunch.
Reply to this post for your RSVP or better yet email me! Steve VamVaketis  8)
[email protected]

Hmmm... I posted this days ago but it did not post. Oh well. I live in Signal Hill and would love to rendezvous with others to drive as a group-- way more fun. The weather is going to be perfect. Please PM me if interested.


Steve

Hi guys and gals,
I'm leaning towards going to my second South OC C&C Saturday, April 17. Last time I went alone... fun but not as fun as driving to this great venue with others. I live in Signal Hill so a meet point somewhere between Long Beach and say Irvine would be ideal.

Unlike Bentley and Rolls Royce owners who pass Grey Poupon mustard to each other while driving, us Viper owners throw Jack Daniels single serve bottles. So the next time you come to a stop next to another snake, simply say... "Single serve Jack? Why, of course!"

Cheers!

Steve
[email protected]
M 949.422.1341

No worries. Our local C&C events run every Saturday morning, so many more opportunities to organize a roadtrip to attend one. Enjoy your trip!

[Saturday from 9-11 am]

After a number of years of exile from the Cars & Coffee scene, I finally entered the mix once again. On Saturday Feb. 20, I met up with a few fellow SoCal Viperettes at the C&C in Crystal Cove. Wow! Awesome cars on an awesome Saturday morning.

I've heard so much about the biggest and most bad C&C in the country, the one in San Clemente at the Outlet Mall. Like most C&C events, it runs every Saturday from 9-11 am. It seems to be pretty well organized with a staff enforcing the few rules. One such rule is no arrivals before 8:30. Gotta keep the peace with the local residents.

Saturday March 6 is when I plan to attend. It would be great fun to have a group of us go and park as a group to show the Viper colors. I will be coming from Long Beach. We can meet somewhere in Irvine and arrive as a group. More fun that way. If interested please chime in!

Even more pics...

More pics...

Dictionary definition of fun: Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure.

What a fun road trip we all enjoyed. While only a small group of 5 cars, 4 of the 5 cars were Vipers. That was enough for me to feel a complete sense of enjoyment, amusement, and lighthearted pleasure!

My original road trip plan was to keep this open to all vehicles whether classics, performance cars, tuners, daily drivers, and yes-- Vipers. So, I posted it on multiple car group sites and expected a full house of 25 who would RSVP. My secret surprise was to have a police cruiser escort our group out of the Star Bucks parking lot in exchange for donating $125 in SB gift cards.

If talking about a Godzilla movie and perhaps other things, size matters. When it comes to having great fun, all you need is a few great people to share the experience. This is what we had. In attendance were Chris (Mustang GT 5.0), Lance & Lori, Randy & Diane, and Ben and Julie. All three Viper couples knew each other. Kudos to Ben and Julie who drove their 1994 Gen1 Viper all the way from San Diego.

Interestingly, of the four Vipers that comprised our five car group, four Viper generations were represented-- Gen1, Gen2, Gen3, and Gen5. Pretty cool.

A couple of interesting items. While our small group of cars didn't comprise a road trip caravan, I called the Signal Hill Police department nonetheless. I wanted to make my donation and at least get a parking lot photo opportunity with the cruiser. When I called I was transferred to the watch commander. I explained who I was, that I wanted to donate gift cards to the police department, and that I had organized a small assembly of cars for a road trip. In a complete monotone voice, the watch commander had one question, “Are they muscle cars?” With a big grin I said, “Sir, we have the epitome of muscle cars in attendance... Dodge Vipers!” He said an officer would be there in a few minutes. Too funny.

While we awaited for our police cruiser to arrive, Randy approached me and asked if I was open to modifying my planned route. He said that Lance and Lori lived in the Palos Verdes area and were remodeling their impressive house. Naturally, I agreed to deviating from plan which we did. To say their house is impressive is an understatement. Upon rumbling into the horseshoe driveway we were met with to-die-for views, beautiful Spanish décor, and a garage any car guy would give an organ for. Thanks Lance and Lori for sharing your beautiful home.

[Starbucks at 1788 E. Willow Street, Signal Hill]

Awesome! There's room for many more. As promised, the weather is going to be spectacular on Sunday. What better way to spend your Valentine's morning than rumbling down the streets of Long Beach and Palos Verdes. You can PM me or simply show up. It's all good.


Starbucks at 1788 E. Willow Street, Signal Hill
Social hour: 8am-9am
Departure: 9am sharp

I purchased my 2001 GTS in December. Since then, I've performed a number of modest upgrades... billet power steering pulley (yes, I did my homework), Roe Racing aluminum smooth tubes, K&N air filter, etc. Included in this list are PrecisionLED headlight bulbs.


I went to a nearby establishment to take a photo. In this same spot is where a similar nighttime pic was taken with OEM bulbs and with the fogs on. Besides being quite satisfied with the LED light output the photo I took without any effects or enhancement is way cool.

[VALENTINE'S DAY ROAD TRIP - LONG BEACH/PALOS VERDES]

Hello fellow car guys and gals,
VALENTINE'S DAY ROAD TRIP - LONG BEACH/PALOS VERDES
This is my first post with this group and a good one. It's been some time since I organized a road trip. I'm ready to get back into action for some road fun. This is open to all cars, so not dedicated to classics. I am now taking RSVPs for the following road trip:

   
• Valentine's Day Road Trip - Sunday, Feb. 14
• Meeting place: Starbucks 1788 E. Willow St., Signal Hill
• Time: 8:00 am (social hour)
• Depart: 9:00 am (sharp!)
• Group size: limited to first 25 RSVPs
• Distance: 57.5 miles
• Duration: 3 hours including (3) 20-minute stops
• Destination: Noble Bird, Long Beach Marina, for lunch

This road trip will begin in Signal Hill (Long Beach area) and proceed to Palos Verdes-- a chill kinda drive with a few stops for taking pics and socializing. It will end in Long Beach Marina for those who want to join a group lunch.
PS. If enough cars join in I will arrange a police escort will lead our car parade out of the Starbucks parking lot and onto the freeway. Can anyone say photo op?
Please email me with your RSVP or questions. Thanks! Steve    [email protected]  M 949.422.1341