NorCal : NorCal Spring Rally, Casini Ranch, April 12-14, 2013

[SuperTrouper]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

YUP.....that's how you do it......little Bay Area traffic and no bridge tolls. I think the toll on the Richmond San Rafael bridge is eastbound. The worst for us coming from the east is 101 north.

Neil

Neil

Richmond bridge toll is westbound at the east end of the bridge. It's no big deal though.

Brad

[Mrs.Mod]

Thanks for the input, folks. I think we're gonna swing around and take 152 to 99 on the way home. That will take us through Los Banos...to Toscano RV.....Gotta see a man about a trailer......

[FreshAir]

Originally Posted by SuperTrouper

Richmond bridge toll is westbound at the east end of the bridge. It's no big deal though.

Brad

Ah....yes. I commuted that bridge for 2 1/2 years. But forgive my memory 'cuz that was 1965 - '67. I haven't forgotten the construction of that 'swayback' bridge. Before that it was a car ferry service in the '50s. Shortly after the bridge was opened I drove my dad's '55 Mercury Montclair over 100 mph...east bound.....that's on the lower level. It was early morning, no other traffic. Still stupid.....ah to be young....again

Neil

[SuperTrouper]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

Ah....yes. I commuted that bridge for 2 1/2 years. But forgive my memory 'cuz that was 1965 - '67. I haven't forgotten the construction of that 'swayback' bridge. Before that it was a car ferry service in the '50s. Shortly after the bridge was opened I drove my dad's '55 Mercury Montclair over 100 mph...east bound.....that's on the lower level. It was early morning, no other traffic. Still stupid.....ah to be young....again

Neil

'55 was too early but I liked the Breezeway rear window on the later model Montereys and Montclairs. 100 MPH would make quite a breeze! All on bias tires YIKES!

Anyway, I look forward to swapping 455CID stories. The Family 71 Estate wagon in my youth and a 72 Electra "Deuce and a quarter" I drove in NYC for many years. Both overheated repeatedly and often and I was always impressed how far you could go with not only the "HOT" idiot light on but the blinking "STOP" light as well. I'd never seen a "STOP" light on a dashboard. Two particularly memorable occasions were Wall Drug in South Dakota and between East Harlem and LaGuardia airport. When I got to LGA the engine was so hot it would not stop running (Dieseling). When I opened the hood the engine manifold had a faint glow. It always burned a little more oil after that!

I'm much nicer to my vehicles now.

Brad

[Airslide]

In high school autoshop we drained the oil from a 455 donated car and let it run at 2000 RPM's. It was so loud in the shop but wouldnt die.. we went inside the class room for some lecture about what was probably happening inside the engine. Finally after about 25 minutes it started to slow down and locked up. Love those big V8's with lots of forgiveness in the bearings. Dont try that on todays new vehicles for even 3 minutes.. game over quickly. We will be glad to see you in whatever vintage tow vehicle pulls the airstream to the rally.

[SuperTrouper]

Originally Posted by Airslide

In high school autoshop we drained the oil from a 455 donated car and let it run at 2000 RPM's. It was so loud in the shop but wouldnt die.. we went inside the class room for some lecture about what was probably happening inside the engine. Finally after about 25 minutes it started to slow down and locked up. Love those big V8's with lots of forgiveness in the bearings. Dont try that on todays new vehicles for even 3 minutes.. game over quickly. We will be glad to see you in whatever vintage tow vehicle pulls the airstream to the rally.

Unfortunately we tow with a late model. 2002 Excuse Me 7.3 (444CID) Diesel. I had a 74 Caddy Fleetwood Brougham with a 500 CID plant once. THAT would have been a great tow vehicle! It never overheated.

[FreshAir]

I have owned 2 Buick Centurions. A 1972 convertible for 16 years before our current 1971 for 10 years now. The '72 began burning oil as it neared 200k miles. I swapped out that engine for a '71 from a ,donor' car. That engine was purring at 80k when I sold that car and bought the red one we own now. This one has 170+k miles on it and is just beining to show it's age. 2 years ago I gave the engine that I pulled from the '72 to a friend who built race engines. I asked him to rebuild it at his pace and it is nearing completion. That engine plus a rebuild for the TH400 tranny. will be this coming winter's goal to install. I also cannot say enough about the TH400 tranny. I have 'cooked' the one that is in the '71 3 times...once pulling up Pacheco Pass on the way to Lake San Antonio in '07. I know that the '69 Olds will make a great companion to the convertible, filling in in the off season....something about driving a convertible in the rain. The Olds has spent the last 30 years stored covered in a garage. It has been driven only 2k since 1985. The car is in EXCELLENT condition but cars have to be driven. I have to replace the heater core, a freeze pug that I know of and put in a 4 row radiator. It has a 'new' AC and water pump. I have replaced the 30 year old tires, the fan clutch, master brake cylinder power steering pump and starter. Plus new plugs, wires cap and points. We have driven the car to the Bay Area with no problems but our first local trip it backfired and blew the muffler off. Scared to **** out of Lynn and I just laughed. That made Lynn madder. Our second journey the engine died coming down a hill soooo that meant no steering and little BRAKING.....2 feet hard on the pedal. The tune-up solved that. So what it boils down to is that we both decided that now we need to be certain towing will not create any more 'problems' that would spoil what we want to do.....have FUN at an Airstream Rally.

[elvisinexile]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Mod

Thanks for the input, folks. I think we're gonna swing around and take 152 to 99 on the way home. That will take us through Los Banos...to Toscano RV.....Gotta see a man about a trailer......

Hi Mrs Mod, are you picking up the 152 from the southbound 101 I hope? Just wondered if you had driven it before.

No it's fun, really, just wanted to make sure you weren't coming over the hills from Watsonville/Santa Cruz.

Julie

[Mrs.Mod]

Julie,
Hi, yes, I have driven that route probably twice in the last 6 months with the AS and it didn't bother me. It's not the best road but I've certainly seen worse (anyone remember the canyon road on the way to the Rivernook rally....YIKES!)
Thanks, but I got to get to LOS BANOS!!!!

[Creech]

Is it possible/acceptable to stop by the rally for an afternoon without my Airstream? I'm in the middle of painting inside and not ready to take it anywhere, but I'd love to get a look at some of your rigs. Besides, it sounds like a great excuse for a motorcycle ride..

[Chatthayer]

I am just a participant, but was in the same shape a while ago. I say come ahead!

[bganso]

[Thanks, but I got to get to LOS BANOS!!!! [/QUOTE]


You can always take 580 to I-5 and straight south to Los Banos. I believe it's shorter, faster, and you avoid driving through San Jose and taking that treacherous little bugger, Hwy 152

[Scott J-24]

Originally Posted by Creech

Is it possible/acceptable to stop by the rally for an afternoon without my Airstream? I'm in the middle of painting inside and not ready to take it anywhere, but I'd love to get a look at some of your rigs. Besides, it sounds like a great excuse for a motorcycle ride..

Sure, come on over, we welcome everyone. In fact last year some folks stayed in one of the cabins because their trailer wasn't quite ready for prime time. However you may want to check Casini's website or give them a call. As I recall they didn't let motorcycles into the campground (the buggers!). Hopefully I am wrong on the bike restriction, but if not, you could park the bike outside and walk in.

[SuperTrouper]

Originally Posted by Scott J-24

Sure, come on over, we welcome everyone. In fact last year some folks stayed in one of the cabins because their trailer wasn't quite ready for prime time. However you may want to check Casini's website or give them a call. As I recall they didn't let motorcycles into the campground (the buggers!). Hopefully I am wrong on the bike restriction, but if not, you could park the bike outside and walk in.

I did a recon last fall on the Harley that I related in post #130
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f288...ml#post1221117

I parked right at the store inside before the entrance fee shack. They said the signs are from the 60's when biker gangs were about but I think they leave them up to discourage loud rowdy people on bikes. You should be fine. Tell 'em your friends of the airstreamers. We gotta be helping their bottom line for April I would think!

[doorgunner]

FROM Bakersfield to the rally;
GET your a$$ on hwy 5 ASAP, sckrew 99, then 580 over t0 680 up to Benicia, 780 up 80 to 37, sears point hwy. to 101. (there's a shortcut here that's too long to describe, and it really saves minimal). then 101 N to River Road, left off the fwy, head west to Duncans Mills. easy peasy. flat & fast all the way.
of course if you want the scenic route go thru arkansas.
bring beer and attitude.

[barts]

Originally Posted by Creech

Is it possible/acceptable to stop by the rally for an afternoon without my Airstream? I'm in the middle of painting inside and not ready to take it anywhere, but I'd love to get a look at some of your rigs. Besides, it sounds like a great excuse for a motorcycle ride..

Hey Creech!

Heck yes, it's a great spot; the ride out is pretty cool. Casini is just inland from Jenner, so if you're into a jaunt up 1 on the bike that would be a god call. Stop by Saturday and stay for the potluck - serious food.

We'll be flying the debauched flamingo flag....

- Bart

[elvisinexile]

Originally Posted by Mrs.Mod

Julie,
Hi, yes, I have driven that route probably twice in the last 6 months with the AS and it didn't bother me. It's not the best road but I've certainly seen worse (anyone remember the canyon road on the way to the Rivernook rally....YIKES!)
Thanks, but I got to get to LOS BANOS!!!!

From the 101 east it's not so bad, but from Watsonville to get to the 101, it's a bit of an adventure in spots. There are some turns that remind me of our dear Highway 1 north of Jenner. Some people only visit us once, only once.

[elvisinexile]

Originally Posted by Creech

Is it possible/acceptable to stop by the rally for an afternoon without my Airstream? I'm in the middle of painting inside and not ready to take it anywhere, but I'd love to get a look at some of your rigs. Besides, it sounds like a great excuse for a motorcycle ride..

Shoot, come on down. Our alu-twinkie was in Arizona between spring training and our daughter's wedding in May last year working on its tan, so we stayed in one of the cabins. I don't recommend them, there are some nice ($$) places to stay in Jenner or further up the coast there are some nice cabins near Fort Ross (they say $89 dollar spring specials.) I don't know the inland possibilities well so I can't say what might be back the other direction.

Julie

[FreshAir]

.......and some of you are praying.10 Day Weather Forecast for 95430 - weather.com

Keep it up....we need to remove some clouds for our POT LUCK Saturday.


Neil

[1953 Flying]

Originally Posted by FreshAir

.......and some of you are praying.10 Day Weather Forecast for 95430 - weather.com

Keep it up....we need to remove some clouds for our POT LUCK Saturday.


Neil

Thanks for the update Neil. Keep up the good work.