The Central Coast British Car Club promised another outstanding event this year and the Healey’s from So Cal once again answered the call. Over 150 cars were in attendance, including six Bugeye Sprites and 10 Big Healeys from the AHASC.
This, the 35th annual all British gathering also included a celebration of the 100th anniversary of Route 66, the 2,400-mile "Mother Road.” Many of us have personal experience and connections with Route 66, America’s Main Street. You may have memories of it as a child, rolling about unrestrained in the back of a station wagon in un air- conditioned smoky comfort. Or you did the driving yourself, with one eye on temperature, the other on fuel, and both ears listening to the whistling wing vent soundtrack of the highway. Some of you may have even journeyed the iconic highway behind the wheel of a classic British car.
In the fall of 1962, my father set out for Los Angeles from Pittsburgh, PA in a Nash Metropolitan. College and the California dream awaited. After a stop for repairs in Chicago, he seriously thought about taking the train the rest of the way! But hope and opportunity called him westward. His BMC Baby Nash soldiered on the entire length of Route 66 to the West Coast, where he would meet a beautiful young woman who had recently immigrated from England, fall in love, drop out of college, and have a son. The Metropolitan, our first family car, would eventually be replaced by a 1969 Rover TC2000.
Technically advanced, but with some notable reliability issues, the fun I had learning to drive the Rover would be augmented by some quality time under the bonnet. I never got to drive the little black and white saddle shoe Metro, but it still holds a special place in my heart.
Fast forward half a century and I am running late to the rendezvous at Mel’s Drive-In for the caravan up PCH to Channel Islands Harbor Park.
I chose to bypass the freeway and take PCH to visit the actual termination of Route 66. Under a setting harvest moon, I sat in my Sprite at the intersection of Lincoln and Olympic Boulevards in Santa Monica, where you can see the signs commemorating the end of the road that have symbolized hope and migration for so many, including my family.
Thankfully, my friends were patiently waiting for me when I pulled into Mel’s. Club V.P. Greg Aden brought, you guessed it, a Sprite! I had never seen this one, a 1960 white with black racing stripe Bugeye. Historian Steve Magoffin had his beautifully repainted green BJ8. Steve Beck had his ’57 black over red 100. Phil Capon’s freshly restored yellow Sprite was looking sharp. Friends of the club Jay and Arlene Barton were goggled up in their TR3, and Anthony Maggio was looking proper in his Ferrari Red Triumph Herald.
We (not too quickly) made way up the coast past the half dozen recently installed speed cameras (Be sure to smile, fines become effective November 1st!) to the Trancas Country market for a quick “Bacon Run” style breakfast meetup. There, our caravan grew in numbers. Club Secretary, Monica, and husband Clay Kaytis had arrived from Glendale in her ’58 Sprite and his ’60 3000, respectively. Alan Wertheimer brought his 64 Lotus Series 2 Elon and MG Club president Rob Dionne pulled up in his ’74 MGB GT to join us for breakfast as well.
After everyone shared pictures of that big, beautiful harvest moon, we headed up the coast for the show.
Check in at the park was uneventful.
Cheerful Central Coast Club members processed and guided us onto the lawn to our usual spot at the south end. The big Healeys fanned out, boots towards the marina, with the Sprites facing them from across across the lawn to complete our horseshoe formation. The day’s Big Healey 2nd Place award winner, Carry MacMiller was already in place at the top of our lineup with his red over black ’60 BN7. Next to him was Dan Burrola’s gorgeous ’65 BJ8. Clay Kaytis backed his always show ready 3000 in, to be followed by Central Coast club member Tom Morganfeld’s immaculate 1st place winning green ’65 BJ8. Tim McNiff came howling in from Glendale in his ’63 BJ7, “Scarlet” to park between the “Steve’s,” Beck and Magoffin. Ron Fine’s blue over white ’60 BN7 was followed by Russ Thompson’s “black on black” hard topped, side wing vented, triple carbed ’62 3000 - one of only 355 tri-carb variants ever produced. Anchoring the Big Healey lineup was Larry Bryant’s ’60 Healey blue BT7.
On the other side of the Healey horseshoe were the cool kids. Phil Capon’s 1st place “Yellow Peril” Sprite sat at the top next to Clark Lewis’s 59 Bugeye. My 1960 black and red Racer Sprite never had a chance, as I was parked next to our very own Secretary and club Chili Pepper, Monica Lago-Kaytis. She took 2nd place in the Sprite/Midget category with her “Baby.” Next in line was club vice president, Greg Aden, who graciously opted not to bring his first-place winner from last year to give the rest of us hope! Although, his ’59 white with black racing stripe beauty did have a for sale sign on it. Perhaps he was hoping for a different kind of win today! Keeping the car lot theme going next to Greg was a red with white stripe Sprite, also for sale. My apologies for not getting the owner's name.
With the heat we had been enduring, there was no threat of the overcast and drizzle of the last couple of years. So, once all the chairs were set up and cars wiped down, we meandered up the show line to see the competition. I found club member Nancy Asahina and Steve Schryver already settled in amongst the MG’s with their 1972 MGB. Charles and Barbara Meng opted to bring their Ford V6 powered Spitfire instead of their Orange Frogeye. They would have taken home a 2nd place trophy if they stayed for the ceremony! Bruce Borella left his big Healey at home to show his beautiful 1961 Jaguar XK150 drop head coup, which would earn him 2nd place in the Classic Jaguar group. Alan Wertheimer’s ’64 Medici Blue Lotus Elon took 1st in the Lotus class. Bill Wilkman’s one man restoration project, a 1947 A40 Austin Dorset, commanded many oohs and ahhs on the way to winning the Moss Motors Choice Award. Friend of the club, Joe Bisbing, was over by the marina with his stately black 1984 Jaguar XJ6. He would place 2nd in the Modern Jaguar group.
There was no best in show for the Healeys this day. Kurt Oblinger’s rare 1962 Triumph Italia 2000 took that honor. Only 330 of these cars were produced between 1959 and 1962.
Advertised as "Italian bodywork at its best, British tradition in sports car engineering at its finest,” the Italia was designed by Giovanni Michelotti using TR3 chassis and mechanical Components... if you are into that sort of thing! Our members represented the club honorably, with over half a dozen awards and countless smiles from the appreciative crowd. All that was missing was Phil Caliva, who despite his best efforts, is not actually omnipresent. He missed this points event to take his lovely Nancy in their air-conditioned custom 1934 Dodge Humpback Frosty’s Ice Delivery truck street rod to the Redondo Pier show. No Healey, no points, paisan! Ah, how Monica basked in her points win this day! But in the end, the day was not as much about trophies or points, as it was an opportunity to experience another beautiful sunrise, have another wonderful day with friends and share the hope and promise of the open road in our Healeys.
If you would like to see an excellent short video of our day, check out Clay Kaytis’ post at https://www.instagram.com/reel/Ddzbb6DSX_1/?cplk=MTlyYXhia3B1czZyeA==.
Thanks again to Clay for all he does to put our club out there for all to enjoy!