It was a clear and sunny Saturday morning and our Healey group gathered about 7;15am for the Monrovia Street Rods Forever Car Show. This year’s theme was the 100th Anniversary of Route 66! George Merino’s “Guy”, Mark, reserved a premium spot for us on Colorado Blvd., east of Myrtle Ave, for our 6 Big Healey’s, Monica’s bugeye Sprite and Phil Caliva’s two trucks (his new Dodge Hump Back and the Ford pickup driven by his nephew, Ryun) to all park together.
This annual show always has beautiful custom hot rods, Rat rods and of course our beautiful Austin Healey’s; but mostly exquisite American muscle cars – from the 30’s up to 70’s.
Conversations varied from this year’s Christmas party to the upcoming 75th Anniversary in Lake Tahoe, a new Beatles documentary coming soon per Tim who was spinning the Beatles on his CD player. Peter Roses was figuring out his overheating issue; Monica had some interested fans and happily displayed her Bugeyes engine bay.
John had a wonderful story about his parent's daily- driver Healey which was stolen in minutes from a work place parking lot and never recovered. His mother, in her later years kept asking for her Healey, so John and his wife started a wide search for a similar car. They found one in Pennsylvania, flew out and purchased it and shipped it home. His current white Healey is that car and he was able to share with her some lasting memories by taking her for drives before her passing. Which shows how our Healey’s are truly family members.
The day eventually got warmer, and a few of us were able to take advantage of the FREE ice cream being handed out by the Good Humor truck to all, first come first served fans! As the judges came around to our area, Phil pointed out that one of our Healey’s was selected as a winner. Tim and Monica were able to take some pictures of our trophy celebration! Those in attendance: Monica Lago-Kaytis, Tim McNiff, Dan O'Neill, John Hamo, Peter Roses, George Merino, Phil and Nancy Caliva and Dan Burrola. Phil and Nancy's nephew Ryun and Ryuns Navy training buddy Mike also spent the day with us.