The California Roadsters (CRs) kicked off the roadster crusin year (May 14-17) by making our annual journey to San Luis Obispo (SLO), which is affectionately called the SLO Run.  The weather was perfect as the two roadster groups headed north from LA/OC Counties to the first rendezvous destination, being a lunch date at the Beach Village on a bluff overlooking the Pacific Ocean in Carpenteria.  The northerly group slugged it out in bumper to bumper traffic along Highway 101, while the southerly group took the longer run up Highway 1 enjoying the Ocean view.
          Unfortunately, we lost our elder statesman Bernie Couch, on the way up with an overheating problem and likely water pump issue.  He and his son-in-law Sheriff Mike had to flatbed it back to the OC to pick up a grocery getter, meeting up with the gang that night.  After a great lunch; which had Mad Max making a run all the way from the Carmel Valley to join us; we made an uphill sprint to The Peachtree Inn, our home away from home in SLO.  Along with our roadster buddies from the Bay Area Roadsters (BAR), we took all the rooms at the Peachtree with spill over into neighboring motels.  We had record attendance this year with about 45 roadsters signed up for the extended weekend, including CR, BAR, and a few SLO Roadsters and Valley Roadsters.  After getting settled in, most spent a casual evening in downtown SLO and grabbed a bite at the street fair.
          Friday morning, we were off on the first run of the weekend, billed by Sherm Porter, our pal from the SLO Roadsters, as the Living Legends Tour.  After a run north on Highway 101, and some back country roads through Paso Robles, we arrived via a dirt road into the Sculpterra Winery and Vineyards for a tour of their fantastic sculpture gardens and, of course, some wine.  Sherm then lead us to the private museum of Antique Aero at the Paso Robles Airport, for viewing of some legendary French and American war birds from World Wars I and II, and a casual lunch.  Chuck Wentworth, a former stunt pilot and actor (Google him), is the curator of the museum and gave us a tour and imparted his knowledge about the antique aircraft owned by a very wealthy, unnamed Mexican National.  Sherm spoke after lunch explaining the meaning of the term Living Legends Tour, explaining that it was due to those in attendance, including Bob D'Olivio, former director of photography for Peterson Publications, Dean Murray, owner of the Waters & Murray drag roadster (which was on display), and of course some of our very own roadster buddies, including Jerry Kugel, Don Prieto, Andy & Roy Brizio, Steve Moal and other notables I can't remember.  CR President Jim St. Martin also said a few words thanking Sherm for his repeated efforts planning the annual SLO Run and recognizing him for an outstanding effort.  The afternoon was left open with some of us visiting the Tobin James Winery, just up Highway 46, with a unique saloon style tasting room and a very friendly atmosphere shared by a large crowd.  Also, some very good wines that parted some of us from a few hard earned bucks.  That evening was kicked off by one of our famous deck parties back at the Peachtree followed by a pizza party.
          On Saturday morning we once again followed Sherm to the beautiful Edna Valley, arriving at the estate of Jim and Carlen Eckford.  This long-term construction project, costing over $11M was nearing completion, due to the hard work of Mike Boyack, SLO Roadsters, acting as general contractor.  The incredible contemporary architecture of their large single-story home overlooking a private lake and two-story custom barn housing a few toys, including: a track T roadster, Porsche Carerra GT and a 1934 Ford Tudor under construction which will ultimately be powered by a blown flatmotor that Doug Lindow got all excited over.  We were told that their two Mammoth Donkeys were not mules. 
          From the Eckford's, we headed back into SLO to the Jack Dewar's Autobilia Museum.  Jack had moved out his collection of A bangers to make room for an incredible BBQ lunch catered by Raymond Cattaneo BBQ.  Mr. Dan Eames was also on hand, being the retired head of Ford Motor Company's Performance/Racing Division.  He told his incredible story of an 80 Day Around the World trip, actually 106 days, in a 1958 Ford Fairlane.  His presentation was complete with a short film and narration. 

          After lunch, a smaller group of roadsters proceeded to nearby Los Osos to view the collection of Lou and Brenda Steiner, with Tim Mattson being the coordinator for their fine collection of show cars and more.  Then it was back to the Peachtree deck for a bit of wine tasting.  The Mexican fiesta that night was catered by Taco Roco, a repeat catered enjoyed by everyone last year.

          Sunday morning came all too soon, with most in attendance saying that this was the best SLO Run ever, thanks to the planning and execution by Sherm, who says this is the last year he's going to make the effort.  The CRs are the host club for next year's SLO Run and we'll let Sherm rest for a couple of months before enlisting his help planning our run.  The camaraderie of the assembled roadster groups is just astounding, and every year that we head north and south, meeting in SLO is well worth the effort. We're sorry that some of our friends couldn't this year's run, but I bet they won't miss next year SLO Run.