Waltzing into the New Year

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Or for the less quick witted out there in Readerland- 12/31/23? 

OK, no my Resolutions for the New Year do NOT include anything about telling fewer or better jokes. In fact, in order to not disappoint myself, I don't make resolutions. I'll just keep on being the same delightful curmudgeon you've all come to know and love. 

Now,  down to Road Trippin' Business:

First, a MAJOR ANNOUNCEMENT!!!!

Constant Reader will recall we were "honored" to have received the "Worst of Show" award at the Concours d'LeMons last August. Well, in a follow up, the corrupt disorganizers held a nationwide poll to see which of the cars at their three events was the Worst of the Worst. Buy a WHOPPING 60% of the vote, The Yellow Submarine was the overwhelming WINNER! Yes, fellow nutjobs, it is confirmed...Your's Truley is Officially the Weirdest of the Weird! Someday, they may actually send me a "trophy" of some kind. Our thanks to those of you who voted for us...and remember...we know where most of you live. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hpv8wybHris

We also have a video of The Cruise on Youtube! Check it at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OLFADyHITHw

So, to continue...On New Year's Eve, when thoughts of Auld Lang Syne are ringing in one's ears, 

I never promised the humor would improve...

Let us do some Car Stuff. We had a triple-header lined up for the day, Carcadia (last Sunday of each month in Arcadia), The Horseless Carriage Drive Kick-Off Gathering, and the Cruise Colorado hijinx. 

Carcadia? Well, no one told us it was cancelled so we dutifully showed up at the obligatory Buttcrack of Dawn and some beverages and eats at the usual GotBucks Coffee place. I'd managed to coax Marianne to rise and "shine" and join me for this Triple Crown of Auto-topia, and we arrived to find an empty parking lot. Sigh. So, we ate, and woke up a bit. 

At least the sunrise was spectacular! From there, we tootled over to Santa Anita Park (not the racetrack...the park in Arcadia on Huntington Drive) for the Gathering. 

This is a yearly event and attracts the coolest Auld Stuff around. I'm talkin' Pre-War (as in The Great War) Cars as well as a fine assortment of others. The Drive is open only to cars earlier than the mid-30s and NO Hot Rods. The collection of really cool stuff is amazing. They set out on their own cruise through Pasadena and Altadena that's a bit of a challenge for cars and people. It's COLD on NYE in Pasadena! One year, I had the priviage of riding with Stan Lucas in his Crane-Simplex. A lovely old boat that pulled the Lake Ave. Hill in top gear...talkd about Low End Torque! 

Heres some of this years crop of Auld Crates: 

We even had The Yellow Submarine decked out with my annual Christmas Greeting...

All I can say about this car is "WELL!" 

LOW AND SLOW! 

Multipla!!! 

Neat little Wolsey! 

The height of luxury! 

One of Gary Wales beasts! 

The Bentley Boys showed up! 

A real Doozie! 

I'm sure you'll agree, an eclectic mix of marvelous machinery! 

From the Horseless folk, we made our way to Pasadena, in the lot next to what used to be Sears (the irony that the original Mail Order Giant was felled by the modern version...adapt or die) and the now annual Cruise Colorado. 

Now, it my mis-spent youth, it was of course THE thing to cruise up and down the Rose Parade Route, just because. We ALL did it. It just happened. We crept along, laughing at the freezing hoards until the PPD closed Colorado Blvd. at midnight. Guys would run open exhaust pipes and chirp tires knowing that the cops could do buggerall about it. 

Now, of course, it's more organized. Kinda. Lots of different car clubs and motorcycle guys will do it together. VWs are the most numerous, but there's a huge variety. And of course, there were two lonely Citroens. The Yellow Submarine, and Le Grand Charles' Grenouille-Cicle Mehari. Sadly, SOMEONE and his Slough-Built, right-hand drive, RNZAF blue Traction Avant felt that sleeping in was more important...puh. 

Anyway, here's some photos of the fun: 

Le Grand Charles et Tina

We even hit my old neighborhood! 

The Eternal, Quintessential Pasadena View.

A good time was had by all and I was thankful that years of bus driving made my left leg strong enough to creep through the traffic. We wound up the day at Lucky Baldwin's for a pint of Guinness and a Steak and Mushroom Pie. Just the right end to a great day.