by Bill Hallier

Monterey Spring Fling Epic

Story by Lionel Neff Photos by Bill Hallier

This epic, three-day adventure started with unbridled anticipation on Tuesday morning, March 22, 2022. At 8:30 a.m. our group of intrepid Porsche drivers and their partners started congregating in the parking lot adjacent to The Habit Burger Grill in Santa Barbara. The Porsches were divided into two groups: I led the first group and the second was led by the distinguished Nicholas Liakas. By 9:15 all participants had arrived; the pre-ride messages were delivered and at 9:30 everyone was in their cars, lined-up with motors revving, and ready to go.

Our drive took us over Highway 154 out of Santa Barbara for 33 miles, at which point we merged onto US 101 North where we continued until mile marker 118 and exited the highway at Spring Street in Paso Robles. A few blocks on brought us to our delightful lunch stop at the Paso Market Walk. This is an enclave of various restaurants and shops that form a semicircle around a courtyard of shade trees, picnic tables, and umbrellas. It is a wonderful venue to enjoy with good friends a midday repast of fine gastronomical delights.

Following lunch, the adventure continued once we got back on the 101. At route mile marker 160 we exited and headed east on Highway 198 where a series of curves whet our appetites for what was to come. At route mile marker 175 we made a left turn onto the vast and pristine California State Route 25, known to locals as Airline Highway. The road garnered its name from early pilots using the road as a navigation aid while flying over Central California towns. The drive on SR 25 is a scenic delight replete with open ranch land, farms, and vineyards. The road is a delightful combination of tight 15-, 20-, and 30-mph curves mixed in with wide sweepers and long straightaways. It’s impossible to be bored on this thrilling road. I am pleased that while the drive was frisky there were no incidents or accidents to report. However, the smiles at the end were hard to remove.

Toward the end of our romp over SR 25 and just below Hollister, our route had us turning onto Union Street to SR 156, which serves as a primary route from the Monterey Peninsula to either the San Francisco Bay Area or the Central Valley. Our band of Porsches continued by heading west on SR 156 until its intersection with the 101 South where we continued until SR 156 again appeared as the continued route to the Monterey Peninsula. We stayed on Highway 1 and exited at Del Monte Avenue to Lighthouse Avenue and then to Foam Street, where the Victorian Inn awaited us with safe underground parking, an expedited check-in, and a wine and cheese greeting. All in all, the drive was terrific and everyone arrived filled to overflowing with the excitement of the drive.

Opposite top: Monterey Bay at sunset, as viewed from our tables at the first evening's restaurant. Opposite bottom: The Santa Barbara starting place Top left: Early in the drive on Highway 154. Top right: Lunch gathering at Paso Market Walk. Middle: The open fields along Highway 25. Bottom: Wine and cheese reception at the hotel on the first afternoon.

At 6:15 p.m. our group gathered for a short walk down the hill to the Monterey Embarcadero, also known as the Old Fisherman’s Wharf. Within a few blocks we arrived at the Fish Hopper, our dining venue for the evening. Our collection of vagabonds was courteously led to our awaiting tables overlooking Monterey Bay in time to occasion the sunset spectacle.

Our meal choices were all sumptuously delicious. Portions were as generous and genuine as was the loud din of laughter, conversation, and clinking plates and glasses. There was evident the collective sigh of satisfaction for a day well spent with nothing deserving criticism (for which I was happy).

The next morning, we were greeted at the hotel dining room with a wonderful breakfast of omelets, sausages, various baked goods, coffee, and juices, after which we gathered in the underground garage for the pre-ride talk. Then off we went to our primary focus point, the famous Canepa showroom, museum, and workshop located in Scotts Valley, a mere 40 miles distant. Rod Hersberger, our distinguished club president, had arranged with the people at Canepa for our visit. Little did we know what awaited us. When we arrived, we were guided into the showroom with hopes to visit the upstairs museum in due course. However, unbeknownst to us—and absent any plan—the man, the myth, the legend, Bruce Canepa himself made an appearance and graciously greeted us. Bruce spellbindingly held our attention with stories of his life’s experiences, everything there is to know about Porsches, and insights to his restoration and sales business. No sooner did Bruce finish with us the serendipitous former partner Sean showed up to spend more hours filling our heads to overflowing with every detail and nuance of each celebrated vehicle in the museum, followed by a rare and up-close excursion through the prodigious custom workshop. It was a day to celebrate and never forget.

We left Canepa with our souls rejoicing in the grandeur of the day. However, it was lunchtime and for most of the group a stop in Moss Landing at Phil’s Fish Market and Eatery was in order. We arrived at Phil’s in good stead and waited our turn in line to place our lunch orders from the myriad of choices. With appetites satiated, we headed back home to the Victorian Inn in time for another cheese and wine celebration. It was a free evening and many paired up with others to enjoy a relaxing evening.

Top left: President Rod delivering remarks and thanks at the Fish Hopper, our first night's dinner restaurant. Top right: Canepa building with the showroom on the lower level, museum upstairs, and restoration workshop behind. Lower right: Three amigos: trip organizer and author Lionel Neff, President Rod Hersberger, and Bruce Canepa (l to r).

The next morning marked the end of our not-to-beforgotten Monterey adventure. The various drivers chose to either head straight down the 101 toward home or take the leisurely, more scenic ride on CA-1 through Big Sur (see the back two pages for a stunning view along the rugged coast). All in all, it was a wondrous trip filled with great memories with new and old friends to recall together when but a distant Porsche Club memory.

I want to thank all the individuals who unselfishly contributed to the success of this extraordinary event. Art and Doreen Shinn, Rod Hersberger, Nicholas Liakas, Tracy Hunter (events manager at the Victorian Inn), Rachael Dominquez (events manager at The Fish Hopper), and last, but not least, my wife Dori, who endured my overtures while formulating this event and held on tightly through all the curves with nary a complaint.

Lionel Neff has been a member of PCA since 2020. Along with Art Shinn, he is SBR's Activities Co-chair. Lionel drives a 2017 911 Turbo in GT Silver.

Top left: Bruce Canepa addressing the gathering. Top right: The showroom floor, with a 1969 917 featured here. Middle left: Overview of part of the workshop. Lower right: Part of the storeroom with cars awaiting restoration, and the stacks with cars in the permanent collection or stored for customers.

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Aloha Breakfast

Story by Steve Doll Photos by Dennis Power

Another group of Porsche club enthusiasts gathered on top of the Ventura Pier parking structure on Saturday, March 19, 2022. Twenty-two Porsches and 34 people were in attendance. The weather for this outing was more overcast than our first visit back in December. The multiple colors of the Porsches brightened up the cement structure, lined up side by side, providing a history with the old and new cars mixed together.

Aloha Steakhouse once again opened up early just for the club and provided a scrumptious buffet. Old friends and new friends enjoying a post-Covid gathering was enjoyable to see. Interrupting great conversation, Vice President Steve Doll greeted everyone and introduced our Activities Co-chair Art Shinn who updated us on the many upcoming drives and events.

I hope you can make it to the next Aloha breakfast!

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