Wednesday morning the Tour day began in Pacifica, California. Our evening at Sanderson Headers and Roy Brizio Street Rods was lots of fun but it was time to continue our trek to the NSRA Golden State Nationals. Pulling out and heading north we crossed the Golden Gate Bridge and made a brief stop at the vista point at the north end of the bridge. From this spot you get an incredible view of the skyline of San Francisco, the San Francisco Bay and the Golden Gate Bridge that we just traveled across. A few miles north of the bridge we cruised through the town of Petaluma where many of the scenes from American Graffiti were filmed.
Our destination for lunch time was the beautiful home of Glenda and Steve Castelli just north of Santa Rosa. Steve is a long time car guy and owns the yellow Hot Rod Willys that he has campaigned on the nostalgia drag racing circuit for many years. He also has amassed an incredible collection of automobilia and nostalgia items that has no rival. Gas station items, pedal cars, bicycles, and neon fill four building on the Castelli homestead. Glenda prepared a wonderful lunch for us and all of the Road Tourians appreciated the hospitality of Steve and Glenda Castelli.
It was a short drive to the hot rod shop of Vern Tardell. Vern is a guru when it comes to traditional hot rods and flathead motors. The shop was filled with project cars in progress and tons of vintage flathead parts, early speed equipment and great vintage tin. Vern took the time to show us around and talk to us about some of the cars that were in progress. It was very interesting to talk to a man that has been doing hot rods for over 25 years in a style that has just recently enjoyed such popularity.
From Vern Tardell's shop we made the trip south to the Santa Rosa location of Cotati Speed Shop. Owner Zane Cullen greeted us and gave us a personal tour of the facilities. There were a number of projects in the works and the metal work and fabrication was incredible. Flowmaster hosted supper at Cotati Speed and it was a great way to wrap up a very full day on the Sacramento vintage Ford Tour.
Thursday the time had come to get to Sacramento. We had been invited to stop by the huge retail store and warehouse of Sacramento Vintage Ford who is our Tour sponsor.
We were greeted by owner Darold Kohut and get a tour of the huge facilities. Sacramento Vintage Ford carries parts and accessories for Model T , Model A and Ford trucks. They also have a retail store that features a working diner and an amazing selection of hot rod parts and accessories. After the Tour we were treated to hot dogs and hamburgers served up by the Sacramento Vintage Ford staff.
From our visit at Sacramento Vintage Ford we headed to registration for the NSRA Golden State Nationals. It was a fun weekend at the Cal-Expo Center and over 1400 cars covered the fairgrounds. While the Golden State Nationals wrapped up the week on the road with the Sacramento Vintage Ford Tour many of the Road Tourians are continuing on and participating in the NHRA Wally Parks Museum Tour as we travel to the NHRA California Hot Rod Reunion in Bakersfield.
Check back here and we will give you all the updates from the road as the NHRA Museum Tour goes to Lake Tahoe, Reno, Yosemite, Fresno and ends at Famoso Raceway in Bakersfield.
Jerry Dixey