Cars & Coffee Irvine, Saturday Oct 4th.

[fiats2000]

SoCal Monthly Event - Cars and Coffee, Irvine (http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/viewtopic.php?f=16&t=4057#p27956)

http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/styles/Arrow/imageset/icon_post_target.gif (http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/viewtopic.php?p=27956#p27956)by socalx19 (http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/memberlist.php?mode=viewprofile&u=6973) on fiatspider.com on Sun Sep 07, 2008 2:37 pm
I would like to suggest a group gathering of FIATs/Lancias (any/all models) every 1st Saturday of the month at Irvine Cars and Coffee. This would be a standing event and is something that is not too intrusive on your Satuday as the show is from 7am to 9am. Following the show, we can caravan to a local breakfast spot or we can rotate and let a different person pick each month, using the 2 hours at the show to decide where http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/images/smilies/icon_mrgreen.gif. The person choosing can work it such that it's on their way home http://fiatspider.com:16080/f08/images/smilies/icon_razz.gif We can even incorporate a drive afterwards and all be home by Noon, or sooner, to deal with all the "honey-do's". The point here is to have something we know we can plan on going to at least once a month and not have to wait so long in between events. Note that there are a couple of choices here also, Village Coffee Roasters in Calabasas and for the hardcore C&C enthusiast - Las Vegas C&C. I have been to all 3 and think any would be a great time especially since it's fairly guaranteed we'd be the only FIATs in attendance (I usually am when I go solo).

In any case, here is the info on the Irvine meet:

Ford Motor Company
One Premier Place
Irvine, CA 92818-2922

From San Diego:
5 Freeway North, exit Alton Pkwy, turn left then first right.

From Los Angeles/Inland Empire:
5 Freeway South, exit Alton Pkwy, merge on Enterprise, turn left on Alton, right on Gateway.

From Long Beach:
405 Freeway South, exit Irvine Center Drive, turn left.

There is a coffee and food vendor in the parking lot and Ford also opens up their cafeteria offerring a full breakfast menu and clean restrooms.

The next few dates are:

10/4
11/1 - Day before France & Italy!
12/6
1/3 - Long Holiday weekend!

Keep in mind also that if we get enough of us we can request to be the "Featured Marque" and have our own corral, otherwise, I have cones to reserve parking spaces for us however, it is generally frowned upon if I leave them out for too long and people do not arrive.

Let me know what you think -

[1,6 HF]

I'd be interested, in general, although the location would make a big difference in how often I'd make it. I'll readily admit that it's not all about me and my convenience or perceptions, but here's how the difference between VCR (on Sundays) and C&C Irvine (on Saturdays) shakes out from my standpoint:

I do VCR at least 2-3 weekends a month, as it's just under 25 miles from me, and (except the last Sunday of the month) you can arrive at 7:30 or 8:00 and there are still spaces in the main lot. On the 'off Sundays' the quantity and quality of cars can vary, and there'd be no special "featured marque corral"--that simply doesn't exist at VCR, but there'd always be plenty of room for us to park as a group. It doesn't matter to me that there wouldn't be photographers to capture and post the event. For me, though, a big part of it is about the drive and, while most of the drive is on freeways, I go out over Laurel Canyon, and usually head back on Mulholland Drive, so at least the beginning and end of the drive is great. And the eponymous Village Coffee Roasters (VCR) has killer espresso & cappucino. An after-event drive means Mulholland Highway and the Malibu canyons, and maybe back on PCH. If we set this up at VCR, I'd be at virtually every one.

I've only done C&C in Irvine a couple of times, as it's over 50 miles from me, and the main lot seems to fill up by about 7:15, which means I'm running late if I leave the house at 6:30. The quality of cars is always good (judging from the posted weekly photos), and we could--maybe sometimes--be declared the "featured marque". And the usual event photographers would be there to record the procedings. For me, however, the drive to Irvine stinks; the entire 50 miles is on freeways--most of it incredibly boring stretches of freeway (yes, I know that sounds redundant). The coffee and food vendor in the parking lot is on par with the average high school football game. I'm not very familiar with the possible after-event drives, except to say that most of the area is rolling hills, which seems OK, but not up to the raw drama of the Malibu hills. If we set this up at C&C Irvine, I'd try to do maybe half of them.

Oh, and if it's in Las Vegas, I'd do it when California slides into the Pacific. I've seen the photos of those events; if I want to seen brand new Gallardos and Shelby Mustangs, I can cruise through Beverly Hills.

Anyway, those are my thoughts. YMMV.

[Will]

Ugh- did I read FORD DEALERSHIP?!?! Californians.......got 300 days of driving weather and meet at a FORD dealership!:D

Isn't there an Autosport International right there (junction of 5 and 405)? Damn guys, I mean c'mon! :)


OK, J/K, hope you guys have fun.

[1,6 HF]

Will,

The Saturday cruise-in used to take place at Crystal Cove, in a parking lot with a view of the Pacific. But it quickly outgrew that venue, so a couple of Ford employees "volunteered" the use of a parking lot shared between Ford and Mazda at their facilities in an office park in Irvine--it's not a dealership. You can check out the "Irvine Photos and Videos" thread under the "Forum" here: http://irvine.carsandcoffee.info/

The parking lot is pretty well landscaped, and is visually nicer than the lot at VCR, which is just a shopping center. But, for me, Irvine always has an 'Alphaville' feel about it and, as I said, the drive there is helllishly boring. Of course, for those who live in places like Newport Beach, Irvine is a drive through some pleasant hills, and VCR is 50 miles of freeways away. As I said--literally in this case--YMMV.

So your point is well taken--our options are really awful. This past Sunday, VCR had about 500 cars--everything from a Ford Model T pick-up to a alloy Ferrari 275 GTB to a handful of Cobras (1 or 2 of them actually real), as well as the usual vintage muscle, rods and classics, and the predictable new toys.

But tell us, Will, what are your better options for attending weekly cruise-ins on every Saturday and Sunday?

[Will]

Hey, don't ask me, I'm from the "right" coast. Besides, I'm too busy trying to figure out if I'll be able to afford to eat by next week. The bank went away, insurance on the house is getting dropped in three days, and,well, auto hobby is not first and forefront at the moment. It'll be a cold winter if we have to go live on the boat. :(

[SubGothius]

Hey, don't ask me, I'm from the "right" coast. Besides, I'm too busy trying to figure out if I'll be able to afford to eat by next week. The bank went away, insurance on the house is getting dropped in three days, and,well, auto hobby is not first and forefront at the moment. It'll be a cold winter if we have to go live on the boat. :(
Yow, man; hope the situation settles down for the best for you and yours! I'm sure it will, but the in-between stage where you don't even see the next stepping-stone yet while you're still feeling the last stone under your feet wobbling away, that's always an "interesting" time to live through!

May the road always rise to meet your tires, friend. ;)

[1,6 HF]

Hey, don't ask me, I'm from the "right" coast. Besides, I'm too busy trying to figure out if I'll be able to afford to eat by next week. The bank went away, insurance on the house is getting dropped in three days, and,well, auto hobby is not first and forefront at the moment. It'll be a cold winter if we have to go live on the boat. :(

Sincerely, good luck with all that.