So-Cal at the Petersen Museum

Today was the Grand Opening of the new So-Cal Speed Shop gift and clothing store at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles.

Pete and Alex were greeting guests and signing autographs.

Jimmy Shine's pick-up truck sat in the center of the store. The Jimmy Shine apparel was on sale with all of the cool So-Cal shirts and jackets. My black hoodie is my favorite.

Here's some video of the store.

I went with Rondi and Neil, arrived at noon. Everyone was there - all of the friends, employees and families of So-Cal, along with the press, artists and enthuiasts. The store is fabulous! I bought a t-shirt, "So-Cal at the Petersen".


It was also the unveiling of Billy Gibbon's T-Bird, built by So-Cal.


Johnny Rockets (the original hamburger) is new to the Petersen and also had it's Grand Opening today. They rolled back the prices to 1986. I wondered why I got a brownie sundae for only $2.15.

Then.... they danced to Donna Summer's 'Last Dance'. Great hamburgers and a show.

On the way home, Neil drove us on the scenic tour of Los Angeles. I had the Thomas Guide, from the back seat, and directed us through Silver Lake and Echo Park to the 2 Freeway, through Glendale, Pasadena and home. Neil knew where he was, I just like to read maps.

Carl was at the Reno Air Races, so he missed the fun here.

That's all for today. Kathy

Kathy be Illin..

I was testing my Web Cam. I just missed the MTV Video Awards.

Turn it UP!

Las Vegas Weekend

Carl and I, and Mike and Lynne Kuhl, hit the road to Las Vegas on Friday morning, at 8:30 promptly. We were there in time for a fabulous lunch at Famous Dave's BBQ restaurant. We checked in at Harrah's Hotel and Casino and immediately hit the slot machines. I quickly gave my $20 donation to 4 different penny machines, and then I didn't have to worry about gambling any more. Besides people still smoke in the casinos and I could barely breath.

About the time my St. Louis Style ribs had digested we made our way to the Harrah's buffet. Instead of starting with the salad like most folks, I walked the mile long length of the buffet to check out the entire offerings, first. There was a salad bar, then the fried stuff; fish, chicken, etc. There were about 4 or 5 different Italian choices, including several types of pizza. Then there was the Mexican food area, then the Prime Rib and Turkey breast being carved to order. Then came the Chinese food and that's where I started. Fried rice, sauteed vegetables, sweet and sour chicken, lo-mein noodles. All very yummy!

Carl, Mike and Lynn started with salads - they are so proper. Next I went directly to the beef. Prime Rib, and some Brazil BBQ beef, a mini baked potato and some broccoli. OK I'm full. So I waited for the guys to finish their second plates before we all hit the DESSERT bar. Somewhere between Beef and Dessert, Lynn disappeared to the casino. I didn't overdo it too much on the dessert, the best thing were these little cream puffs you can pop in your mouth. OK no more food.

Being extremely full, Carl and I decided we needed to walk off some of that food. Mike and Lynn stayed behind in the casino at Harrah's. I wanted to see the Wynn Hotel and Carl hadn't been to the Venetian, so we went to both. The Venetian was right next door to our hotel. You don't cross streets anymore on the strip, you take an escalator up and over to the next hotel.

We started at Madame Toussaud's Wax Gallery. Justin Timberlake was kind enough to hold still while I posed with him.

The Blue Man Group was there too.

Carl and the Rock were comparing belt buckles.

We stood on a balcony at the Venetian and looked out at the volcano eruption show going on at the Mirage across the street. This town was so busy with people everywhere and it was still early in the evening.

We walked through the Venetian and saw the shops and restaurants, there were canals with gondolas and singing gondola drivers.

This is a little video inside the Venetian.

The Wynn Hotel is so beautiful. The floors, the ceilings, the lights and especially the people. They are all decked out with their really expensive clothes and purses. Not as many people in here because the bid minimum on a Blackjack table is $1,500.00 dollars. That clears out the riff-raff right away.

This picture is of a water show outside this huge window. Two lighted balls floated on the water to music and lights. Pretty amazing.

I am amazed by the craziest things, check out this escalator.

I was in love with the mosiac floors there. The most beautiful floor I have ever seen.

Some floor video.

The new Steve Wynn hotel Encore is peeking out from behind the Wynn Las Vegas.

On Saturday morning we drove to Boulder City for breakfast at "The Cup", a little local restaurant/diner with extremely great food. The place was packed. After that we headed to Lake Mead and Hoover Dam.

They say the water level is down around 35 feet, but Mike and Carl have decided it's really 100 feet down.

A view from on top of the dam looking at the water level.

Me with Lynn and Mike. It was bloody HOT! Us girls headed back to the Navigator, pronto.

Carl, Lynn and Mike. The guys stayed and BS's with some Auzzies they met.

On Saturday evening we went to Fat's and Carol's party. So much great food prepared by Fats, smoked meats and salads, and apple cobbler. We had such a nice time visiting with the other party goers. Carl was holding court, the entire racing team was there and they were reminiscing about their antics in the good old days. Lynn and I watched the USC - Ohio State game with a room full of guys. It was too hot outside for me. 105 during the day. About 85 at night.

Sunday morning we hit the road by 7:30, stopped for brunch, home by noon.

Thank you Mike and Lynn and Fats and Carol, we had a wonderful weekend.

Labor Day Weekend

On Sunday we held a block party on Oriole Avenue. So, I baked a cake and some cupcakes. Only the cupcakes made it to the party. The lemon bundt cake stayed home.

I went to Sam's Club to get some ice for the party and came back with Mr. Turtle, Mexican pottery.

Teresa and I enjoying a beer to get the party rolling.

We had 8 tables for eating and 3 tables full of food. It was a pot luck dinner and all of the neighboring streets were invited. Everyone brought out their tables and chairs. I just happen to have at least twenty or so table covers from past parties. People brought salads, meats, desserts, chips, rice, beans, vegetables... there was hardly enough room on the tables for all the food. I thought that there is no way all of this food would get eaten, but to my surprise, there was only a tiny bit left at the end of the night.

Jesse was the hamburger chef. There were 3 BBQ's going at once, with hot dogs, sausages and burgers.

Our neighbor, Rich, has a brick pizza oven in his backyard and made the best vege pizzas.

There must be 20 kids on our block all under the age of 10, at least it seems like 20. Neighbor, Courtney, was kind enough to handle the rental of a bounce house for the kids, which turned out to be a great investment for all. That thing was always full.

I didn't take a head count, but there had to be over 70 people at the party.

Luckily the weather turned a bit cooler just in time, probably around 78, instead of the 90 degree evenings we've been having.

The vegetarian conspiracy. Teresa and Rich.

Today is Monday and Mr. Turtle got planted.

All for now, Oh yes, I almost forgot, the only thing missing was Shannon.

You would have loved it and would have been a big help, I'm sure.

Kathy

Lunch at the Little Onion

My plan for Wednesday was to drive south to Santa Ana and join my dad and the guys for lunch. Wednesday = The Little Onion and they leave the shop at 11:00 AM on the dot. Reason being that the restaurant fills up by 11:30. On Tuesday I thought that Peter (Peter Thompson, Shannon's former employer from NZ, and our good friend) might like to join us if he was free that afternoon, so I emailed him the invite. He emailed me back; he would be there. If you click on the pictures they enlarge really big. Good to see some details in the backgrounds.

Art, Pete and Phill-the-Painter at the Little Onion


After lunch, I gave Pete the shop tours, Full-Bore, CARS, Squeaks and Miracle Design. Pete was very interested in dad's button making machine. This was his first time to Art's shop, so he received the personal tour.


Greg gave Art some "Trophy Girl" display pictures after the exhibit closed at the museum.


Motor talk.

More motor talk.

I wanted some good pictures of art for a portrait that Shannon is doing. This one won't be used.

A friend sent Art a 1952 Hot Rod Magazine with the story of the Beast III, Art's ride into the Bonneville 200 MPH Club. The car is being restored by Mark Brinker.

Here is a little video. I always have to include video.


We drove down the street to Miracle Design, Phill Whetstone's custom paint and pinstriping business. This is Phill's new '32 roadster. He put 2000 miles on it in the last 2 weeks, going to Pleasanton and Yosemite. The car is beautiful, what else would you expect?

Phill and Peter.

The paint.

So I said good-bye to the guys and headed back up North to La Verne. The huge cloud in the distance is the FIRE which is still going strong and has burned over 140,000 acres of land.

I had to make a stop on the way home at the NHRA Museum. I need to take a picture of the #25 car of Arts.

Here are some of Shannon's California Hot Rod Reunion portraits of the Honorees for 2003. This was the very first year she did them and is still doing them to date. She finished the 2009 Honoree portraits while she was visiting us here for 3 months during the Summer.

I was working at the Museum back then and Greg needed to find an artist so he asked me if Shannon draws portraits. I told him that she once drew a beautiful portrait of a horse, and I brought the drawing in for him to see. He gave me the picture of Bruce Geisler and said take this to Shannon and see what she can do. He loved it and said she has the job.

Like I said, I came to get a picture of the 25 car. Well that was not going to happen because it is in line with other race cars and I need a distance shot.

So I went upstairs to visit Greg Sharp, knowing that he would have photos of the car. When I got to the top of the stairs in the office, what to you know? Jim Travis sitting there talking to Greg and Rosebud. I got the usual warm welcome from Greg - something like Oh No not You! Poor Greg, when I show up it's usually because I want something, and I did.

First off I asked him if he could go downstairs and move those race cars out of the way so that I can get a good shot of the 25 car. He laughed and told me to ask Wayne to do that. I suggested that if he might have a photo that I could borrow, then we wouldn't need to move the cars (NOT THAT THOSE CARS WOULD REALLY BE MOVED AT MY REQUEST!)

I followed him into his office, so did Jim Travis. Within 1 minute Greg pulled out the magical folder with about 15 pictures of the car for me to choose one. He said "We have a love/hate relationship, don't we?" It's love right now Greg, thank you for helping.

Then the 3 of us shot-the-breeze for about a half hour. There is always so much to talk about especially when you're talking racing with the old-guys.

Thanks for reading my blog everyone or everytwo of you.

And... Thank you Pete for joining us and for taking the art supplies to Shannon.

Kathy

PS - Carl was fishing and caught his limit + We're having fish for dinner.