Spring 2007 POC meet in California

[TodFitch]

On line registrations can now be made for the POC National Meet in Santa Maria, California to be held next spring. If you are a member of the national club you should be able to use the "guest login" to access the registration page.

The web site is http://goldenstate.ply33.com/

Yours truly is the support person for that web site so if you have any issues logging in or using the registration page please let me know.

The region will be hosting a event for modified cars simultaneously in an adjacent area. That will be considered a "region" event (even though we will not limit entries to region members) and is not sanctioned by the national club.

[JohnS48plm]

The spring meet sounds like fun. I don't think I'll have my new engine rebuilt by then. It would be a long ride out from Michigan. Some of the Detroit region members were thinking about going. If I don't make it I'll be at the summer meet in North Carolina.

[Normspeed]

Bob Amos mentioned this to me, it sounds like a fun event and a fun group. Santa Maria, how far up the coast is that?

[bob_amos]

Norm, We will be caravaning up there so if you want, you can come along. Santa Maria is about 4 hours north of Los Angeles. (By modern car anyway.) But our trip up will be at a much more easy pace. Many of us will be going a day or 2 prior to the event with some leaving the day before the event. As it gets closer the plans will become much more clear as to the travle times.

Yes, it is going to be a great time for Plymouth lovers. After all, it is the National's main event and what better place than the central coast of the Golden State? You just can't beat a trip to California. And... the central coast is the most beautiful part of this state. (Now.. does that sound like a commercial or what? )

[TodFitch]

Bob Amos mentioned this to me, it sounds like a fun event and a fun group. Santa Maria, how far up the coast is that?

Well, its about 300 miles down the coast for me.

I believe that Santa Maria is in the northern part of Santa Barbara County. On the other hand it might just make it into the southern part of San Luis Obispo County. If I add the numbers on the map it looks like it is 65 miles north of Santa Barbara.

[David Maxwell]

Santa Maria is in North Santa Barbara County. Not much of a drive for me (about 4 miles to the Santa Maria Inn). It's pretty hard to beat the CA Central Coast. Within an hour in any direction, you have access to: Award winning wineries, The Chumash Casino, Historic Missions (four of them), Solvang (authentic Danish community), beautiful Santa Barbara with many site seeing opps, Whale watching, PGA golf courses, lake and deep sea fishing, Hearst Castle, etc. etc. Very close to Santa Maria are historic communities: Guadalupe, Los Alamos, Halcyon, Pismo Beach, and Old Town Arroyo Grande. In these towns you will find well preserved architecture from the mid to late 1800's and world famous dining at restaurants such as The Far Western and the Hitching Post (featured in the movie Sideways). Currently, the latest Pirates of the Caribbean movie with Johnny Depp is being filmed at Guadalupe Beach. Johnny Depp was served by one of my students at the Far Western and, I'm told Johnny stayed at the Santa Maria Inn along with his co-stars in the movie. The Santa Maria Inn is the mid-way point between Hollywood and Hearst Castle. During the 1930's through the 1960's, it was the favorite stopover for Hollywood stars on their way to visit the castle. Guests included Charlie Chaplin, Errol Flynn, Doris Day, John Wayne etc. Many were regular guests who had favorite rooms which are identified with name plaques on the doors. If you're traveling from out of state, you can easily tie in a family trip to Disneyland, Magic Mountain, Universal Studios, Hollywood, or numerous other famous destinations in Southern CA.

Next door to the Inn is Santa Maria High School which was built in 1922. We have reserved the Ethel Pope auditorium for the event along with the front lawns and auditorium parking lot. So there should be plenty of well protected space for all participants. And NOBODY beats Central Coast weather!

NOW THAT'S A COMMERCIAL BOB!! LOL!

[David Maxwell]

...our club meet in the Santa Maria area. Ya'll need to make it out here!

Here's the URL to the image if you want to see a higher res version:

http://smg.photobucket.com/albums/v455/bojeta/Graphics%20Projects/?action=view&current=Wine-tour2.jpg

[blueskies]

Thinking about the trip, Bill Ward of www.oldplymouths.com has invited me to join his group for the drive to CA. I think I have a conflict though, my son's kindergarten graduation... can't be missed

Looks like it's going to be a great event.

Pete

[bob_amos]

WOW David!!! It sure looks like we made the right choice making you the president of the Golden State Region. Boy, when you get going you sure do it up right!!! Mine was a commecial yours was a complete episode.... LOL.. Good job. Now, let's hope that we have convinced some of these great guys here to come out and just have the times of their lives... Trust us on this one guys... If you can, in any way, make it to the central California coast next May, there is no way possible that you won't enjoy every single minute of your time spent there. California's best. (No, I don't live there, I am from So. Cal. But 'lived there:D back in the late '70s and wish I had never left.)

[Normspeed]

It's nice to see the "modified" cars being accepted, even as a slightly separate event. How is registration going to work? Looks like you need to join the national club and also the local chapter, to be able to register...does that apply for the modifieds as well?

[David Maxwell]

Since the National POC organization is not recognizing the "modifieds", I don't see why we would need to have people joining either organization. I would hope that those attending in the modified class would have such a great time that they would want to join. I will have to confer with the others on the reg issue though. Not sure if it presents an insurance problem or not.

[bob_amos]

Good point David. Margie & I will get the clubs policy out and have a look into this. I can say that the National will probably not cover it but we are also using our policy as a second safety net, so to speak, and we are not totally sure what is covered and what is not. We will let you know.

[Normspeed]

Thanx folks. Actually, if my schedule works ok I might consider towing the teardrop up, camping locally overnight and just enjoying viewing the POC cars at the judging.

[bob_amos]

Norm, Let me check on the insurance issue. We would love having you show your car a tear drop. But... I intend to interest you in joining the club before that. LOL... You really should. You would be a perfect match with the members. You would fit right in.

[Don Coatney]

The region will be hosting a event for modified cars simultaneously in an adjacent area. That will be considered a "region" event (even though we will not limit entries to region members) and is not sanctioned by the national club.

Out of curiosity just where is the sand line drawn splitting stock and modified? Also who is the artist (or group of artists) who draw the line? This is one of those issues that is a bit gray (not black and white) in my thinking. Just how many "unauthorized field modifications" are allowed before one crosses the line? I think I would feel put out if I drove my Plymouth to such a meet and than had to park out back and not with my friends.

[David Maxwell]

Not at all. While we need to keep them seperated to satisfy the National POC, the seperation will be minimal. I will be posting a diagram of the event layout soon. I'll send it to Tod so that he can add it to the GSR site, and I will post a copy here as well. Since our event will be covering two blocks of Broadway, we can simply have the mods on one block and the stocks on the other. Spectators will not even realize there is a seperation as the continuity of the event will not be effected by this. It will pretty much look like any large car show you've ever been to.

[Tony Cipponeri]

Hi Don, I can only speak for myself as to where the line is drawn, I am entering my 50 coupe in the POC national show. my car is not fully stock at all but I just want to see how it will do. Your car would have points deducted for the dual carbs, split manifold, engine swap etc. Tony

[David Maxwell]

Areas in green are lawn that we have access to.

Blue areas are parking lots we have reserved.

Red are the buildings: SM INN and the Auditorium we have reserved at the high school. My current thoughts are that the modifieds would be located on the high school lawn area. That actually gives them closer proximity to the awards ceremony in the auditorium.

[David Maxwell]

All awards will be the same. We will have several classes within the mods and the trophies will be just like the regular except for any mention of the national POC. They will however say "Golden State Region National Spring Meet". All awards including mods will be presented at the awards ceremony in Ethel Pope Auditorium. We are going to make sure that people entering with mods feel every bit as welcome as the stock cars and are able to participate fully in all activities. They will be at least as visible for viewing (possibly more so as the map should indicate). Also, the Santa Maria HS FFA (Future Farmers of America) will most likely be holding one of their awesome Tri-Tip BBQs in the lawn area! Good stuff!!

[Don Coatney]

David and Tony;

Thanks for the response. I fully understand that my car with a Desoto engine, dual carburetors, etc. is modified. However I still have a question. If someone replaces the original trunk rubber mat with carpet is his car now classified as "modified"? Where is the line in the sand drawn and whom makes that call?

[bob_amos]

Guys, always remember that this is going to be taking place in California. Us californians absolutely love cars. Be they stock or modified. The general public actually tend to migrate towards the modified vehicles at most of the car shows that I have attended. So... you guys with non stock cars will not at all feel like the bad stepchild.

[Normspeed]

Don, I'd think the line on what is modified is probably laid out in the judging rules. From what I've heard they are really detailed, down to specific paint colors for parts, stuff like that. Maybe after a certain number of points lost for mods, the car would be considered not judgeable by the rulebook. I think the modified class will be unique to the west coast club. I appreciate Tod, Bob and the rest of the folks for their open-mindedness on it, and for having the cojones to take the step.

Mine would for sure be called a modified, although some of the mods just took place as part of being a driver vehicle and a work vehicle since new. One little mod that I would never part with, is this sliding window latch. Note the rubber part. Someone over the years added what looks like a faucet washer, probably to prevent a rattle. Car was bought new in Santa Monica and owned by 2 sisters who had rental properties in L.A. and it was their utility vehicle.

[David Maxwell]

Don, to answer your question, you should refer to the POC guidelines for judging. I believe they are posted on the POC site. Anyone can enter the "stock" class with any Plymouth. However, in the stock class, points would be deducted for any variation from stock including carpet in the trunk. If someone's worried about their trunk carpet, for $20 or less, they can purchase the original "crows feet" matting and cut it to fit. I did. Lebaron Bonney carries it, as do others (item TL-23). I think any small variance can be easily fixed before May if a person wants to enter the stock field. If the variance is greater, they probably would want to enter the modified class anyhow.

I know some people have a real problem with the POC's strict guidlines, but I personally appreciate them for what they are; an organization comitted to preserving Plymouths through emphasizing authentic restorations. That doesn't mean your modified cars will not be welcome at our event. As I said before, mods will receive equal billing and appreciation at our event. WE LOVE `EM ALL!! Cruise on down Don. It's a short litte jaunt for a saavy raod tripper like you. Besides, you'll get to revisit much of Route 66 along the way!

[David Maxwell]

How about some of you guys with mods come up with a list of reasonable classes for mods. For example: 1. Mild Mod 2. Retro Rod, 3. Custom etc. Just give me the parameters and I run the classes by the group. Remember, we want to be INCLUSIVE not EXCLUSIVE. This is all about having a GREAT TIME!! Bring on the ideas. We'll make this fun for everyone.

[Normspeed]

I hope to attend, my work schedule rules on that one, too early to tell. For myself, I'm not one who enters for awards though that's fun too.

At some specialty meets like L.A. Roadsters, only roadsters 36 and older with finished paint jobs can be entered. What they do is have a "specialty parking" area which is every bit as good as the inside show, but no rules, no judging, and some people picnic and schmooze at their cars. That would work for me.

On judging classes, maybe include a "survivor" class, sort of original but with patina and provenance (wow, someone's been watching antiques road show).

Robert Smith's P15 would be perfect in a class like that.

Other than that, I'd say the fewer fine groupings the better. Since it's the POC, maybe a general Chrysler products category for Dodges, DeSotos, Chryslers, Power Wagons. Categories for Custom, rod, mongrel (Ford or Chevy power). Just kidding.