2019 GOLDEN GATE AUSTIN HEALEY CLUB EVENT SCHEDULE
Includes non-GGAHC Major Healey Events and Club-recommended events
Indicates events sponsored by the Golden Gate Austin Healey Club.
The club is introducing some new stuff this year to encourage participation:
- The 100%er Club has been created to recognize club members that participate in ALL OFFICIAL CLUB ACTIVITIES. 100%er Club members will be recognized at the 2018 Christmas Party.
- The club is going to revive Club Member Name Badges but you MUST QUALIFY by participating in 5 official club events.
- An Annual Mileage Award will be presented at the 2018 Christmas Party to the club member that drives their Healey the most during the year. The Events Coordinator will record your odometer mileage at the first event you attend for the year.
2019 GGAHC EVENTS
June 22 – 23: Overnight Tour of Highway 49
What: Drive Highway 49 to discover the true gold of California. This drive starts modestly but ends with a big payoff!
The real drive begins by turning north onto the Golden Chain Highway (Highway 49) through the heart of The Mother Lode. From the start the drive is beautiful and historic. We’ll make a stop at Jamestown for lunch and a 45-minute ride on a steam train at Railtown 1897 State Historic Park ($15 per adult). Then we’ll head north through Sonora, Angels Camp, San Andreas, Mokelumne Hill, stopping for the night in Jackson. We’ll stay at The National Hotel (http://www.nationalhoteljackson.com/) at 2 Water St, Jackson, CA 95642. After dinner at Stanley’s Steakhouse we can visit the many quaint and historic shops in Old Town Jackson or you can just tuck-in for a quiet evening.
The National Hotel, Jackson, CA
You’re on your own for breakfast, but we’ll start pretty early (exact start time to be determined) and head north on Highway 49. We’ll drive through Gold Rush town after town (Sutter Creek, Drytown, Plymouth, Diamond Springs) until we get to Placerville where we’ll walk through the historic downtown. We may even walk through the oldest hardware store west of the Mississippi (maybe pick up a necessary tool for your not-so-old Healey). Back onto Highway 49 to nearby Coloma and the Marshall Gold Discovery Museum and Visitor Center (310 Back St., Coloma, CA 95613; $8/car) where the action really happened. We’ll walk the grounds and may see how lucky we are but don’t get your hopes up. The real winners of the Gold Rush were the merchants the peddled wares to the miners! We’ll grab lunch in Coloma and head north towards Auburn (it’ll be a Cool drive even in June heat). The drive officially ends at Auburn where we’ll meander past several historic and just plain weird landmarks taking memorable pictures – the last in front of Claude Chana (who’s Claude? Google it.) But…
If you’re up for an After Party, some of us will continue north on Highway 49 through Grass Valley and Nevada City heading east on Highway 20 through more gorgeous scenery to Yuba Pass where we’ll pick up Highway 80 again.
More info: Make National Hotel reservations at https://reservations.nationalhoteljackson.com/asp/IQHome.asp or by calling 209-223-0500. Make sure to indicate you’re with GGAHC in the Special Instructions on the reservation form or over the phone to get preferred room rates which are between $112.50 (for a Double) and $135 (King).
We’ll gather at the Starbucks in Modesto at 3801 Yosemite Blvd Suite 4, Modesto, CA 95357 at 9:30 AM, leaving at 10:00 SHARP. There are several nearby gas stations so please fill up before 9:30.
If you’re coming, Please RSVP to events.ggahc@gmail.com by June 16th.
July 6: Marin Car Show and Mt. Tamalpais Drive in Three Acts
View East from Mt Tam
What: Have you been fishing for new friends and opportunities to drive your Healey? Well this is your chance to reel into a shoot (the breeze) with some non-Healey folks.
Act 1: We’ll start the day by participating in the 3rd Annual Marin Rod & Gun Club Car Show and Fishing Derby (No, you don’t have to fish or cut bait). Gates for the free show open at 8:00 AM. The show is located at the Marin Rod & Gun Club at 2675 Francisco Blvd E, San Rafael, California 94901 right off the West end of the Richmond/San Rafael Bridge. Club member Darryl Groom is hosting the show and has a special Healey parking area laid out for us.
We’ll hang around the car show and fishing derby until 11:30 when we’ll drive out as a group for Act 2 – a scenic drive to Mt. Tamalpais, lead by club member Greg Cory. We’ll wind through Mill Valley to the top of the mountain where we’ll take a scenic and restroom break. No entrance fee, but there is an $8 parking fee (bring cash).
Act 3 is down the mountain to the Stinson turnoff and along the coast to the Pelican Inn (10 Pacific Way, Muir Beach, California 94965) for lunch (see the menu at www.pelicaninn.com/eat).
More info: Total mileage will only be about 35 miles and the drive time a bit over an hour, excluding break time but the view from the top of Tam should be spectacular (weather permitting – never can tell).
Please RSVP to greglcory@gmail.com by June 29th.
August 17: Napa County Drive and BBQ
What: A short drive from a sports car oriented winery to Club member Ken Nerlove’s Elkhorn Peak Winery for socializing and a BBQ.
More info: Coming!
August 25: National Ice Cream Social
What: These events have been a great way to show off our Healeys to the public and to socialize over ice cream. Bring your grandchildren and let them know what Healeys are all about. Be ‘sociable’ and show up for “National Ice Cream Social 2019”. If you RSVP to Len ahead of time, and show up with your Healey, you get a discount on ice cream! SAVE THE DATE!!
More info: RSVP if you are coming. Questions, comments, or RSVP, contact Len Hartnett, phone/fax 707-425-4805 or thehartnetts@earthlink.net
If you are new to the event or have not provided it before, please let Len know the year. make, model (AH, JH, NH, Sprite, etc) (MKx, Axx, Bxx where applicable).
Remember – no RSVP, no Healey, NO free Ice Cream. But come anyway to join fellow Healey owners in our annual ritual!!
September 14: Contra Costa County Backroads Drive
What: A backroads drive of Contra Costa County, including Port Costa and Port Chicago.
More info: Coming!
October 19: Lodi Wine Region Tour
What: The Lodi Wine Region was named Wine Region of the Year for 2015 by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. With 85+ Lodi wineries, Lodi wine country offers an amazing variety of tasting opportunities. We won’t visit them all in one day, but David Nock will lead us to his favorites.
Visitors will find Lodi wine tasting rooms large and small, brand new and decades old. Although variety is abundant, one constant remains: the Lodi wine experience. Visitors to Lodi wineries will often find themselves sipping Lodi wine with a fourth-or-fifth generation winemaker, who is passionate about his/her product.
Lodi has been growing winegrapes since the mid-1800s and today is the largest appellation in California with over 110,000 acres in production. Known for hearty Zinfandels, Lodi is also home to all of California’s leading varieties, and has long been the leading producer for Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay, Merlot, and Sauvignon Blanc. Today, Lodi produces over 100 different varieties and offers a vast portfolio of diverse wines.
More info: Coming!
November 9: Portola Valley Drive
What: A backroads drive of beautiful Portola Valley, San Mateo County.
More info: Coming!
December 8: Christmas Party
What: SAVE THE DATE!!!
More info: Coming!
2019 NON-GGAHC EVENTS
June 28 to 30: The Classic Motor Rally
What: The Classic Motor Rally is an annual celebration of classic cars. It is conducted over a summer weekend and the next one will begin in Wilsonville, Oregon. The destination of the 2019 edition is Cottage Grove, Oregon, at the southern end of the Willamette Valley, and the dates are June 28-30.
The event is organized around a traditional time-speed-distance rally and comprised of pre-1990 collector cars and their enthusiastic owners. We also offer the option to drive the event as a non-competitive tour in your favorite touring car of any vintage.
More info: Online at classicmotorrally.org.
June 30: Run to Kirigin Cellars
What: The Santa Cruz British Motorcar Club (SCBMC) invites all GGAHC members to this multi-club event. This fun day, planned by Bob & Judy Petrokas of SCBMC, will be a relaxed tour to the Kirigin Winery in Gilroy, followed by a car show staged on the Winery’s beautiful flowering lawns, wine tasting, winery tour and lunch (including Vino de Mocca Sundae). There were 74 participants and over 40 British cars involved in the full day of activities for the first Kirigin event in 2016 and we expect 100 this year.
The morning drives, which start in Los Gatos and one in Watsonville on the coast, will meander through relaxing country roads for over one hour before converging at Kirigin Cellars just outside Gilroy. Once there, the cars will be placed on the lush lawn in a semi-circular fashion in front of the Kirigin Club House. The grounds at Kirigin are covered with beautiful flowering landscaping and more plants decorating the outdoor, arbor-covered dining patios.
Kirigin Cellars Car Show 2016
There will be two morning walking tours of the winery for attendees and in between, everyone will be busy tasting the terrific complimentary wines of Kirigin Cellars. A buffet luncheon is served of different salads, gourmet sandwich selections, ranch beans, beverages and finishing with a Vino de Mocca Sundae. This full day of touring, wine tasting, concours, luncheon and wine awards is all done for the bargain price of $35 per person. Thanks to Bob Petrokas and Kirigin Cellars.
After the luncheon, organizer Bob & Judy Petrokas will present the bottles of wine to the outstanding cars of the day. All bottled wine selections will be on sale for 50% off! At the last event at Kirigin Cellars in 2016, many people commented on how much they enjoyed meeting the many British car fans attending from the different area clubs. The consensus was it would be great if all the British car clubs could do more of these joint events, bringing together more owners to keep the British sports car hobby flourishing and fun.
More Info: Advance registration by Paypal, all inclusive payment of $35 per person includes: Tour, Show on Lawn, Wine tasting, choice of Lunch, desert and bottled wine awards for the 6 best cars (all marques). Register by June 1st with Bill Meade, SCBMC at billmeade@charter net. Over 100 participants expected, sign up immediately to not miss out.
July 7: Marin Cars & Coffee
What: On the First Sunday of every month, automotive enthusiasts gather in front of Starbuck’s in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center Novato, California to share their vehicles and admire the other fabulous classics, exotics, rods and anything else with wheels and a motor. This has become a HUGE event and now commonly has well over 200 cars, ranging from serious vintage to modern. First Sunday of each month, from 8-10 am, though many spaces fill by 7:30. This is a great gathering of cars and car fans. FREE—no charge, no registration.
Points to know:
- The first Sunday of every month, rain or shine, in front of Starbucks in the Vintage Oaks Shopping Center Novato, California.
- 8:00 in the morning to 10:00 am. Arrive when you want.
- Check your ego at the stop sign.
- Park where you can.
- It’s free! Excluding your Starbucks purchases! Please do patronize the local stores!
- Leave when you want. BUT, behave yourself! No burnouts, no running over pedestrians, no sudden left turns into center dividers. Seriously, you won’t impress anyone and the other 100+ cars owners will not take kindly to any attempt you might make to screw up this event.
- Photographs will be taken of your car.Many of these photographs (including personalized license plates) will find their way to the web.
- The Marin Cars and Coffee Facebook page posts pictures, monthly, that participants may continue to revel in the experience and to allow others, who missed attending, to fill this void in their lives.
- This is a family friendly get-together.
- There is a welcomed police presence (hint, hint).
- Enjoy yourself! This is a wonderful assembly of diverse car owning folks! Lots to see and lots to learn!
More info: online at www.facebook.com/Marin-County-Cars-and-Coffe
July 21: Hillsborough Concours d’Elegance
What: The Hillsborough Concours offers a forum for passionate vintage car owners to showcase their prized vehicles and to compete for respect and recognition for their commitment to preserving automotive authenticity. The Concours also aims to cultivate future generations of car enthusiasts by providing privileged access to some of the world’s most celebrated automobiles and by serving as a channel for inspiring and informative automotive knowledge and lore.
More Info: Online at www.hillsboroughconcours.org.
August 9 to 18: Monterey Car Week
What: Monterey Car Week is not to be missed in 2019. This special automotive week is full of exciting events, auto shows, rallies, concours and car auctions that ends on Sunday at the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance.
More info: Online at whatsupmonterey.com/events/monterey-car-week.
September 6 to 11: Black Hills Conclave 2019 – Note the Date Change!!
What: The AHCA membership has been asking for a Conclave outside the heat of the summer months for years, so ….
The Minnesota AHC will be hosting Conclave 2019 in Deadwood, South Dakota, September 6 to 11, 2019.
Deadwood is about 1,400 from San Francisco. Yes, that is a pretty long haul for sure, but given the “freshness” of the roads and the region – in being little-known territory to Healey owners – there might be some number of owners from the far west who would like to make the trek and see those new-to-them roads and sights despite the distances involved.
More info: Online at Conclave 2019.
September 22: Danville Concours d’Elegance
What: Join the Danville d’Elegance Foundation on Sunday when the streets of historic downtown Danville will overflow with the sights, sounds and smells of classic, sports performance and exotic automobiles, as well as fine wooden yachts and cruisers, motorcycles and vintage trailers, for the annual Danville Concours d‘Elegance. Come see Old Town Danville (Hartz Avenue) at its annual finest, for a full day of vehicle displays, fine food, wine tasting including some of the finest Napa wines, a silent auction, and raffles in a relaxed environment. – It‘s fun for the whole family!
This gathering is designed to raise funds for Parkinson’s Disease research and patient care. Join us to enjoy the day and help us “Stop Parkinson’s in its Tracks”.
More Info: Online at www.danville-delegance.org.
September 28: Ironstone Concours d’Elegance
What: The Ironstone Concours d’Elegance is an antique and classic car show that takes place each year at Ironstone Vineyards, 1894 Six Mile Road, Murphys CA 95247. Some 300+ antique and classic cars participate in the Ironstone Concours d’Elegance. This e show also features vintage trailers, motorcycles and wooden boats.
Since 1996, the Ironstone Concours Foundation has held the Ironstone Concours d’ Elegance. Our events have resulted in more than $750,000 of donations made to support youth in agriculture, including Future Farmers of America (FFA) and 4-H youth activities.
More info: Online at www.ironstoneconcours.org.
October 4 to 6: CSRG Charity Challenge
What: Since its inception in 2004, the CSRG Charity Challenge raised $910,000 for critical work supporting the success and wellness of Sonoma’s children. We are on the road to $1million and in partnership with Sonoma Raceway, the help of our drivers, guests and volunteers we are determined to get there. From broken homes to childhood cancer, every dollar helps.
More Info: Online at www.charityracing.org.
October 12 to 13: British Fall Classic
What: The Annual British Fall Classic automobile show will be held in beautiful downtown Morgan Hill. The British Fall Classic is brought to you by On the Road Again Classics of Morgan Hill, specializing in the restoration of British Motorcars.
This exceptional event will feature exquisite British classic sports & saloon cars representing revered marques such as Rolls Royce, Aston Martin, Jaguar, MG, Morgan, Triumph, Austin Healey, Lotus, Morris, and more! There also will be British motorcycles as well as race cars!
Mark this weekend on your calendars and save the date!
More info: Online at www.thebritishfallclassic.com.
2020 GGAHC EVENTS
May 17 to 21: Rendezvous 2020
What: GGAHC, Austin Healey Association of Southern California (AHASC), and Austin Healey Club USA (AHCUSA) will host the 45th Austin Healey Rendezvous at the Mont Bleu in Lake Tahoe! 2020 is the 50th Anniversary of AHCUSA and GGAHC, so this will be a BIG EVENT!!
More info: Click here for more information and to register.
UPCOMING BIG EVENTS!
Click on the Logos.
Conclave 2019
September 6 – 11, 2019
Deadwood, SD
Rendezvous 2020
May 17 – 21, 2020
South Lake Tahoe, CA
More Info
For Healey Events Nationwide, go to the Austin Healey Club of America at AHCA Events Calendar
Go to UK Healey events for the year-round schedule of the Austin Healey Club UK.