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round
trip to Fort Bragg and back via some very nice back roads. There were about
45 cars, and a lot of mechanical problems. Highlights of the Melee
included Jay Lamm dumping 6 bags of ice and ten cases of beer directly
into the trunk of his Alfa at the end of day one for all the participants
to enjoy. Perhaps the defining moment of the Melee was when Tad Yenawine
pulled over and duct taped a dead skunk to the hood of his 1973 Mazada
RX3. Tasteless, yes, but that's how you win the Melee. There
were 3 Loti on the event, a '62 Lotus 7, a '65 super 7, and a 74 Europa
special. I had a great drive with the twin cam Europa on an up hill
mountain road. I was keeping up in the corners and getting run in
the straits until my gas filler came off and I found out that I was stuck
in third gear. The Melee is a great event with great people and even
greater cars. Not all are rust buckets; a Swiss made Monte Verde
(sic) High Speed won the classy award. It is definitely worth checking
out. Maybe my Elan will be ready for next year.
To those interested in
particpating in next year's Melee' I suggest that you disregard the application
submission date on the registration form and get your app. in ASAP. I called
two weeks before the due date and was told that they had been booked up
for some time and were not accepting any more entries. :-( Ed. |
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California Melee is an annual vintage car tour that started about four
years ago with the intent of thumbing its nose at some of the more upscale
and expensive vintage car tours that are held, specifically Martin Swig's
California Mille. This rally is unique in that body damage, rust, primer,
and duct tape are welcomed with large grins. This year I got my application
in a little late, and was told the only way that |
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would get on is if I came to the pre-party and some one had dropped out.
I didn't make duct tape union jack on the hood of my 69 MGB-GT for nothing.
On Friday night I headed to a little Welsh pub in the city to beg our way
onto the rally. I was greeted by several soccer hooligans who were
yelling and pointing at the hood of my car. All the Melee rides were
neatly arranged on the sidewalk outside. Most visible was former
SCI editor Jay Lamm's Alfa GTV painted in hammerite green, wearing TEAM
HAMMERITE stickers and a traditional vintage racer scheme. I was
let on the rally without problems. I excitedly slapped on my rally
stickers and blasted home to Oakland. However to my dismay my little
MG died only blocks from home, and refused to crank. I walked home
got the tow vehicle and towed the MG the remaining two blocks. After
diagnosing that it was the alternator I hopped online to check parts crossovers.
Where was I going to get a 1981 Ford Fiesta alternator at 8:30 am on a
Saturday? After wrenching into the wee hours of the morning to pull
the alternator I realized that the bracket was broken. So I jerry
rigged it, tightened the belt, charged the battery and I was ready to go.
That type of misfortune and repair is what the Melee is all about.
The event itself was great; it started in SF and made |
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