Is it too early to talk about Monterey?

[Karl Grau]

Why no, I don’t think it is.



Some of you might remember my travel kit from last year. BTW, never leave home without a PartsPimp Survival Kit© .



Well live and learn because based on that trip I’m adding some important items this year.

Travel bar from circa 1976 because travel bars are what separate us from the apes.
Cooler for the cabin. Last year I had a cooler but it only fit in the trunk. I can transfer from the trunk cooler to the cabin cooler at gas stops.
Handcuffs (see action pants below).


VisorCam© works well but this year I’m going with DevinderCam© on the passenger seat (thanks Devinder).



Last year I got some comments from haters about the condoms in my travel kit, so this year: ACTION PANTS!
I won’t be held responsible for anything that may happen if a girl were to get too close to the Action Zone. I’m just sayin’...


With radar detectors, phones, Ipods, Accujacks and the like, staying powered up on a long road trip can be an issue. This year I’ll have a USB charger for the phone or Ipod to free up one of the lighter sockets.


And speaking of lighter sockets, I adding one like this one in the e30 console (i just haven’t figured out where to mount it in the M5).

[ldsbeaker]

Tell me, how do you wire up the extra outlets?

Run off the aux fuse block on their own fuse, or just tap off the original cig lighter?

[oldskool]

I am of the opinion that you need to seek a doctor.

[1st 5er]

I'll decline.

[MicahO]

Why no, I don’t think it is.

What could any of us recommend as extra bring-alongs when you already have your "Action Zone" filled and ready to go? Is it possible that you are *too* prepared? NEVER!

[Karl Grau]

Tell me, how do you wire up the extra outlets?

Run off the aux fuse block on their own fuse, or just tap off the original cig lighter?

Right now the 5v USB plug is wired into the cig. I'm going to check the draw of everything I may plug in and based on that maybe run a dedicated, fused connection.

[M5BB]

We are visiting our son in LA and we always go somewhere in CA after flying 3000 miles from Atlanta.

Montery and Pebble Beach Concours is on the schedule with hotel booked.
This was on my bucket list.
Bad thing is I have to drive a rental car and not my
M5 or 3.0CS.

[Gordon Urquhart]

I'm calling dibs for the couch.

[OcCoupe]

I'm calling dibs for the couch.

No chance. We don't want your kind there.

[M5BB]

I'm calling dibs for the couch.

Heck he didn't even invite me and I was here first.

[Karl Grau]

Departure is Tuesday morning and I have to say, I've never been this late into a roadtrip with so much still to do.
The car is in good shape but it will break 300K on his trip so you I'm trying to take care of as much as I can beforehand.
Tomorrow after work is going to be a long night.

I normally don't use a phone while driving but the other guys in the group are very high maintenance and will get all butt hurt if I don't take their calls on the first ring. I picked up this BMW (Alpine) hands-free Bluetooth visor mount that seems to work pretty well in preliminary testing.



Last year my guardian Hula Girl was on the lame side so this year I upgraded to one that has a real grass skirt and moves with he motion of the car.



So Tuesday I'm meeting up with Mike (OCcoupe) and then we're going to SLO or Morro Bay. On Wednesday, we'll meet Darin & Jeff at the Bianchi winery in Paso Robles for the grand tour and then head to California Hwy 1 for the run up the coast to Monterey.

Last year we had the gay house (NTTAWWT) that was too small for the whole group to stay in.



This painting is now hanging over Darin's fireplace (NTTAWWT).




This year:

[vinceg101]

Keep the faith, Charles. We've all been there; some of us just recently.
The new place this year looks promising; and not nearly as, um, "boutique" as last years. (NTTIAWWT).

If you guys get a hankering for some good wine while you're up there, check out Talbott Vineyards over in Carmel [url]htttp://www.talbottvineyards.com[/url].

Good luck guys; see you soon.

[OcCoupe]

Talbot vineyards is also owned by the same folks that own Talbott Ties, the Talbotts, actually Robert Talbott of Carmel. It has been tradition for me to come home with one of their exquisite Seven Fold ties every year I go up for the Concours.

[wkohler]

Sounds like time to tie another one on.

Riveting tail, chap.

[vinceg101]

Talbot vineyards is also owned by the same folks that own Talbott Ties, the Talbotts, actually Robert Talbott of Carmel. It has been tradition for me to come home with one of their exquisite Seven Fold ties every year I go up for the Concours.

They have a really good cafe next door kind of attached called the Corkscrew Cafe. Very good Cal/Mex food and a nice garden patio.
If you do happen to go there, try the Sleepy Hollow Pinot Noir; excellent. It's also about the only place to buy their wines as I haven't found too many distributors selling all their wines.
(In fact, if you do go there, I may have you buy me a few bottles of that PN; let me know).

[jay]

Let me know if you guys have time for a beer or dinner when you stop in Morrow Bay or SLO. I'm in Grover Beach right near the Pismo Beach Pier now. My car is still down for the count so I won't be making it to Monterey this year.

[jhall]

Bucket list for sure. I would be distracted by constantly scanning crowds for Wayne Carani though. I know there's far more interesting people there, but after watching that show all I seem to associate with Monterey is him. I have no idea what I would ever say to him if I actually met him. Probably tell him he needs to invest in 1980's BMW's cause the market is heating up.

[AT8M5]

This year:

Hmmmm, I don't see the essentials, like a plunger and The Neutralizer.

Have fun fellas, next year fo sho.

Karl

[OcCoupe]

Bucket list for sure. I would be distracted by constantly scanning crowds for Wayne Carani though. I know there's far more interesting people there, but after watching that show all I seem to associate with Monterey is him. I have no idea what I would ever say to him if I actually met him. Probably tell him he needs to invest in 1980's BMW's cause the market is heating up.

You won't be able to say anything, you'll be speechless and shocked on how short he is. I met him at Pebble last year, he's a nice guy. What was really special was walking out to the field and seeing Sir Sterling Moss greeting people as they walked by him. It was a pleasure to meet him and shake his hand. I thanked him for all he has done for us.

[jhall]

Bucket list for sure. I would be distracted by constantly scanning crowds for Wayne Carani though. I know there's far more interesting people there, but after watching that show all I seem to associate with Monterey is him. I have no idea what I would ever say to him if I actually met him. Probably tell him he needs to invest in 1980's BMW's cause the market is heating up.

You won't be able to say anything, you'll be speechless and shocked on how short he is. I met him at Pebble last year, he's a nice guy. What was really special was walking out to the field and seeing Sir Sterling Moss greeting people as they walked by him. It was a pleasure to meet him and shake his hand. I thanked him for all he has done for us.

That would be cool.

Two things I can't tell about Carini:

1. How much is he actually worth? I've always assumed he has an investor of some sort and he does a lot of commission cars. But he never jumps into the high high value stuff when he's buying for himself/ business. And to look at his building on tv I would never assume he has the cars that he does in there. Also, he wears ashworth windbreakers and jeans all the time, really? He looks like my dad circa 1995.

2. Is he looked down on by the bigger fish? Maybe its just the way his show is cut up but he seems like he's always off by himself. One would think to be as active as he is that he would constantly have people around him or mobbing him at events. That being said it makes him seem like he's at least somewhat approachable.

[Karl Grau]

Well I think I'm ready . I was pretty sure the diff oil was okay but for peace of mind and a missing crush/seal ring, I did it it anyway.
Now I just need to pick out some outfits that don't make my ass look too big. Although I did find my Homer Simpson Home of the Wopper boxer shorts, I'm slightly alarmed that I haven't located my lucky rocketship patterned jockeys. Oh well, sometimes you have to roll on the edge. Speaking of rolling on the edge, I'm not taking the radar detector this year because of now rolling on the edge and all.

Let me know if you guys have time for a beer or dinner when you stop in Morrow Bay or SLO. I'm in Grover Beach right near the Pismo Beach Pier now. My car is still down for the count so I won't be making it to Monterey this year.

Jay, if all goes well we should be in Morro Bay ~15:00, I'll shoot you an email around Santa Barbara. Maybe we could meet for happy hour and/or din-din.

[jay]

Great! I just PMd you my number.

[Karl Grau]

Having lunch in Malibu. Cars are running well. Toodles.

[JamusMcFamus]

Which car is that sun shade for? It fits much better than the one I purchased for my E28, which was originally for the E30.

[wkohler]

My E28 ones don't fit worth crap.