Feature Car Photo 1937 P-4 DeLuxe Four Door Touring Sedan owned by Jim Gray

Position Available: Bay Area Tour Leader

A few new rules need to be added to the “Rules for Touring”.

20. Tour Leader should drive the route at least once prior to the tour.

Had that new rule been enforced it would have been apparent that Jarvis Road, the only way in or out of the Vine Hill Winery, was not suitable for a tour group.

22. All cars and drivers in the tour should have similar expectations.

Two very nice couples joined us at the start of the tour. One with a Triumph TR6 the other with a 1960s Camaro. By the end of our first long hill with a slow pace set by a 1931 Model A Ford these two couples were looking for a different tour.

Finally, there were of violations of existing rules: One of the Bobs ignored rules number one, three, five, seven, nine, eleven, thirteen, fifteen and seventeen (keep the car behind you in your review mirror) and the other Bob declined the route map (possible violation of tour leader issuing maps and directions to all cars). End result was a lost car in an area where cell phone coverage was non-existent. The tour leader takes full responsibility for these lapses but feels that he should resign in disgrace to save the reputation of the region.

Despite these lapses in leadership it seemed that those people who did not get lost or bogged down behind a significantly slower car enjoyed themselves. Meeting at the Saratoga High School parking lot were “the regulars”: Bob Semichy (1937 P4 two door sedan), Bob VonKonsky (1941 convertible), Kim and Rob Hunt (1937 P4 coupe), Denise and Harold Rafter (1946 P15 four door sedan), Leslie and Tod Fitch (1933 PD two door sedan), Kim’s parents (1931 Model A Ford), and the two young couples whose names currently escape me with the TR6 and Camaro. At our first rest stop on Highway 9 we gave directions and winery suggestions to the modern car folk and I hope they had a nice day visiting the wineries of their choice.

Our next stop, with only one or two missed turns by people following one of the Bobs, was at the Vine Hill Winery. One Internet review said that the picnic area there had the best view in the mountains. I am not sure it is the best as there are lots of very good views in those mountains. But it did have a very good view over the hills and down to the Monterey Bay. We did have a nice picnic and sampled the wines. Leaving Vine Hill is where the next rule violation occurred. The “lost Bob” apparently had a nice drive on down to the coast and returned home via Highway 17. A second tour participant intentional left our company to return home for a previous engagement. Our numbers depleted, we used a back road (fortunately in much better condition and wider than Jarvis Road) to get to Old San Jose/Soquel San Jose Road and from there up to the Burrell Schoolhouse Winery. The schoolhouse was build in 1890 and is quite picturesque. Turns out the owner of the winery has a 1939 Buick and several Model T Fords. After more wine tasting, lots of old car discussions with the owner and a personal tour of some of the facilities we headed back down the hill to our separate homes.

Despite the snafus, it seems that most people enjoyed their day. Pictures may follow later... 

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