Southern California Chapter Holiday Tour, 2005 ..... South Pasadena, California Southern California Chapter Holiday Tour 2005 Story and photos by Rick Peterson   In the years that the So. Cal Chapter has been holding this event; Mother Nature has always been kind to us on December, 31 and she has always given us a beautiful day to tour. Now, we know for a fact that rain and snow may be true for the rest of the country. But here ...No Way! As everyone knows, it never rains in Southern California. But this year would be different. Earlier in the week, the weatherman was predicting that it would rain on Saturday. On Monday, just a few days prior to the Meet, I talked with Tom Markey and found out that he had made arrangements and set-up a Tour that would again take us around the area and also back to the city of South Pasadena to take a look at the float that the city volunteers were building for the New Years Day Parade. I promptly made up an email note and sent the flyer out. The day would start again at Cocos Restaurant in Arcadia at 8:00am.Those attending could start their day with coffee and breakfast and we would leave at nine for a day of driving. As it got closer to Saturday, I kept my eye on the weather reports and it did not look good but I still got the generator, the cut-of switch, the fan and the air cleaner on the 1934 coupe repaired. I also splurged and bought a new battery for the 1924 Special Six Roadster since the other one was 6 years old and dead. Saturday morning came it looked like we just might get our tour in, so I gave Mom and Dad a call and told them I would meet them along the way. We arrived just shortly after 8:00am. Tom Markey and Norm Adams had already reserved some tables for the group. The So Cal members started arriving and the main talk over coffee was of course the rain. We all thought we could at least get till 2:00pm. When Doc Sheppard’s group went out to unload the Touring, they found that the little black beauty had a flat tire. It was decided to take the spare off the back and change it. Bruce Shepard ran across the street to the gas station and aired up the spare as Sam Bailey and I changed the flat. Doc watched over us as if he was instructing a complex surgical operation. With-in minutes, we were all ready to go. Tom led the way out of the parking lot in his all original 1927 Commander Victoria. The first part of the tour took us thru the cities of Arcadia, Pasadena and then San Marino to view some of the most beautiful neighborhoods and homes in Southern California. With just about 2 miles to our first stop, Mother Nature would not give us a break and down it came. As the rain got harder, we hurried on our way to the quiet little town of South Pasadena for our first stop. We pulled in to the float parking area and we all got the special treat of viewing what would be a very beautiful float. Many of the members took pictures or snuck away for a quick cup of coffee at the Starbucks on the corner. Now I’m not positive, but as I walked thru the parking lot, I don’t remember seeing any windshield wipers on any of the cars. Windshield wipers in sunny California, who needs them. When the group re-assembled, it was decided that it was just too wet to go any further today. We all agreed that it would be best to head home and put the Studebakers back in the garage for a couple of days until it gets dry again. The wet members and friends that ventured out on today’s tour. Tom Markey……1927 Commander Victoria. Doc Shepard, Bruce Shepard and family…..1923 Light Six Touring. Rick Peterson and my Mom….1924 Special Six Roadster. Bob "Dad" Peterson….1934 Commander Coupe. Sam Bailey and family….1936 Dictator Sedan. Bill Schultz and Judy….1941 Champion. Joseph Cervantes.........1955 Packard Norm Adams and family.

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