1st - Thank you to the organizers that made this event happen. It was great and I hope to return next year, perhaps with my wife.
2nd - There's something about wives of guys that drive old Opels. I fell in love with everyone of them (wives, not the old guys) that attended this year.
3rd - I'm blown away with the level of work & customizing that I saw. Excellent work.
4th - Final Trip Stats:
Total Miles - 1,696
Fuel Consumed - 59.4 gallons
Ave Price Per Gallon - $4.43
Total Fuel Cost - $262.80
Miles Per Gallon - 28.6
Per Mile Fuel Cost - $0.15
5th - Break Downs - Two:
a. Alternator Upper Bracket - lost the nut & 2 isolator washers. Although the long bolt dropped out, it hung onto the block's oil pan flange and we recovered it. I'm guessing it stuck to the grease.
b. Electronic Ignition - One connection was bad due to vibration, a poor choice of wire routing, and jostling while fixing the alternator problem (above).
GT Roy rode up with me and I'm glad he was along as he provided valuable assistance in fixing the breakdowns. He also provided navigation and only once or twice forgot his duties. But he's an easy person to travel with and adds to the trip's enjoyment. He's a good guy.
Our return trip was more enjoyable than the trip north. We left Interstate 5 at Grant's Pass, Oregon, and cut southwest on highway 199. This is a very scenic sports car route. We camped in Del Norte Redwoods, and continued south on highway 101 through mist & fog enshrouded forest and mountains. Rather than face the perpetual Santa Rosa stop-and-go traffic and the Bay Area commute we took highway 128 through the Alexander and Napa valleys. Most scenic, and again, good sports car roads.