Kid checks engine of vintage car at Balboa Park show commemorating 1915 race.
One hundred years ago a famous road race took place in San Diego. Many of the world’s greatest race drivers took part. The 1915 San Diego Exposition Road Race was a thrilling, dangerous 300 mile race around the streets of Point Loma. Those streets still exist today.
This morning, dozens of vintage cars took part in a rally along the old race route. The event was part of Balboa Park’s Centennial celebration, which is being held all year long to remember the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Before the rally, the participating cars gathered in Balboa Park in front of the San Diego Automotive Museum for a special car show. I walked up to the park this morning to check things out.
Wow! Double wow!
Please enjoy these photos. While I love looking at classic cars, I’m very far from being an expert. If you detect an error in the captions, or have something interesting to add, please leave a comment!
Guy drives his classic automobile through Balboa Park, heading to a special car show.Old race car is pushed into position. San Diego Automotive Museum is in the background.Vintage cars from era of Point Loma road race that began 1915 Panama-California Exposition.Someone checks out Fiat racing car at special Balboa Park Centennial event.Wooden dashboard full of knobs looks almost prehistoric compared to modern cars!Engine of 1914 Tahis Special that competed in many races!Collectibles from 1915 road race in Point Loma that kicked off Panama-California Exposition!People can still ride in style in this elegant Pierce-Arrow.Pierce-Arrow luxury automobiles in early 1900s were owned by many movie stars and tycoons.So many amazing cars were lined up in the parking lot it was hard to take it all in!1910 REO Model D Touring car has a very classic look.Check out this awesome vintage Cadillac!1909 Pope Hartford on display at Balboa Park Centennial special car show.This isn’t your father’s Buick. But it might have been driven by your grandparents!Walking around, I felt like I’d stepped back in time one hundred years!Here’s the grill of a cool Ford. License plate is for a Horseless Carriage.Colorful Ford is painted orange and green. Awesome!Red and green signal light near spare tire on back.1910 Velie Model D Touring cars were popular. Velie race cars were also successful.Many of these beautiful old cars contain lots of wood, brass and leather.Dozens of classic cars were out on public display!Inspecting another Velie, made early last century in Moline, Illinois.Very cool 1911 Ono, a vintage chain-driven race car.Someone nearby joked: It’s a motorcycle chain!And here’s a guy checking out the engine of an Italian Isotta Fraschini.Makes my own extremely modest car look downright futuristic!Chests full of tools that car mechanics would use back in the old days.Kid checks out a 1912 Packard race car in Balboa Park.Many refurbished motors were open for people to investigate.A large crowd enjoys many super cool cars in front of San Diego Automotive Museum.News cameraman gets a shot of young girl in pink pretending to race a vintage car.Racing goggles lie ready on leather seat. The road rally will begin in a few minutes!I’ve never seen so many cameras taking so many photographs in one place!Fun historical costumes were everywhere you turned.This fellow is ready to go! It’s a perfect Saturday morning for a road trip!It might have a dent or two, but it still runs!One guy checks out the steering wheel, another the unusual wheels on the asphalt!Getting the engine started with the old hand crank!Gentlemen, take your seats! We’re about to get started!Don’t touch this fancy car unless you are nude! (And showered, presumably.)I love this shiny oval grill on a Pope-Hartford.Not sure how this old horseless carriage would fare in a race.That’s as primitive a motorcar as you’re likely to ever see.Folks are shooting the breeze and having a whole lot of fun!This guy is getting ready to climb aboard a gorgeous classic Hudson.Car show disbands and crowds have scattered to make way.Here they come! That’s the San Diego Air and Space Museum in the background.Many drivers and onlookers wore fashion styles from early 20th century.A long line of beautifully restored hundred-year-old autos rumbles past.Heading out of Balboa Park for Point Loma, where historic 1915 race will be commemorated.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
Meb Keflezighi, San Diego hero, is Grand Marshall of 2014 Big Bay Balloon Parade.
San Diego sports hero Meb Keflezighi seems superhuman when compared to most of us ordinary mortals. Meb’s long-distance running accomplishments are truly legendary. He has been 3-time national champion in cross country, Olympic silver medalist in the marathon, and winner of both the New York City and Boston Marathons. (What’s more, Meb is a terrific human being, who happened to graduate from San Diego High School, about a mile from where I now sit!) But as thousands of onlookers witnessed, even our biggest world-class heroes sometimes need a helping hand!
Meb was chosen to be Grand Marshall of today’s 2014 Big Bay Balloon Parade, a fun event held on San Diego’s Embarcadero in conjunction with the upcoming Holiday Bowl. (He also presided over a 5K run just beforehand.) Meb rode on the parade’s leading float to great applause. But his ride turned out to be somewhat unusual. Some leg muscle was required…
Elite long-distance runner Meb Keflezighi speaks to 5K race participants before parade.Meb watches first wave of Bumble Bee 5K run, a special Holiday Bowl-related event.These guys might not be Meb, but they are giving the race their best effort!Meb awaits start of Big Bay Balloon Parade on the Forever Young float.But the float’s motor doesn’t work! Guys have to push it down the parade route!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
A big crowd gathers for the 2014 Wienerschnitzel Wiener Nationals in San Diego!
Breaking news! Wienerschnitzel’s 2014 Wiener Nationals were held today on San Diego’s beautiful Embarcadero! The big race was witnessed by thousands just prior to the Holiday Bowl-related Big Bay Balloon Parade. This year’s wiener dog champ was none other than fan favorite Mr. Schnitzel!
I did my very best to cover the action. Unfortunately, mere bloggers like me had to witness the wonderfully funny dog race from a bit of a distance.
This dachshund participant seems very shy when faced with a news camera.A huge silver championship trophy awaits the winner of this race!One dog during the practice session limbers up by chasing a bouncing ball.This highly-trained wiener dog race contestant is ready to roll!Mr. Schnitzel had a fan with signs. He’s going to kick buns!Furthermore, Mr. Schnitzel cuts the mustard! He must be quite a hot dog.This sign accurately foretold the race results. No other wieners could ketchup!And here’s the start to the final race that determined the four-legged national champ!his little guy is doggone tired after that big important race.Time to clear stuff away to prepare for the Big Bay Balloon Parade down Harbor Drive!
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook or follow me on Twitter.
People arrive at dawn to participate in Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.
I woke up very early this morning to check out the start of today’s big San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon. I’d never been to the event in past years, so the magnitude of the race really floored me. The west part of Balboa Park and many blocks of Sixth Avenue were packed with super energetic humanity!
Here are a bunch of pics!
Dozens of UPS trucks served as the gear check.Marathon runners warm up in west Balboa Park.San Diego Rock ‘n Roll Marathon corrals begin to fill up.Just minutes before the big San Diego marathon starts!Thousands are ready to race at the Rock ‘n Roll Marathon.Athletes with disabilities are first to begin the race!They’re off from the start line!Full marathon runners get ready to begin their race for glory.Lots of photographers record the colorful action.San Diego Rock ‘n Roll full marathoners go!Runners start up Sixth Avenue with great excitement.Photos were being taken all over the place.Racers pass announcer stand, San Diego mayor and American flag.Runners wave at Cameron of Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.KUSI television reporter Kerri Lane between live shots.
And now I’m hungry for breakfast! Walking back toward home, I snap a couple more photos!
Half marathoners gather into the corrals for their race.Late arrivers walk up Sixth Avenue from downtown.
…
To enjoy future posts, you can “like” Cool San Diego Sights on Facebook, or follow me on Twitter.
Cool San Diego Sights! 