2009 Camarillo parade ends a big year for StarCarCentral.com! Secret Batmobile graveyard found!

So the busiest year for StarCarCentral.com draws to a close, but the rain couldn’t stop our last event for 2009!
Five brave drivers and a few other friends and family members braved the rain, and showed up anyway! As I was driving to the starting line in pretty heavy rain, I saw several accidents and spinouts on the 405 and 101 freeway, but I knew my day was probably going to consist of going to the starting line, and sitting there until 11am in the rain by myself. But then I started getting calls. Paul was climbing the grapevine, but there was a big accident, and it was raining and possibly snowing, but he was on his way. Then Jason and Cliff called and said they were still taking their marshmellows through the weather to get to the parade.


Cliff and Jason were snug in their bugs, and even though Jason ran into traffic and got the attention of a police officer, they avoided the ticket and got to the starting line, although Cliff had to do some off roading first!
Jennifer was bringing Stunt KITT (and as we decorated our KITTs we decided in 2010 she should put some “Slamming sammy stunt show stickers” on her SPM car, until it is converted.)

Well I got to the starting line, and I was pretty much the whole line! Even though the rain delayed my arrival almost an hour, I was the only one there! Soon my brother Mark found me, then my Dad showed up with the promised doughnuts and coffee. One by one we took our place, as the rain had miraculously stopped!
Out came the star car banner, and a quick interview for the parade coverage.


So we lined up, to wait and see if the parade was a “washout”. Still no rain!

We conscripted jason’s girlfriend, Sage, and along with Senior Bannergirl Reba, they took the banner down the parade route!

Nate and Jennifer led the pack with twin scanners and theme songs blaring, my Dad called “shotgun” in KITT but didn’t know who “Hasslehoff” was that all the parade viewers kept talking about!

Paul was next, smoking up the place, gull wings open and lights and sounds blaring!
In the back was the pair of marshmallows, and Cliff’s son Justice seemed to be OK with the attention!

At the end of the parade, we all pulled into the parking lot, took down the banner and just as we were all done, it proceeded to start raining again!
We all met up at the party and got out of the rain!
Good food, good friends, a little magic made for a nice end of the year party! Wish more could have come, but we had a lot of food and treats thanks to an appearance by my over scheduled wife! Thanks Susan and Mindy for putting on a great spread!

Looks like Justice knew where to get a refill on his limited edition STARCARCENTRAL.COM water bottle!

I got to have a good talk with Cliff, and we found out we worked just a mile or two from each other, and he is an audio tech! Weird how so many of these TV and movie car owners, also work in TV and movies…. or is it?

Paul pulled a trick out of his jumpsuit and dumbfounded the SCC once again. (I managed to see how the trick was done, but I will never tell….)

Even on my Dad’s quiet street, looky loos started showing up, and asked if my Dad’s T-bird was from “The Truman Show” (His licence plate is “Truman”.)
Which reminds me, I over heard one young fan walk by my Knight Rider car and remark “Hey, that’s the car from GHOST Rider. Accidental Crossgeeking. (Trademark 2001 Nate Truman “The combining or participating in two unrelated geeky pursuits, such as Star Wars and Civil War Reenacting, or Batman and Robocop for instance.)
Heck, it’s easier just to show you!

This is Ronald McDonald in Cliff’s Herbie. Crossgeeking. Ronald does have a big red shoe he drives, but he traded up for a Children’s Hospital event!
As the party went along, everyone posed with my secret project in the backyard….

Nate, Paul, Jennifer, Reba, Jason and Cliff – not pictured but was inside eating Mark (Hornet) and son Matt, Brian Horace/Herbie, Dave Herbie, and all my family!

Brian drove all the way up from his parade (that WAS rained out!) to check out the bat and have some chow with us! It was sad that many SCC regulars couldn’t make the party, we all missed you! (And then ate your food!)
Finally everything was packed up, and I returned to my car, only to find out why KITT doesn’t like parking under trees when it is windy and rainy!

Motor for Toys with Herbie, John Schnider, and Starsky and Hutch!

The star car guys are always in demand, and so as my “cats” are known to do when I try and “herd” them, they go in all directions!
At the same time as the parade, there was also a Motor4Toys event that Jason “herbie” and Lou “Starsky” went to, and while they were there,
they bumped into John Schnieder from “Dukes of Hazzard” fame.

Even though he was a “Duke boy” he told Jason that his first love was Herbie!

Lou and Lynda were also there, with the Stripped tomato, and Lou had John sign his car as well. Why? Is it just because Lou is a celebrity magnet? no.
The Torino was also featured briefly in the dukes of hazzard! Don’t believe me? Check out the link!
Zebra 3 made its first cameo in the first Season/ First Episode of
Dukes, why not have a Duke Boy sign Zebra 3 ?

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_15919-Ford-Gran-Torino-1976.html

The car shows back in the 70′ and 80’s loved this cross fan boy stuff, there was a Herbie bug that was seen all the time in Knight Rider, and KITT jumped over the General lee (the stuntman, Jack had done several seasons of the Dukes, before switching over to the Knight Rider show)
All sorts of “crossgeeking” (that’s my word, trademarked 2001 nate truman) back then, who can forget in the title sequence of the A-Team where the actor Dirk Benedict who played “face” and was also “starbuck” from the original Battlestar galactica, did a double take when a Cylon walked by?
Crossgeeking. It’s not just for cars!

Glen Larson, was the EP on Galactica, and liked that red light so much, he put it in his next show,on the front of a car…. Knight Rider!

Towmater and Herbie Parade with Magnum P.I. and Back to the Future in East LA!

What may be the last event of the year due to rain this coming weekend, a small group of the SCC were in the East Los Angeles Christmas parade that has been going for 47 years! Mike (Towmater) brought his Nana, and Ice Cream for the guys. Mike knows how to get the guys to want him to attend every meet, besides driving a tow truck. Star car guys know all about tow trucks.

I scream, you scream, we all scream for Ice Cream!

A long wait in the morning, led to more eating. Finally a star car with a tailgate, so we can have a tailgate party! That’s a nice spread Brian brought, and Mike is the only star car guy who would let you make a sandwich on his car! Well, maybe Charger Steve, but then it would be a dirt sandwich….

This was the unveiling of the new Star Car Central.com parade banner, so our lovely banner girls Sue and Reba practiced their “Vanna White” poses before they got started.

Again, the opportunity for “crossgeeking” (Trademark, Nate Truman, 2001) is endless with this group, so a replica Michael Jackson sat in Paul’s Replica Back to the Future car, and posed with all the gang. He’s a dead ringer for MJ. Sorry.

Oscar was next, and posed with MJ.

To pass the time Paul entertained the crowd with the magic that is Herbie…. and Brian is giving himself away again with a big smile in the background!

Oh yeah, there was a parade too!

Paul was instructed by Brian on the right hole in his face to put ice cream….

The whole Gang enjoyed themselves, but where ever star car central members gather, they tend to make their own party!

From left to right:
Paul “the Stig” Nigh, Sue, Mike “Towmater” and his Nana, Brian “Herbie” and taking the photo, Reba, Miss January of next years “StarCarCentral.com Banner girls” Calendar.

And of course, for dessert, Paul whipped up a batch of his famous cookies…. I think they are done!

Thanks to Brian for taking the lead on this event, he did a great job, so that means he gets to do it again in the future! The Batmobile had no driver as I was directing our church Christmas play at the same time. Starcarcentral.com has one event left, either a parade and a party, or a wet rainy party. Stay tuned for 2010~

SUPER PURSUIT MODE KNIGHT RIDER PROJECT

For the fans of Knight Rider of the 80’s,
there is more than one “holy grail” when it comes to star cars. First there was the “pilot” KITT, then the 2 TV dash cars with the new nose, then there came the 1 TV KITT, the two tone silver and black KARR with orange/yellow scanner, and in the last season there was the Super Pursuit Mode aka transformer KITT and the magic convertible.
In the age of transformer cartoons and toys, the SPM version with vents and wind wings popping out all over was a kids dream. Well, Jennifer has taken up the challenge, with the help of the Star car central.com team. Jay Ohrburg kindly allowed all of the knight Rider fans to crawl all over his static replica (meaning, the stuff doesn’t go in and out mechanically) that my pal Jack in Texas spent months building from scratch all the panels and SPM add ons for Jay.
and Brian U. was up to the challenge to do the design for Jennifer. Now all she has to do is build it and pay for it!

Jennifer is a long time KITT fan, in fact she owned one before, and had to sell it years ago, but now she has the fever again to get her SPM car. I am just glad she is going to build it (and pay for it!) so I don’t have to!

Nate Truman and Jennifer confer on details comparing her “stunt KITT” with the SPM replica of Jay Ohrburg. Lots to do, but I think she is going to do it!

KNIGHTS OF THE WEST COAST

Once the word got out that Jen Brian and Nate were going to crawl over the SPM car for measurements, all the Knights of the West Coast decided to stop by!

After we all got our fill of the SPM car, we looked around the place and found a few other starcar gems sitting around!
This is Dennis, and he has “inked” his allegiance to KITT and the General Lee on his arms! Now that’s fan dedication! He was just a kid when he met Jen and sat on her first KITT years ago. Vintage TV bringing people together. Awww.

Of course my roots are with Batman, so I headed for the replica Batbike or Batcycle in the back corner for a photo op! Holy no Bat symbols!

After a twilight zone moment we reliazed that all the star car guys were a stones throw from Jay’s secret hidding place when we stopped for lunch coming home from Charger Steve’s show a few weeks earlier, we had a good lunch and talked Knight Rider and SPM over cheeseburgers. No, Brian did not put a french fry up his nose, but he almost turned down a chance to drive Jen’s KITT home! With a little encouragment from Nate, Brian got behind the wheel. I think the photo tells the rest of the story!

I look forward to driving Jen’s KITT and hitting the SPM button in 2010? Stay tuned starcar fans….

Next: Holy Bat Party, and Parades! Jurassic Park Jeep found! Black Beauty Green Hornet visit? Keaton Batmobile graveyard?

Batmobiles and BBQ’s and a bunch of Star Cars!

Sometimes it’s “who you know” that gets the star cars to come out, who it’s for, or what you feed them! Lou and Lynda had all three: the inside track as a dependable star car attender, a great BBQ and a fund raiser for Lou’s High School team!

We had a good line up again, and we all got comfortable discussing star cars…. and Oscar’s hair, and Brian getting 18 inches….

Here Paul shows Brian where he inserts the cookie dough to make his special cookies.

Herbie shows his team spirit and is convinced to buy some raffle tickets.
(He’s such a marshmellow when it comes to charities…)

Lou got the prime spot up front, (well he was there first…. and it’s his show….) and Paul was next in line.

Herbie tried to make friends with Eleanor, but after the show, Eleanor was gone in 60 seconds….

The luxury cars had to hang together, Brian’s BMW and Oscar’s Ferarri, they are even swapping parts now…

Coming in at the end, and the last to arrive, Nate’s Batmobile and jennifer’s in process SPM car AKA the “Stunt KITT” with new “matte” paint job….

I still have to teach Brian some tips for his “action pose”…. Show ended, and we hit the streets to go EAT!

Here’s a shot that you have never seen before, A Bond BMW, batmobile, and KITT as seen through the window of a Herbie….

Jennifer had some trouble with her accelerator on the freeway, and kept passing everyone….

Lou tried to hold back his Torino Horses but he just can’t drive 55….

Jason pulled ahead of all of us, to get some “on the go shots” good job!

“NO MEAT FOR YOU!” Jason tring to use his camera to get the first burger…

On your mark, get set…. EAT!

Thanks Lynda! Good vittles!

The Amazing Paul did magic, that was so amazing, jason didn’t take any photos, or he did, and Paul made them dissapear!

Next up, a secret trip to a secret star car lair….
SATY TUNED, STARCAR FANS!

Adam-12 and Capt. Sully meet!

Mark G. got a special treat at work, he met up with the famous Capt. Sully who did a nice bit of flying and landing in a New York River! Mark got to hook up the training co-pilot equipment, so Sully could get some “stick time”.
Way to go, Mark! One Adam-12, see the man…. in the helicopter…..

Getting there is most of the fun… VEGAS!

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Just a few photos of the trek to Vegas that a team of SCC members took Oct. 23rd. Paul BTTF from the north (Bakersfield) Steve Bandit and Mike Towmater from the south, (San Diego)
and the rest of the team from the west (Oscar Magnum, Lou Starsky, Bob Fast and Furious, Paul Mad max, Obishawn Starwars and Jerry Tuxedo Herbie) had a good time GETTING to vegas. After meeting outside Vegas, and some trouble with Steve's Bandit, the SCC guys helped each other all get there together. Oscar pulled his Ferrari off of the trailer he rented, and they got Steve's Bandit up on it for the last leg of the trip. Good team work guys!

On Saturday the Vegas star cars joined up, a Bumble Bee Camaro, Catherine Hickland’s KITT and Paul Casey’s General Lee along with a vintage police station wagon all rumbled onto Freemont street.

The star cars assembled in front of the main stage, to the tune of their own theme song!

 

A few old TV stars were in attendance (That’s the actor that was “Cousin IT” in the Addams family, chatting up Obishawn)
Mike Towmater with his connections in Vegas set up a great dinner for all the SCC guys (Well, Obishawn went to go see and hear U2) and dispite the challenge of keeping drunks away from their cars, and trying to get food and trips to the bathroom with out any protection for their cars the SCC contingent made the best of it. That’s what I like about these guys, we have a good time where ever we go because of the company!

Next, Semi Valley and Lou’s BBQ and fundraiser car show Nov 7th! The year ain’t over yet! Two Christmas parades, a visit to Jay Ohrburgs garage to check out the only Super Pursuit mode KITT in the world, and …? 2009 has been a big year for Starcarcentral.com and all it’s members!
Truman…. OUT!

Transformers, A-Team, CHiPS, and Tuxedo Herbie!

You just never know with our events who is going to show up.  This one was a lone email asking us if we could bring some star cars to a CHP event, on a Wednesday morning.  Now most people have to go to work, so I sent out the word, and one SCC member, Jerry, and his Herbie was able to get there.   So was “poor Jerry” all by himself with his lone star car, surrounded by CHP? Uh, no.

Who’s that behind Herbie? Look Familar? That’s Eric Estrada from the TV show Chips.

Here he is again, hugging some guy, who he seems to know pretty well. He had just arrived on a motorcycle.

Yep, it’s Larry Wilcox, his on screen partner, on a 80’s style CHIPS bike owned by Barry! (Who brought a set of his classic police cars too!)
That’s pretty cool, right? But wait, look who Jerry parked his Tuxedo Herbie next to!

Yep, the ONE star car I have been hunting for years, sat in when it went up for sale, pulls up and parks next to Herbie! The A-Team van!
So officially, they are on the team, now that I know they take the car our for events!
So that’s pretty cool too! Now if there were only a few other star cars…..

You might have spotted Bumblebee from Transformers in the photo with Eric Estrada greeting Larry Wilcox, oh, and that one of a kind Silver Concept Corvette behind BB is also a Transformer.

The only Transformer star bigger than Bumble Bee would be Optimus prime. Too bad he didn’t show…. oh wait!

Toss in the Govenator, a few other celebrities and VIP’s and you have a pretty cool event! I guess we should have taken the day off.

PUMPKIN FEST day 2, Cooler day, cool cars! KITT takes a hit for the team!

Well after the Horace update, now back to the other half of the Pumpkin Festival!  As I write this most of the Star Car Central core members are on their way to VEGAS to be a part of a Star Car Show there, and I am sitting here blogging.  How is this fair? I started the dang group!?!?   Actually, I know they will have a good time caravaning out to Vegas, a pile of Star Cars is just plain stupid fun!     As long as they take photos, I will be there in spirit at least!

As I have said before, wherever two or more starcars are gathered in my name…. it’s a SCC event!

Now back to the the Pumpkin Festival report, day two!

We had a smaller group on Sunday, but a rare appearance of Paul and his Mad Max Interceptor car joined Jason’s Herbie, Paul’s BTTF Delorian and my KITT for a second day.  

Jason’s Herbie attracted a few other celebrity look-a-likes!

As for Paul’s BTTF car, he just needs to stop adding stuff to his car to attract attention!

 

 My star car day  did not start like I wanted.   First I started up KITT and heard a weird “pop pop” sound, looked all around and decided that what ever I had run over on Saturday had made an opening in my manifold gasket.   It didn’t sound great, but I had two special kids who have ocular cancer and thier families that I didn’t want to dissapoint, so I hit the freeways.  It was not as hot as the day before, but I still had the A/C on the whole way.   Well at some point (about where I hit something the day before I think) I hit something else!  My best guess is some sort of  “L” shaped metal that when you drive over it it kicks up, but I didn’t see anything.   When I got to the fest, I finally got to see the damage to the nose and fender.  Nothing I could do at that point, but enjoy the day!  (Although I did over hear one woman say “wow, there’s KITT, that car has seen better days….)   

 

 

 

Here Paul is listening to an amazing story of mine, with rapt attention!  After I finished, Paul, dumb struck at my facinating story, decided he wanted

to perform a karate demonstration in the street!  It was actually nice to be able to sit with different members of the SCC and catch up and learn more about the “cross-geeking” each member enjoys.  (i.e. Rock bands and Disney pins Paul – Herbie and Horror Jason and his dad…)  My parents got to meet KITT for the first time, and they both blended right in, but my mom thought my dad fit in a little TOO well….

With my parents visitng and sitting with them, then my wife and kids showing up and having lunch with them, some where in there I MISSED the kids, but of course my star car cronies stepped up and the families enjoyed the cars and the fair.    They made a cool sign for us too!  Once again, we need a club house to put this stuff on the wall! Until then, it’s in my office at work!  It was great meeting Steven who runs http://www.kidscancerconnection.org/help.htm and I look forward to connecting his families with star cars around the country in 2010!

 

After the show broke up, we all went to COCO’s again, and had a nice meal before dissapearing again to the secret hiding places where star cars live….

maybe there is one next door to you?!?!?

Paul had to head home with an empty stomach, but he was set for Vegas…. HEY! Somebody tell him he is not supposed to drive a car from that side!

So the SCC is headed to VEGAS without me, but I will be visiting my “yard art” of a batmobile tomorrow, and I will try and remember to take a few photos.

If you see a star car, you let me know!   If it was in Vegas this weekend, yeah, I know about all of those…..

Horace Goes Hollywood – and meets his Maker! Who’s Herbie?

Yeah I know, I am trying to catch up, so maybe these are out of order!
Brian all by himself took his screen used HORACE the hate bug to Sunset Gower (my old studio!) to reunite Horace with the original FX guys who built him!

Of course Horace had to be signed (we star car guys like to have the stars of the shows, and the ACTUAL hands on builders of the cars)

 

So why is this on the Star Car Central.com blog? Well it’s cool, and there were SORT of 2 star cars represented that day, as these guys were also working on a certain SHOE PHONE for Sue and her Get smart car!

While at home, Brian’s ROBO-Herbie was feeling like ending it all, as Brian was spending so much time with Horace.

Brian’s actions made Herbie feel like half a car….

OK, now back to our regularly scheduled programming…….