Last week my family and some friends decided to plan a celebratory weekend ski getaway at Big Bear Lake in honor of my birthday. When the torrential rain imposed itself over all of Southern California, we were glad we had an excuse to escape the wet spell that had plagued us for 5 consecutive days. Around 2:00 pm Friday afternoon we had packed our six-year-old twins, all of our ski gear and a cooler full of snacks in the company Range Rover Sport. Since we were a bit behind schedule and because reports of heavy snowfall and deteriorating weather conditions in the mountains were becoming more frequent, we were dreading the worst of drives. When we reached the base of the mountain, we realized the weather was just as bad as we had anticipated. The roads were covered in a 5 ft. layer of snow and we soon found ourselves in a white winter wonderland complete with low visibility, poor tire traction and dozens of abandoned cars peppering the pristine landscape.

After an hour of inching our way up the winding road to the resort at the back of a long line of slow moving SUVs that formed a strange motorcade resembling a giant caterpillar, we realized we were going to make it. Equipped with snow tires and chains our trusty Range Rover was succeeding where others had failed. As night fell we started our hunt for our rental down roads whose houses were hidden behind walls of snow. We were never able to find it and after countless U-turns and an interesting 1 mile journey in reverse, resorted to booking a hotel room. Upon check in, we heard from our friends who had left San Diego later that the roads were now completely closed off to the public. There were going to be no more cars allowed up that night. Even though we were disappointed our friends could not join us, knowing we were some of the last people allowed to enter the Bear’s lair made our accomplishment even more rewarding.

The next day was spent on the slopes all day and needless to say we took advantage of our ski trip to the fullest. Our ride home was smooth and uneventful. We were happy to return to sunny San Diego with stories of our skiing performances and a report that the Range Rover Sport, with adequate weather equipment, is a safe and reliable choice in the harshest snow conditions.

I made a pit stop at the cove to check out the rides on display at the Sixth Annual La Jolla Car Classic Motor Show. As I had expected, the sights were impressive and the event had a distinct early 20th century fair flair complete with an announcer on an red, white and blue banner-clad stage donning a straw hat. From what I was able to glimpse from behind the fence, my personal favorites were the black and bronze 1966 Shelby Mustang GT 530H and a James Bond-worthy 1967 Aston Martin DB6 Coupe. The vintage Porsches were also in my top 5 and it occurred to me they looked just like a cute vintage VW Beetle next to them. Some other highlights included two unusual Rolls Royces: a brand new 2010 Rolls Royce Cabriolet and a more classic model that features a bar integrated in the front fender!  Even though I didn’t actually attend the show, there were enough jaw-dropping cars to check out all around town including a fierce jet black 2000 Ferrari 550 Barchetta Pininfarina and a 1985 Ferrari Testarossa both parked on Prospect St.

Photos taken by Benjamin Maury.

Symbolic Motors of La Jolla presented the latest addition to its fleet: an electric blue 2010 Lotus Evora. The new model boasts a 3.5L V6 making it a larger, more powerful evolution from its sister the V4 Elise. The event was the opportunity for industry professionals and motorsport fans to mingle. Some of the night’s highlights included meeting Ryan, Symbolic’s new manager and climbing in the Evora and experiencing its luxurious leather-clad interior.

The Sixth Annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic show is taking place this Sunday January 10, 2010 at the La Jolla Cove Park. You can come on down from 9 am to 3 pm for a look at some epic automotive gems. Entrants include vintage Aston Martins, Bentleys, Ferraris, Mercedes Benz, Porsches, and Rolls Royces among others. This year’s show is dedicated to the legendary racer Carroll Shelby and is sure to please all Mustang fanatics. While in the past the La Jolla Motor Car Classic has been held under frisky weather conditions, this weekend’s forecast is sunny and breezy. This will be a great chance to meet up with fellow car aficionados and simply enjoy a lovely Sunday morning stroll around the La Jolla cove. Save the date!