NorCal DeLorean’s Summer Skyline Run to Umunhum!

On Sunday July 17, 2022, the Norcal Delorean Club (NCDMC) gathered together after a long break for an enjoyable day catching up and driving our DeLorean’s. The event, organized by member Mark Woudsma, called “Summer Skyline Run to Umunhum” was exactly that- a beautiful summer (and hot!) day drive, along Skyline boulevard , to Mt Umunhum in the Santa Cruz Mountains surrounding the San Jose/Silicon valley.

The group, whom were owners from all over the SF bay area, first met up for breakfast at the Sky Kitchen Restaurant in San Carlos Ca, at the San Carlos regional airport. This old school airplane themed diner with good food and a nice run way view, served up all the members, whom were able to all sit together at the counter. Following a terrific meal and plenty of coffee, the group gathered in the parking lot and quickly doors and engine covers were open!

Mark Woudsma, always trying to stay on schedule, gathered the group back up and led them, in his custom Delorean- the Mongoose Delorean- around the airport to the next meeting spot, The Hiller Aviation museum Hiller.org also in San Carlos and right off the 101 Freeway. Mark led the group into the south parking lot, where the museum has this very cool artistic wall for the cars to line up against. Makes a great photo op! In this location it was time to mingle and talk about all the things we had worked on over the winter and spring months  on our cars. Even the museums VP or operations came out to take a picture!

In attendance were 12 owners and 8 cars, and one other gentlemen that came out to meet us, whom has recently inherited his fathers DMC and wanted some pointers and recommendations on getting it going! Terrific!

Marks Car, the mongoose, had just completed a several month front suspension overhaul and only had been back on the road for a few days. It was quite the challenge to get it ready for the drive day! Other members had new headlights installed, engine work, bumpers refinished, and so on.

At about 1030am, Mark gathered up the  gang for a “drivers meeting” to explain the route and the days schedule. Two way Radios were had by some to keep tabs on everyone and Marks Friend Jeff in a Porsche 928 became the follow car to make sure everyone stayed together- and he also took photos- Thanks Jeff!

The drive then began, from the museum to Hwy 92 West, up to Skyline boulevard (Hwy 35)  which runs north-south along the ridge separating the SF bay area peninsula from the ocean side. Our first stop was at Alice’s café in woodside, nestled in the redwood forest, along hwy 35 and woodside road, a very popular place on weekends for car and motorcycle folks to hang out and be seen. We arrived in convoy, turning heads of course, and began the search for parking, finding enough spots for the 8 cars among many motorcycles. The usual gathering of redwood era sports cars, supercars, a purple R8 and about 100 motorcycles were there, as well as the usual long lines for the restaurant.

Continuing on south about a half hour later, the group headed further down skyline road, flanked with redwood trees, rolling hills, patches of open grass lands with views to the Pacific ocean, or look outs to the East of the valley, until intersecting with hwy 9, which lead us down the mountain side on a fun to drive smooth, freshly paved twisty road into Saratoga.

A quick drive thru Saratoga- stopping traffic literally (we heard a crash behind us as someone made a abrupt move while trying to see our cars!), and a regroup spot next to the starbucks, we turned right to continue on HWY 9 and into Los Gatos.

A loop thru Los Gatos was planned- as a “driving by car show” but there was too much traffic due to a closed road, so we aborted that and proceeded to Campbell CA for the lunch stop.

At Yaissoo! Greek food– now only 6 cars as two had to leave early, we found ample parking out back and proceeded inside for a good lunch had by all.

Following lunch another member had to go, so the remaining 5 cars headed toward Mt Umunhum- in nearly the heat of the day- and Mark in the mongoose had no AC!

Turning off Camden road in South San Jose and onto Hicks road, the climb began to the near 3500 ft summit, and the scenery immediately changed to forest and open spaces. Soon after passing a water reservoir the climb up really began – incline of the road increased dramatically. Mark, in the lead car tried hard to keep the pace up front so that enough cooling air was passing over our radiators, to prevent overheating, but we soon all saw our temp needles climb.

At nearly the top, the call came out on the radio SMOKE! Stop! So we did, as it was soon determined that one car lost its AC belt which had got jammed and was smoking, and made a black dusty mess in the engine bay! But a pair of cutters was soon produced and the belt was cut off. Another  member, concerned about temperature, decided to hang out a little longer to cool, while the rest proceeded up the hill. Another 1minute or two more and the road leveled out signaling to us all that the worst of the climb was over.

Soon all 5 cars made it to the top. Yay!

Several years ago, you could not of done this, and the area was closed to the public. Atop mt Umunhum, one of the 4 tallest peaks in the SF bay area, sits what remains of an old military installation, and a huge Radar tower. The tower building- a big grey cube visible from all over the bay area was not accessible (maybe some day) but the area around it is- and the view is spectacular. One can see from Gilroy to the south, across to Mt Hamilton to the east, all the way up to San Francisco to the north. In 2017 the area because part of the Sierra Azul open space preserve, and a road was built, giving the public access to the area for the views and lots of hiking trails. This was the first time several of the owners had been there- and the first time for a group of DeLoreans!

After a short rest and a look at the views, the event concluded with a drive up to the very very top, and a photo op of each car by the tower, before heading back down and the drive home.

Mark Woudsma and his prestigious Mongoose DeLorean is at a fueling station as Mark tops the tank on Mongoose. He is preparing for a wonderful outing with his NorCal DeLorean club on a historic stainless drive on Sunday, July 17, 2022 to a unique point of interest in Northern California. That place, Mount Umunhum, a mountaintop peak at the Santa Cruz mountain range in Northern California.

After a delicious breakfast at Sky Kitchen, just off of Runway 12 at the San Carlos Airport, Eight DeLorean DMC-12’s arrived at the historic Hiller Aviation Museum, located at the opposite side of the airport.

The owners parked in formation along the artistic wall of the aviation museum. After a brief driver’s meeting, the owners proceeded to their first waypoint at Alice’s restaurant in Woodside, CA for a meet & greet and displaying their beautiful stainless steel automobiles along Skyline Parkway. Then the stainless steel caravan proceeded south on Skyline towards Hwy 9 into Saratoga, Los Gatos, and into lunch in Campbell.

More of this story by Mark Woudsma will be posted shortly. Stay “tuned!”