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As many of you know, James Dean owned a 356 Speedster which he sold to buy a 550 Spyder that he intended to race. On his way to Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. (for his first race in his new Spyder) James Dean ran head-on into a car turning left at a country road intersection in Cholame, CA. James Dean was killed instantly by the impact. His passenger, who was his pit mechanic, was very seriously injured but survived the crash.

Several years ago a memorial was erected a couple of hundred feet from the intersection that was the site of the crash. Each year an anniversary bash is held on September 30th - the date of the fatal accident. This year will be the 50th anniversary of James Dean's fatal crash. I have spoken to a lady named Susan at the "Jack Ranch Diner" which is very ner the memorial and a couple hundred feet from the site of the crash. The Cafe is the meeting place for the crowds that come to that intersection in Cholame. She said the Jack Ranch Diner is planning an outdoor barbeque, at least one band and some other stuff for the visitors. She said there are always James Dean Fans and Car collectors (mostly Porsche) at the event, but this year they expect the biggest crowd yet.

You can contact Sue at The Jack Ranch Cafe, at 805 238 5642 if you want more information.

The closest lodging is twenty seven miles west in Paso Robles, CA.
I just booked my reservation for Thursday night September 29, at the Holiday Inn in Paso Robles, CA.:

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
2455 RIVERSIDE AVE
PASO ROBLES, CA 93446
LOCAL PHONE: 1-805-2386500

I hope a few other SOC members show up for the bash on September 30th. The Paso Robles is winery country, so there will also be pleanty of opportunity for tasting "the grape".
1957 Thunder Ranch(Speedster)
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As many of you know, James Dean owned a 356 Speedster which he sold to buy a 550 Spyder that he intended to race. On his way to Laguna Seca in Monterey, CA. (for his first race in his new Spyder) James Dean ran head-on into a car turning left at a country road intersection in Cholame, CA. James Dean was killed instantly by the impact. His passenger, who was his pit mechanic, was very seriously injured but survived the crash.

Several years ago a memorial was erected a couple of hundred feet from the intersection that was the site of the crash. Each year an anniversary bash is held on September 30th - the date of the fatal accident. This year will be the 50th anniversary of James Dean's fatal crash. I have spoken to a lady named Susan at the "Jack Ranch Diner" which is very ner the memorial and a couple hundred feet from the site of the crash. The Cafe is the meeting place for the crowds that come to that intersection in Cholame. She said the Jack Ranch Diner is planning an outdoor barbeque, at least one band and some other stuff for the visitors. She said there are always James Dean Fans and Car collectors (mostly Porsche) at the event, but this year they expect the biggest crowd yet.

You can contact Sue at The Jack Ranch Cafe, at 805 238 5642 if you want more information.

The closest lodging is twenty seven miles west in Paso Robles, CA.
I just booked my reservation for Thursday night September 29, at the Holiday Inn in Paso Robles, CA.:

Holiday Inn Express Hotel & Suites
2455 RIVERSIDE AVE
PASO ROBLES, CA 93446
LOCAL PHONE: 1-805-2386500

I hope a few other SOC members show up for the bash on September 30th. The Paso Robles is winery country, so there will also be pleanty of opportunity for tasting "the grape".

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  • JackRanchCafe
I was involved in the 30th we had a Porsche show in Paso Robles 400 plus cars. The concours was judged by guys from Minnesota. at that time the pole Dean hit was still there..Have been tot eh crash site twice this year ( 20050 and will be back for the 50th. thanks for the info on the Holiday inn. Hope to see a white 55 Speedster, Silver 550 and a 50 Merc. Bob Cox Minnesota
I just finished building a weekend place in Templeton(just south of Paso Robles), about 30 miles from Cholame, and may be willing to host some 550 owners for the event. I don't have a 550, but have been ridden in Lawrence Guynes vintage at a Porsche rally. Perhaps a barbeque? Let me know if there is interest. In any case, I plan on heading to Cholame for the event.
Hi everyone, does anybody know of a place where several Spyder owners regularly meet and work on their cars? I work for a German TV network and we will put together a special report on the 50th - aside from all the commemorative events, we´d also like to really show what the Spyder 550 was all about. We´d like to get technical! For that, we need a bunch of guys with grease on their hands and some good knowledge about the car. Any clue anyone? Best to all Michael Remmert
310-802-1520
Dean's wrecked car has disappeared from the visible places of the earth. No one knows where it is. I have always suspected that some avid collector has it mothballed away. It was in a truck coming from the east coast to the west coast (or so legend goes) and somewhere in route it left the truck.
angela
The Summer/Fall issue of "Carmel" ('Lifestyle Magazine of the Central Coast') - has James Dean on the cover and a good 6 page article about him and his racing on page 97.
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I'm not a regular reader of this - but a friend dropped off a copy at my door, knowing I had some interest and a replica 550.
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Those of you going to Cholame for the 50th celebration might want to try to pick up a copy, which also has an interesting article about road racing history at Pebble Beach (Spyder photo included), and some bits on the Pebble Beach 'Autoweek' events (Concours, etc.).
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It's also a great reference magazine if you're shopping for some really expensive real estate.
Made it to Ukiah CA today from Medford. Took 199 to the coast and 101 south. I'll jump on Highway 1 in Frisco. All day beautiful roads, then I get to Willits CA and the beautiful surface starts to sharply deteriorate. Maybe I'm just tired. Been up since 4am... Zero mechanical issues.

Oh this is funny. A group is having some sort of meeting in this hotel that has evidently degenerated into a drinking fest. An extremely inebriated gentleman comes stumbling out of the party room and starts admiring the spyder. He says, "Oh gosh that's so bee-uu-t-i-ful.... You know, I got two of them. One's a 57 and one's a 77 with an L-82 in it...." I gently explain to him that this is not a Corvette... "Really?" he says "it looks just like a Corvette."

angela
Made it safe to Atascadero. Dang, that Highway 1 is really a fun road to drive! Except that I kept stopping to take pictures, so it was a pretty slow trip. If you never taken this route, it's a must do... What a great windy twisty beautiful road. Hope to see some of you tomorrow. angela
It's a beautiful drive in the northern Cal and oregon coastline. I took a trip a few years back, top down, nothing but a duffel bag and a small ice chest in the passengert seat, also making several stops for pix, but also the speed limits through all the small towns that one passes through make for a slow ride at times. Would love to do it again someday.
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