Palo Alto Home Coming Parade report

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With the final touches done the night before, today should be a good EVent. It was cloudy this morning (a bit different for this time of year), but still nice.

.... I pulled into Stanford at Palm and Museum about 11:00 a.m. There was Victor Rodriguez who brought his VW GTI down from SF, and Don Gillis with his 914 Porsche was right behind me. I left a copy of the flier with them to start the organizing of the EVs. As I took off to cone off some parking spots near where the Parade would end.

... Upon returning, more EVs: David Coale driving the Bay Area Action MG, Will Beckett was there with his Blue Blazer, and Paul Hebert in his Sunbeam. Lining up the EVs for easy take off, (having them back into the diagonal parking), more EVs showed: Rich Hilman with the Mendo Motive 1955 Porsche Spyder replica, Bob Schneevis driving his Fiat towing a trailer to carry the EBike, EShopCart (the Bunnies) and the little Tri-Escoot (Bob made this for a little neighborhood girl who loves to ride it in the Parade).

EVs lined up and the few open slots ready, the last few showed: Mike Slominski of Mike's Auto Care driving his Snazzy VW rabbit, and Herman Gyr brought his family in his USElectricar Escort. We were ready, and on schedule. The Parade starts at 1:00 p.m. but we were #47, so really didn't enter until 1:30, but away we went!

... I decided not to drive the Blazer (I get plenty of visibility, awards, etc. I'll let other people enjoy) but rode an EBike in and out of the line of EVs in the parade (imagine Big Bruce riding an EBike, wearing a swirling Tie Dye collared shirt, announcing with his Big Boomy Voice "We have free Electric Car and Electric Bicycle information", holding out a flier with his right hand and steering with the left. ... Quite a Sight! :-> ).

... It was a kick in the pants! Of course EBikes are just fun to ride. I got haled by Bjorn Frannhagen (our European visitor), we connected, and they would meet us at the end of the parade. After we past the grand stand near City Hall, we went to the coned off public parking area for an hour to let the public view the EVs. Only one casualty: David Coale's 'cursit' (controller) died (Mike and I chided him about how our Auburn's (controllers) don't seem to have the problem :-> ). Little by little the EVs left to enjoy the rest of their day.

...

Bruce

Yes the controller blew again. It seems that my repair job did not last long. Time for a new controller :-(.

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