Global Navigation
Global Na

The plan was to Cruise on up to the Lakeridge Winery North of Clermont on Hwy 27 for the Tour than find a place for dinner on the way home.

Greetings were exchanged in the parking lot and doughnuts were passed out thanks to Jeff and Tara. Tom recommended that we should have a meal at Randy’s on Hwy 27 south near Hwy 192 in Lake County on the way back. I suggested that we take Osceola Parkway to the end near the Animal Kingdom Lodge and make our way out to Hwy 192 to the West of most of the construction zones. No one else really knew this route so I took the lead. Ed and Evelyn took the back door and we headed out.

Just before leaving the Wal-Mart Jack and Betty Harrington, from Winter Haven  called to say that they would join us when we made it to Hwy 27.

So we are off, The ‘60 Ranchero leading the procession of 4 Corvairs. A ‘63 Aqua Convertible, a ‘66 Gold 4 door hardtop, A ‘66 Blue Corsa convertible, and a ‘66 2 Door hardtop. We cruised in towards our destination, the traffic on the Toll Road was pretty light until we made it to Disney property. The ride to the end of the parkway was brisk and scenic, we made our way around the “Short Cut” onto Black Lake road then we joined Highway 192.

Except for Jeff’s  little side trip into a shopping center parking lot while we were waiting at a light, this section went real smooth as well.

We were now about to take the turn onto Hwy 27th North, to travel along the “Central Florida Ridge” or the mountains of Florida as I call it.

Just after merging with traffic we spotted Jack and Betty in their ‘64 White Corvair convertible, we all pulled to the side of the road to let them in and hardly stopped and we were back in “formation”. This last leg of the journey to the Winery would be the most scenic. The lavish rolling hills to both sides of the road. Many of the Citrus groves that populated this area were now groves of homes. The build up of homes and supporting commercial structures have become the normal, unlike the previous sparseness of habitation in the past.

We arrived at the Lakeridge Winery about 20 minutes before they opened. Just like anywhere you take these old cars, the show began with the staff of the winery reporting to work. The other patrons that were waiting to enter also got a “Tour” of the Corvairs and the lone Ranchero.

11:00 rolled around and it was time to go into the Winery. After a few moments of looking around the gift shop the tour started. Penny was our tour guide. After the 11 minute presentation, on the history of the grape in Florida and the Lakeridge Winery, the tour through the winery started. We crossed the catwalks over the large fermenting tanks. Then to the balcony overlooking the vineyards and some of the equipment

By now we were way ahead of the schedule that we had set. So Tom said, “Let’s go to the Citrus Tower”, So we were off to the tower just a few miles away.

Much to our dismay the “Citrus Tower” was now closed on Sundays. We stopped, then decided it was time to go to “Randy’s” for a late lunch or early dinner.

Bill Azar met us at Randy's and we all had a great meal. Ed and Tom were coming up with Ideas for the next “Tour” watch the pages of this newsletter for the details of the next outing.

It was a great day out with good friends and like always, more than one of these cars get together and it is a “Show”. The motorists on the roads we traveled all enjoyed seeing our cars, as did the folks where ever we stopped.

Any one that was along on Sunday, if you have digital photos you would like to put here e-mail them to me by clicking here and attaching them to an e-mail.

Join in with us when the....
“Florida Antique and Classic Automobile Cruisers Association” is on the road again.

Here are some photos.

See you Wednesday Nite the 23rd at The
 "Downtown Restaurant and Night Club"
for the Wednesday Nite Cruise-In!