December 2007 - PCA - Orange Coast Region

Zicke-Zacke,
Zicke-Zacke,
Hoy, Hoy, Hoy!
Story & photos by Michael Dennis
If you recognize that expression,
you’ve either been to a German soccer
match or visited an Oktoberfest. On
Saturday, October 13, 2007, 37 PCA-
OCR members in 19 cars traveled from
“The OC” to Lake Arrowhead Village
and Big Bear Lake for their respective
“Oktoberfestivities.” A half-dozen people
were Oktoberfest alumni and for some,
this would be their fi rst club tour.
Our drive up included some nice “curves!”
We left The Block in Orange at 10 a.m.
and arrived at the base of the mountain
at 11 a.m. for a rest stop. Although we
had rain at the start of our trip, it soon
dissipated. As we drove up the mountain
we encountered cloudy skies and
patches of fog, but our fi rst destination
featured clear skies and sunshine when
we arrived at noon. And, thanks to
Armand Gastelo who originally planned
the tour but was subsequently unable to
lead it, we had our own reserved parking
area.
Lake Arrowhead Village features over
50 stores and restaurants as well
as Southern California’s only free
Oktoberfest. We feasted on traditional
Oktoberfest fare for lunch including
bratwurst, knockwurst, sauerkraut and
German beer. Afterwards, there was time
to stroll along the lakeside and shop.
My fi rst purchase was at Big Dog
Sportswear that is known for their
humorous t-shirts. I couldn’t resist buying
a t-shirt for myself that reads “It’s better
to have loved and lost, than to live with
a psycho the rest of your life.” And, for
my brother-in-law, I purchased one that
reads, “I wish my wife would give me the
silent treatment.” For more information
about Lake Arrowhead Village, check out
www.LakeArrowheadVillage.com.
At 2 p.m. we regrouped and continued
our drive to Big Bear Lake and the
Northwoods Resort and Conference
Center. Our “Burgermeister Party Pack”
rate of $169 included our Saturday night
lodging plus admission into Oktoberfest,
a commemorative Oktoberfest beer
stein, a German meal complete with
all the trimmings, a German beer or
beverage of your choice and a set of
Oktoberfest party beads. For details, see
www.NorthwoodsResort.com.
Soon after checking into the hotel,
Michael Reissmueller, Kevin Landry,
and Zoli Csik headed to the Big Bear
Convention Center to reserve seats for
our group. An hour later, Vikki Petersen
and I arrived along with Don Zimmerman
(my neighbor and friend who was the
impetus for me to get my fi rst Porsche),
Ted and Toshiko Hisada, and Yoshie
Aguler. Buzzy and Debbie Klevens
led the rest of the group including Bob
and Irene Almeida, Barbara Csik,
Tracey and Jim Cunningham, Ron
and Roberta Dean, Mark and Dianne
Doyle, C.L. Jarusek, Karen and Ron
Jensen, Holly and Boris Jocoy, Ginny
Landry, Shelley Reissmueller, Gerard
and Nathaniel Rodriguez, Christy and
Kirk Shafer, Jim and Sherry Spitzer,
Mike Steinke and Shellie Parker, and
Lee and Eddie Willhite.
Since our scheduled trolley didn’t show
up, the group resorted to Plan B, which
was to take the city bus from the hotel
to the convention center. Unfortunately,
the four-mile trip from the hotel to the
convention center took about 30 minutes,
since it included a free scenic city tour.
It was a beautiful weekend for a paddle boat
ride.
The Big Bear Convention Center is home
to one of the most authentic Oktoberfest
celebrations in the United States with
German beer, bratwursts, sauerkraut and
apple strudel actually made by German
beer makers, butchers and bakers! In
fact, this is their 37th Annual Oktoberfest
and it is reportedly the number one
Oktoberfest in Southern California, and
eighth-best Oktoberfest in the nation.
Traditional festivities included the logsawing
contest, stein-holding contest,
beer-drinking contest and performances
by a variety of authentic dance groups.
The Budenstrasse offered a variety of
arts and craft exhibitors and the highest
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