Roaring in from the past: 27th annual Pacific Coast Dream Machines in Half Moon Bay

“It’s just such a unique event, there’s nothing like this event in terms of the variety of displays,” said Dream Machines spokesman Tim Beeman. “There are car shows and air shows and motorcycle shows and living history festivals and maker fairs, but this is everything rolled into one”

The annual fundraiser offers activities for all ages, from perusing the mechanical marvels on display to enjoying live music throughout the event, and getting a bird’s-eye view during a biplane ride to taking a spin on a monster truck. Spectacular skydiving performances and death-defying motocross stunts will also return for the daylong event.

This year, motorheads eager to show off the power of their machines will join for the first Bob Senz’ Big Cacklefest. Inspired by childhood memories from Dream Machines’ founder 85-year-old Senz, participants make it rumble with a mass firing up of their engines.

Growing up in Oregon, Senz recalled attending car shows decades ago where the “cackle” was a popular crowd pleaser.

“You can imagine what kind of sound it makes,” he said, adding it’s an opportunity for people to show off their dream machines.

The first cackle will kick off the event at 10 a.m., followed by two more synchronized roars at noon and 2 p.m., Beeman said.

“Noise and belching of engines — it’s really part of the beauty of the event,” Beeman said.

It’s a mass gathering of tens of thousands of visitors, dozens of pilots who fly in for the show and thousands of machine owners eager to join the display. For Senz, it’s a testament to history.

Senz has a particular fondness for some of the antique engines, noting he restored one built in 1898. This year, a 1920s steamroller recently uncovered in an old maintenance yard will be brought in by a crew from Willits, he said.

That antique, “it’s so ugly, it’s beautiful,” Senz said with a chuckle.

Eddie Andreini Jr., son of the belated local stunt pilot, has helped organize the aircraft displays and flyovers for the last 20 years. Having grown up around planes, even Andreini is thrilled to see the unique machines at the event.

“There’s many different types of aircraft that come in from the golden ages, ’20s, ’30s to the ’40s, even some older,” Andreini said. “You don’t see those every day.”

This year, they will be doing a “missing man formation” flyover in memory of one of the events co-founders Bill Mahar, who recently died. The military aircraft flyovers are also being held in memory of Eddie Andreini Sr. who died in May 2014 performing air acrobatics at Travis Air Force Base in Fairfield.

“It’s a unique show because of all the different attractions from motorcycles and cars to airplanes to bands playing music; it’s a unique event when it all comes together,” Andreini said.

Senz helped found the event after a group of friends sought to host a fundraiser for the Coastside Adult Day Health Center. The annual event, one of the largest aside from Half Moon Bay’s Pumpkin Festival, provides vital support to the nonprofit, Beeman said.

“It’s been just a tremendous asset to the community on the coastside and a really important fundraiser,” Beeman said.

Aside from knowing it benefits his community, one of the most rewarding things is to see appreciation of motorized marvels being passed on from generation to generation, Senz said.

“I greet everyone I can, and walk around and what makes me feel good is seeing grandparents telling their grandchildren ‘oh I used to have one of those,’” Senz said. “Telling stories about the equipment and various cars they had.”

Pacific Coast Dream Machines at the Half Moon Bay Airport runs 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday, April 30. Tickets are $25 for adults, $15 for seniors and kids 11 to 17 years old, and free for children 10 and under. Visit dreammachines.miramarevents.com for more information.

samantha@smdailyjournal.com

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