The 2024 Christmas Party is just around the corner and we are planning a great celebration to honor the season and the 60^th anniversary of Shelby American!

The party begins with the President’s Car Show in the Dana Point Yacht Club parking lot prior to the brunch. I encourage all of you to bring your significant Ford powered car to impress our Special Guest, Gary Patterson, the President of Shelby American. There will be a special parking area just for your cars and volunteers will be present to help you park in the correct location. There will also be a special, unique gift awarded to each member who brings an appropriate car. Those bringing ‘Other Vehicles’ will be confined to the naughty lot.

Rise and shine – your car! We are starting this year’s Christmas party at 9:30 AM, with coffee and pastries in the parking lot, in order to then start our Brunch inside the Yacht Club at 10:30 AM.

We will be in the main ballroom for our buffet selection cuisine of breakfast / luncheon fare, Christmas tunes, and the great camaraderie we have always enjoyed with friends sharing the common interests we hold. Many years ago, Carroll Shelby shared with me that this was the ONLY Christmas party he attended in his “retirement years”!

I would also suggest that you give serious consideration to your holiday outfit. The official dress is ‘Casual’, but if you want to be included in a special drawing, I highly recommend that you attire yourself in an UGLY CHRISTMAS SWEATER, both ladies and gents! You maybe the object of “recognition” on your taste in holiday attire, but there will be a drawing for a special prize for those willing to live with the attention. Don’t miss out on the fun. Come, show us your most humorous.

As I mentioned earlier, Gary Patterson will be our Honored Guest at this year’s party. Gary is the President of Shelby American, and will enlighten us about the course of the company and the events of this past anniversary year – Shelby American’s 60^th. Don’t miss this opportunity to meet with the leader of the most iconic automobile manufacturer in industry history and share his recollections of the company’s memorable anniversary year.

This year we are again partnering with the California Highway Patrol to support their CHiPS for KIDS program to collect gifts for our local children. Please bring an unwrapped toy (minimum $10 value) to participate in this very worthwhile cause. We are hoping to have a two CHP officers join us for brunch to accept these toys for the children. I know this eliminates the burnout contest in the parking lot, but, hey – think of the children! (Or maybe we can get them to look the other way… it’s for a good cause).

In addition to our toy drive, our club has supported two charities over the past many years and has raised tens of thousands of dollars for these worthwhile causes. I am referring specifically to Augie’s Quest to cure ALS and the Hoag Hospital Foundation for research into the cure and treatment of brain cancer. Both of the charities are close to our club’s heart and were for Carroll as well. We have held a silent auction for donated items in years past to raise money for these programs, but the recent social and subsequent economic conditions have impacted our ability to obtain a comparable number of items to past years. I would ask that if any member has an item that they could donate as an auction gift or knows of someone willing to donate an item of interest for our members, that they contact me (Hank Jesch, hfl716@gmail.com or 714-309-6464).  In the past, we have had large donations, ie, time share weeks in vacation destinations and special tours of unique locations generally not available to the public. These have been instrumental in allowing us to make contributions to our two charities on the scale of what we have done in past years, but we GRATEFULLY acknowledge all donated items of all values. The donors will be recognized during the brunch and with prominent displays of their items for auction. In lieu of a formal auction, you can still donate to the cause of your choice by bringing a check made out to either:

1. Augie’s Quest
2. Hoag Hospital Foundation – directed to the Brain Cancer LAK Research Center

The Cobra Club will deliver your donations to the appropriate charity and you will receive a tax deduction for your contribution.

Here is a quick summary of the festivities:

• Place – Dana Point Yacht Club
• Date – Saturday, December 10, 2022
• Time – 9:30 AM  to 10:30 AM – President’s Car Show
• Brunch – 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
• Dress – Causal but Ugly Christmas Sweater preferred
• Program – Gary Patterson, President of Shelby American (during brunch)
• Cost – Please see website for Christmas flyer details and RSVP form
• Your Participation – PRICELESS!

Please check your mail soon or see the club website at cocoaoc.org for your entry RSVP form and further details regarding the event. I would ask that even if you sign up through PayPal online that you mail me your RSVP form with the Ford powered car you will be bringing to help us arrange the parking. You will be receiving this information letter along with a Christmas Party Flyer / RSVP form, a membership renewal form and a return envelope. One stop shopping!

Thank you for another great year and I look forward to seeing you all at the party and celebrating with gusto, the end of one and the start of another season of memorable COCOA OC events!