O/T Car scene in Central Valley Cal.

I may be leaving So Cal for awhile to take over a Central valley territory off the 99 corridor from Merced and south to Tulare.

What can you central valley guys tell me, pro's and cons, sure is much more affordable up there I know that,but how is the car scene or is it non existent? ( I know I am very spoiled here in so cal as far as that goes!) but is there anything at all? any cool shops? anything?

Is it a pretty decent place to live,visalia,merced? what are some nice areas to check out as far as housing, good schools, newer neighborhoods?

Will probably not be going to the Fresno/Clovis area as far as buying, would rather go to Merced or?

Any info and advice appreciated.

Thanx,xtra

 

I live right between Fresno and Visalia in Hanford and besides the cow**** smell, I dont mind it. as far as shows and car related stuff, we're right in the middle of everything. you can be to the bay area or LA in 3 hours give or take. royalshifter is in Fresno, and a really great guy. muttley as well. the car scene here seems good, although i'm sure not as established as SoCal. they are building like crazy here in the central valley you should be able to get a decent priced home.

 

my prayers go out to you and yours

sorry, i couldnt help it...

-scott noteboom

 

You got that right. Lots of Bars and Churches and bars on Churches.

 

Move to scenic Madera, it's mmmmuch better!

 

No Dave it's Moooo-ch better!!!

 

ooh, murder-a its scenic alright!

 

I have lived in Fresno for most of my life and I love it! The property values are much lower than southern Ca. and there are plenty of super cool people to hang out with. Tons of car shows and a couple of really great car clubs locally. My old sales area was from Fresno to Stockton and I have found a bunch of great deals on model A's and T's just by traveling the back roads. I say go ahead and make the move. Let me know if I can help you in any way.

 

Im rite here in Visalia still in high school and itz a good.. The car scene for older cars around here isnt that hard.. Yeah people have them but not many.. There is a good shop one of my buddys has in tulare.. But most of the scene over here is mini trucks, and alot of this big rim ********.. Me im different i keep it original and i get alot of haters takin **** 2 me cuz i like the ol skool style compare 2 this big rims on a lil peace of **** car they didnt put any of there time into...

 

BEEF. It's what's for dinner.

 

Lived in Visalia for 16 years.
A really nice town, in a way a small valley secret.
Not too many road signs on Hwy 99 indicating Visalia.

Right down the hill from Sequoia National Park and a little further takes you to Kings Canyon National Park.
Always a fun drive in the roadster.

There's quite a hot rod presence in the valley and cars are still to be found, but most of them are tucked away inside.

Hunting can be difficult, fresh water fishing can be good at times and the coast is not too far away.

More than a few golf courses.

Couple of shooting ranges.

There are/were some speed shops in the area.

Aluminum and stainless as well as DOM tubing and other forms of steel available at big outfits as well as small just south of Fresno.

Good shopping in Visalia, better shopping in Fresno.

Got all the big box stores and most everything seems to be within a six mile circle.

Famoso, home of the March Meet is 60 miles away.
A just right cruise to some of the best car stuff/drag racing you'll see.

Don't want to drive?
Fly in, land at the little strip next to the race track and walk over.

Couple of really nice airports that are seldom busy if you like to fly and there are small airports all over the valley.

Fun place to live and a lot to do.

Far as hot rod stuff, Fresno has some nice cruise nights.
So does Visalia.
Best local one to hit is the A&W downtown.
A&W on Mooney Blvd used to be the place, but got shut down due to the weenie who runs the discount store whined about his customers couldn't park anywhere.
Truth was, plenty of parking and more business on a Saturday night from the hot rodders and participants.

The police cooperates with hot rodders long as you're behaving.
Just be aware there's usually a plainclothes car at the A&W so burnouts aren't a good idea.

Lots of car shows at the small towns all over the valley.
Some of the best are late afternoon into the evening when summers on.

Best muffler shop in the valley is Newberrys.
He has hot rods come in from all over to get exhaust systems.
Tell Elroy I said hi....

 

Thanx C9! xcellent info.

thanx for the harsh reality check!

Well thats one positive point! I do like a good ole steak Grind! ....


Thanx for the feedback all, it is not a done deal, but was asked last night if I would be interested or remotely consider it, thought what better place then the good ole HAMB for feedback on the car scene etc.
The HAMB does rule!

Thanx & Happy holidays, xtra

 

Really? Where?

 

I've been gone for 3 1/2 years, but figured Chubby's on Blackstone would still be going on Friday nights.
I hope I'm remembering the name right.

Seems like they'd be mentioned in the Fresno Bee in the "whats happening" on Friday, Saturday etc. section.

Usually close to the religious section and their whats happening at what church etc.

 

WOW, makes me want to move there.

 

Its nice up that way....my in-laws are in Co****gold, right by the casino.

 

I live in A****er just 5 min north of Merced I dig this area it is kind of quiet but growing rapidly. Don’t know if it will ever happen but we are supposed to get a riverside race way here http://www.rmpracing.com As for the car scene we are a little spread out but if you look you will find some great people to hang with….nothing like so cal……better

 

The Valley is an interesting place. I don't live there, but I do alot of business there.

In terms of hot rod scene...

1. Famoso
2. Fresno Auto-Rama
3. American Graffiti
4. Turlock Swap Meets
5. Local race tracks
6. Lots of barns/equipment yards
7. Straight, flat, uncrowded roads
8. Valley HAMBsters

Heck, what else do you need?

 

They started having it at the Chubby's on Gettysburg/First but very few cars show up and they are always the same old fibergl***billetmobiles. There is almost nothing going on in Fresno car wise anymore.

 

Merced isn't a bad little town. They just built a new college (UC system) and there's a fair amount of development happening around it.

Good Luck...

 

true about some of the blackstone shows giving way to the billetgl*** but I know Thee Wanderers organize at least a show a month at a Tower night club and have been good about setting up day/afternoon shows.
there are a ton of car guys around here. last few months I've made a point of stopping and talking to guys driving their old cars and the general reaction is about the same..."I always see old cars driving around but I don't know very many people that are into it..."
and there are quite a few HAMBers around here.

I grew up in hanford, now live in lemoore and am looking for somewhere between hanford and fresno. but the lemoore-hanford-visalia area is great. plenty of shopping, TONS of open country, close to the mountains and the coast, between LA and SF. almost all the car guys around here I've run into work (or have worked) on their own stuff.

and...the spade 8's are here...what else do you need to know?!

 

i lived up north in stockton ,(grew up there) theres alot going on in central to northern cali....not as much as so cal but still alot of great stuff....turlock swap is always fun...mater of fact when i get a chance after i finish schooling....im headed back up that way.....still alot of old tin hidden away too...some right off the freeway(99that is )

 

Live in Kingsburg (10,000) where the Kings River crosses 99, love it, no traffic, lots of car guys, annual car show, lots of old tin, no traffic, no significant crime, neighbors take care of each other, no traffic, 55 minutes to the cabin at 6100 feet at Sequoia-Kings Canyon Park, 70 minutes to Famoso, 90 to Turlock or Yosemite, 135 minutes to Cayucos-Morro Bay-Pismo Beach, and lest I forget to say it, No Traffic!

Lived in the Bay Area and discovered commuter traffic is not my idea of a quality lifestyle. Rearended by people on cell phones twice in two years. The last guy who hit me pushed the trunk in a foot. When he got out of his Suburban he walked up to me and said, "Good thing yours was an old car."

Only downside here is August heat and January fog, but I'm usually in the mountains or at the beach then. I tell people the Valley is a great place to live 10 months a year. For the price of a house anywhere else you can have a very nice house here with neighbors who watch it for you, and a place in the Sierra Nevada mountains you can get to in less than an hour.

 

What would a 3 bedroom with a triple garage run in the area's talked about ... Merced, Visalia, Kingsburg? Thanx,xtra

and thanx for the feedback.

 

Visalia/Tulare area;
http://visalia.craigslist.org/rfs/

Merced Area;
http://merced.craigslist.org/apa/

Enjoy!

 

if you're talking rent, I'm in Lemoore on the golf course in a couple year old house, 3 br/2bath, 3 car garage for $1,200/month...

from what I've seen, a relatively new house in kingsburg's a bit less than Hanford and it's pretty central as far as Hanford/Visalia/Fresno...along with either the mountains or the coast.

Craigslist is very heavily used here so check that, whether you're looking for a rental or purchasing...

 

You can find houses over here like crazy. Just matters if you want to rent or buy. Like rite now down the street from me there is a 3/2, 2 car garage with nice size yard for rent.. Very nice inside for i beleave 1,000 a month. The house my parents and I am in is 3/2 2 car garage and and big *** yard with RV parking and a work shed in the back. I love this house got two cars outside and 2 where the RV parking is. The best thing about the RV parking is that its in the backyard and its gated in. Very nice area to live though

 

ah hell what ever ya do where ever ya move come check us out here in Fresno were Thee Wanderers car club of Fresno. Always godd to meet car people

 

you are really going into a drought zone compared to LA. each little town has it's annual car shows and once in awhile some burger joint may start up a cuise night but, yawn, oh well.......houses are a bargin now......There are alot of hot rods in the valley, but they are either full on racers or start,em up once a monthers.......also there is some clandestin street racing here an there, most notibly the "oaky nationals" west of fresno- firebaugh, comming up soon.....should be some 9-10 second cars, even early iron.....I've said way too much......WE HAVE FAMOSO, THANK GOD I live in reedley, between fresno and visalia, both daughters going to school, one in long beach, one in south 'frisco, It is way cheaper here. best of luck, OLY

give to cancer research
The cancer car lives

 

Hey wanderers i didnt know you were on here. **** i thought you guys were only on myspace...