Film Festival Wraps For 2007

The first-ever Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival was held in Oakhurst last week.

The five-day Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival featured both well known films, such as “Grand Prix,” and lesser known ones such as “Finish Line.” Also featured in the festival was a ’50s fashion show and a performance by “Mr. Elvis,” Johnnie Rae.

"It was terrific," said Dave Wolin of the Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival, which last week drew people to the corner of highways 49 and 41 to ogle slick cars, talk to famous drivers and see auto-related movies.

Wolin, who was instrumental in planning the four-day event, said he is sure there will be another one.

"We'll get together to sort out what we did right and what we did wrong," he said of the committee that worked long hours to make it happen and longer hours to be on the scene.

Wolin said there were no vacancies in local hotels, one way to judge the success of the festival. He said before the event that filling the town was one of the event's goals.

"I talked to some people who came up on the spur of the moment, and they had to stay in Mariposa or even in the park (Yosemite)," he said.

At Willow Bridge Books on Friday afternoon, actor Richard Kiel was signing photos and copies of his book, "Making It Big in the Movies." He said a lot of fans had stopped by.

"I like to talk to people," he said, and proved it by giving some advice to a young man trying to break into the business.

"Selling is a good job to have," he said.

One of his jobs was selling screen doors door-to-door. Another was real estate.

"You have to take care of your family," he said.

Over in the big white tent, "Mr. Corvette," Dick Guldstrand, was having himself a good old time.

"I've talked to people I haven't seen in 20 years," he said, posing beside his vehicle of choice. "I'm having a wonderful time. This whole thing is revalidating my childhood."

Guldstrand, whose brother lives in the Mountain Area, has spent 53 years with Corvette.

Jesse and Greg McAdams of Ahwahnee learned a few things in the AAA Motorsports Experience. Both Yosemite High School students "crashed" their race cars in the simulator, but it wasn't for lack of trying. The two were totally focused on the screen showing what a driver sees on a track while they sat at steering wheels trying their best to win.

They agreed it was "really fun."

"I have a new respect for the drivers," Jesse said.

"It was a real challenge," said Greg, who had a spectacular spin out.

Bill Volner of Bass Lake said he was there because he has an interest in cars, and he particularly enjoyed time spent with the reps from Norcal Karters, who had go-carts on display, and hearing from the Riverside Motorsport people about a proposed track in Merced.

"It takes a lot of time to soak this all in," Volner said.

Chris Scribner, the go-cart guy, said that most people who stopped by his display wanted to know more about what he called the race car that goes 80-90 m.p.h. three-quarters of an inch off the ground.

"They are curious about the sport in general and the engines and chassis in particular," he said. "And you don't have to be a millionaire to race a go-cart."

Susan Wiley of Oakhurst showed up because "I have a 15-year-old who wants to be a driver. He got to meet some racing celebrities," she said.

"I hope it continues and that it will bring in a lot of tourism dollars," Wiley said.

It wasn't just the displays and celebs that drew people to the festival, of course.

Films and documentaries (and one film that's still in the works, "Hot Rod Horror,") were well represented. They took over theaters 4 and 5 of the MET. Movies ranged from "Grand Prix" starring James Garner, and "Cannon Ball Run II" (introduced by Kiel, who had a role in the movie) to "Big Wheel," a 1949 soaper starring Mickey Rooney. Documentaries covered the Indianapolis 500, Riverside Raceway, "The Sound of Speed" and a 1965 television piece, "The Wonderful World of Wheels."

Actor Richard Kiel, who played “Jaws” in certain James Bond movies, visits with Martha Pruneda at the Willow Bridge Bookstore as part of the film festival festivities.

Jack Wright shows off his colorful shirt during the Southern Yosemite Automotive Film Festival.

James Garner’s friend, Tom Madigan (right), accepts the “Southern Yosemite Lifetime Achievement Award” from Dave Wolin (left) and Madera County District 5 Supervisor Tom Wheeler on behalf of Garner, the star of the 1966 film “Grand Prix.” Earlier in the festival, Wolin was presented with the “Lee Iacocca Award” from Harry Baker.

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