by Dyane Hendricks

Bob Senz with one of the smaller objects of his affection at the Half Moon Bay Airport. Photo: Dyane Hendricks.

This is the third interview that Bob Senz has had in almost as many days, which only makes sense. The Pacific Coast Dream Machines and Bob Senz are synonymous. What with the 20th anniversary of Dream Machines, everyone wants to know the thoughts of the show’s creator.

Combining his love of community and cars to craft a hugely popular vehicle show that benefits the Coastside Adult Day Health Center in Half Moon Bay was a logical step for Senz. “I’ve messed with cars and stuff and all my life,” says the Oregon farm boy who is sitting at 3-Zero Cafe at the Half Moon Bay Airport, where he is a regular.

The idea came when Senz was approached by the center’s board of directors, interested in creating a fundraising event. “They knew I was legitimate,” says Senz. He and wife Barbara had come to the San Mateo Coastside in the 1970s, opened Ocean Shore Hardware, and immediately got involved with the community.

The first idea was for a car concourse at the Half Moon Bay Golf Links, but Senz scrapped that idea. Thinking about an event that would attract a broader base of visitors and vendors, Senz and the board members decided on the Dream Machines. “I knew in my heart it would be a success,” Senz says, explaining that he knew bringing in steam engines, antique cars and vintage airplanes would attract grandparents and parents wanting to show their offspring the machines they knew as children.

Senz’s love affair with machines started on the family farm in Beaverton, Ore. He and his two older brothers had a single philosophy about cars: “If it had wheels on it, we raced it.” He describes his father, who owned a logging company in addition to the family farm, as a natural mechanic who could fix anything. He passed his talent and love for mechanics on to his sons.

Bob Senz sits with memories of a time gone by at his favorite hangout, the 3-Zero Cafe at the Half Moon Bay Airport. Photo: Dyane Hendricks.

But steam engines, cars and tractors were not Bob Senz’s only love. When he started high school, Senz met another freshman named Barbara. They married in 1954 after having gone steady for seven years. “I’m very proud of that,” says Senz, with a gleam in his eye. He and Barbara have three children, seven grandchildren and so far one great-granddaughter, about whom Senz exclaims in delight, “Yahoo!”

After high school, Senz served in the military. After his honorable discharge, he attended Portland State, earning a degree in computer science. He went to work for IBM, which was the beginning of his journey with Barbara to the coast. His skills got the attention of various companies who hired him both as a computer programmer and teacher. At one point he worked in Juneau, Alaska.

Bob and Barbara moved to Sunnyvale when the founder of Memorex offered him a job. Sunnyvale was fine, but they found themselves escaping to the coast for weekends. Finally, in 1975, they decided to make one final escape and rented an El Granada apartment. Senz purchased land in Half Moon Bay and in 1976 opened Ocean Shore Hardware, known for sage advice as much as hardware items.

Bob Senz with a Willys owned by Mark Andermahr of Half Moon Bay. Photo courtesy of Barbara Masek.

But Senz was always more than a business owner. He served on the Half Moon Bay Fire District Board, attended the Coastside Lutheran Church with Barbara — and both frequented and contributed to many worthy events and projects for the good of the community. When the Coastside Adult Day Health Center Board came to him, Senz said that his involvement was easy. The spouse of a devoted Ocean Shore Hardware employee was benefiting from the center’s services.

Dream Machines is now an event of stature that is managed by a full-fledged nonprofit board of directors and professionally promoted — but the first few years there was a lot of word of mouth, Senz recalls. He had worked in a lot of fender shops, so he drove around and called different shops in the area inviting them to show their unusual and vintage machines.

Bob Senz doing what he loves — “messing with cars.” Photo courtesy of Barbara Masek.

Senz is not surprised by the endurance of Dream Machines, and he credits much of the Dream Machines’ success to community involvement and the sheer will of the volunteers. “The volunteers blow me away. They do everything from collecting tickets to picking up the garbage,” he says. He also points to the volunteers from the Sheriff’s Department and California Highway Patrol who ensure traffic control and everyone’s safety during the event.

As the years progress, Senz hopes to see Dream Machines continue to grow in prestige, bringing in more spectacular machines and vehicles. He asks, “Where else can you go for $20 and see all this stuff, listen to music, and get airplanes rides?”