Sorry to hear of your personal situations, Mike. Also, as a native of Orange Co. for 31 1/2 years,( 1963 - 1995 ), I have my own intimate memories of SMOG. Cancelled P.E. @ school, my lungs & eyes burning after playing outdoors, that funny smell on my skin. I also recall attending the NASCAR race @ Ontario Motor Speedway the one year the Santa Ana Winds blew the SMOG away. Driver David Pearson was surprised to see the San Gabriel Mtns were so CLOSE to the track; the SMOG always masked them !!!
Regarding Winterail, this event is worth attending if at all possible. Vic, Evan, Steve & Cheryl put in A LOT of hard work to make this the best Railfan event in the country. Don't believe me - just ask the magazine editors who ALL attend from across the country. Part of the success of Winterail is the location. The theatre in the Scottish Rite Temple has great sight lines from its 800+ seats, as well as good acoustics and a ceiling tall enough for a 25 ft screen !!!