Geeezuz bro, you gonna be alright ? I'm 4+ hours from Mikes shop, an thought Lou was up in the Bay area. I'm not expecting the guy to rebuild my engine, maybe go over what's been done to the car, and take it for a spin.... I'm up here where there aren't any other active GN members so i'm kinda on my own.
Yup, I'm fine, and I'm a customer of his that hauls my car better than 450 miles to have him "lay his golden mits on my Buick. " when it needs it. I make an appointment to do that.
Admit it, by your own words, you're basically asking him to "take a spin", aka, get on your car, in a place he is thoroughly unfamiliar with, and risk all kinds of vehicular citations to "test" your car, no?
I'm not trying to be a dick, but I know him pretty well and he'd probably politely tell you to take a hike anyway.
You should just call him, he's a good guy and will help on the phone with what he can. But more than likely, he'll want to put his hands on the car, and that will involve an appointment at his shop, in Lake Forest, at his leisure.
I'm jus' sayin'.