Hi Shoeman (Ouch, that's too tight!)
I'm sure others from your area will chime in with some answers to your questions. This is just a word (actually, more than a word) about how we organize the posted messages.
This website has various Forums for messages by subject matter. In that way, if a person is interested in what events are going on, can go through the Events Forum and not have to look in the other Forums for that information.
It's kind of handy although if you followed that system, you would have posted your message in two parts in two Forums: the Ebay and Other Vendor Experiences Forum for your SF Mechanic and Upholstery sources, and the Events Forum for your "Anyone want to drive..." question.
There is no harm in lumping subjects together. It's just not usually done.
Don't worry about this. You will soon fall into the way we work as you keep using this site.
Moderators sometimes move message to the "correct" Forums but as your message covers two Forum subjects, I guess General Discussion is OK.
A way to find answers even before you post is to do a Search with key word then click on the messages that result..and don't for get to look and search the Technical Manual. It has lot of good stuff about many, many subjects.
A suggestion: if you click on "Members" at the top of the Page, you can search for CA or San Francisco members to find others in your area (if the other members were kind enough to put the Location in their Profile...not all members do that.)
Welcome and and the best with your car. Of course, we know you will post photos of you car in the Photos Forum. Photos that help show or understand an issue are posted in the message in the proper subject Forum. Photos which are primarily to show the car or places it's been are posted in the Photos Forum.
Keep posting even if you are a bit confused by these few words...we'll move what has to be moved. The site also has a place for introducing New Members and messages about the website and how to use it. Please look around...there's a lot to be seen.
Richard M. Moderator