Jjparker,
Highway 1 is just as curvy and slow as you remember it.
There have not been a lot of changes.
The MOC Spring National Rally is being held in Buelleton, CA in the middle of April 2007. That is about 40 miles north of Santa Barbara. If that works out with your schedule then plan on stopping by and visiting for a few days.
Happy Travels.
HamRad