kessler and reventlow, driving reventlow's mercedes-benz sl aluminum coupe had stopped at blackwells corner on ca rt. 466/133 on september 30, 1955 on their way to the salinas road races when james dean and his mechanic, rolf wutherich pulled in with dean's porsche spyder. they all agreed to meet for dinner at paso robles, about 60 miles away that evening. reventlow and kessler took off 10 minutes earlier. dean never made it as he was involved in a fatal two-car crash at rt. 466/41 near cholame 30 miles away. kessler, today, remains the last person alive who spoke with james dean before his death.