CAR SHOW A DAD'S DAY CROWD-PLEASER.Byline: Don Holland Staff Writer Dads and those other American classics - motorcars of yesteryear yes·ter·year n. 1. The year before the present year. 2. Time past; yore. yes - were celebrated in grand style Sunday during the Father's Day Car Show at California Lutheran University Mission statement The University's mission statement is as follows: "California Lutheran University is a diverse, scholarly community dedicated to excellence in the liberal arts and professional studies. . Amid music and sunny skies, more than 200 gleaming automobiles were featured in the 11th annual car show and fund-raiser sponsored by the Milestone Car Society of California. Proceeds from the charity car show go to the Make-A-Wish Foundation The Make-A-Wish Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that grants wishes to children (2.5 years to 18 years old) with life-threatening medical conditions. , the Conejo Valley The Conejo Valley is a region spanning both Southeastern Ventura County and Northwest Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States. It was discovered in 1542 by Spanish explorer Juan Rodriguez Cabrillo, and eventually became part of the Rancho El Conejo land grant by Rotary Club and Cal Lutheran scholarships. ``Our first year, it was a small show with about 33 cars,'' said Bernie Hackett, an Oxnard Pontiac collector and one of the show's organizers. ``This year we have 215 old and new cars, everything from a 1911 Model T to a 1999 electric bicycle. But most of the cars are vintage.'' Teams of judges carefully inspected the cars from engine compartment to trunk before issuing their scores. But most attendees were out for a little sun, a little fun and some time with dad. A father's love of cars was passed to a new generation as Jim Masters of Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. strolled with his children through row after row of immaculately restored automobiles. It was a chance for 6-year-old Gharrision, a model car builder, to get a good look at the real thing. ``He likes the older cars, the old Model T Fords and the '37 Fords and Dodges,'' Masters said. ``I love the old muscle cars of the '70s. I think it was a good time in my life, high school, the football team. We had a car club.'' Mitchell Rudd of Simi Valley Simi Valley (sē`mē, sĭm`ē), city (1990 pop. 100,217), Ventura co., SW Calif. in an oil, fruit, and farm region; laid out 1887, inc. 1969. was out with his family to get some ideas for his latest projects: a 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air The Chevrolet Bel Air was an automobile series produced by the Chevrolet division of General Motors from 1953–75. From 1950–52, hardtops in Chevrolet's premium Deluxe model range were designated with the Bel Air name, but it was not a distinct series of its own. and a 1996 Plymouth Satellite The Plymouth Satellite was an automobile introduced in 1965 as the top model in Plymouth's mid-size Belvedere line. The Satellite remained the top of the line model until the 1967 model year, where it became the mid-cost model with the GTX taking its place as the top model. convertible. ``It's the best way (to spend Father's Day),'' Rudd said. ``These cars are family efforts, not just one person. And the kids get to help, too. They get to polish the chrome.'' Mark Pallock spent Father's Day showing off his baby - a gleaming 1958 Ford Edsel Ranger The Edsel Ranger was an automobile produced by the former Mercury-Edsel-Lincoln Division of the Ford Motor Company of Dearborn, Michigan, and sold through its Edsel marque in 1958. Rangers were built off the shorter Edsel platform, shared with the Ford Fairlane as was the Pacer. , one of only four such cars still in existence. The turquoise gem was a wreck when Pallock found it eight years ago wasting away in a barn in Van Nuys. Since then, he's logged countless hours and poured in more money than he'd like to admit. But when he cruises down the freeway, guzzling gasoline at 10 mpg, he gets plenty of smiles and honks of admiration from his fellow motorists. ``Usually, the reason you pick a car (to restore) is out of childhood memories,'' said Pallock, a Chatsworth resident. ``From the time I was 10 years old, I told myself I'd have one of these cars.'' Although the Edsel was basically a good car, it was a notorious financial failure for Ford because few managers stood by the rather upscale Edsel when sales lagged due in part to recession. ``It was a good car, but it was marketed very poorly,'' Pallock said. Ken Free of Thousand Oaks Toyota showed off the latest vehicle from the mind of auto executive Lee Iacocca - an electric bicycle. ``It'll go up to 15 mph and 20 miles on a charge,'' Free said as he demonstrated the seven-speed bicycle to onlookers. CAPTION(S): Photo PHOTO (Color) The annual Father's Day Car Show at Cal Lutheran shows off vintage wheels. Andy Holzman/Daily News |
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