From bikes to buses – classics wow the crowd

“It was so hard to judge this car show. The cars are so gorgeous – I love them all!”

With those words, Stacy Lippert, president of the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Club, began awarding the trophies to the winners in the classic car and motorcycle show, held in Lake Arrowhead Village on July 31.

The car show was begun a decade ago by Jody Hughes and her late husband, Scott, as a charitable event. The Rotary Club took over three years ago and will donate all 2021 proceeds to pandemic relief both here and abroad.

The 75 cars and motorcycles on display around the Village drew a huge crowd. Some of the tiniest spectators were thrilled when owners allowed them to sit in their cars while car aficionados could be heard discussing specifics about the engines and restoration process.

The 20 trophies were sponsored by several local businesses: Lake Arrowhead Rotary Foundation, Arrowhead Fitness, K&E Promotional Products, ReMax Lakeside, Alexandra’s Emporium, Rocket Fizz, Bobadilla Finance, Brian Cohen, Chateau Antiques, Tea & Coffee Exchange, Zee Place, Papagayo’s, Studio Boutique and Mr. G’s For Toys.

Best of Show was awarded to Dan Bowman and his 1934 American Bantam. “This was the first show I entered the Bantam in,” Bowman said. He towed the car up from Apple Valley and has only put eight miles on it since restoring it. That restoration took place over 14 months in his garage.

Bubba Martus’ 2003 Harley won Best of Show: Motorcycle.

The President’s Choice award went to Devo Heath and his 1965 Ranchero, which featured a skeleton seated in the driver’s seat and is adorned with skulls – the door locks, the headlights and even the washer fluid reservoir.

The other awards include People’s Choice-Jim Londagin, 1950 Packard Deluxe Eight Club Sedan; First Place-Mark Barker, 1968 Camaro; First Place: Motorcycle-Craig Slape, 2020 Polaris Slingshot; Lady Judges’ Choice-Jim Schraeder, 1967 VW Bus; Men Judges’ Choice-Jim Taylor, 1941 Packard One Twenty; Best Speeding Ticket Magnet-Byron Rexwinkel, 1973 Porsche; Best Chrome-Richard Walsh, 1926 Depot Hack; Most Modified-Tom Cohn, 1967 Corvette; Coolest Car-Kathy Crooymans, 1956 Chevrolet Handyman Wagon; Cleanest Car-Chuck Beckley, 1956 Porsche Speedster; Most Exotic Car-Scott Mead, 1973 DeTomaso Pantera; Best Paint-Dale Nohre, 1933 Ford Phaeton Touring Car; Best Daily Driver-Mark Aubrey, 1972 Toyota Land Cruiser; Best Engine Compartment-Richard Ramirez, 1956 Chevrolet Bel Air; Best Movie Ready-Ronnie Ayala, 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air; Honorable Mentions-Gary and Karen Arellano, 1956 Chevrolet Nomad and Steve Brackett, 1937 Ford Coupe.

“I was thrilled by the car show,” said Rotarian Richard Lavin, who organized the show. “Everything went right: We had a gorgeous day, lots of quality cars to fill the Village and a fabulous crowd.

“For many of us,” Lavin added, “this was the first public event we’d attended since the beginning of the pandemic. 

I’m looking forward to continuing the tradition next year, which we’ve tentatively set for Saturday, July 30, 2022.”