By DOUGLAS W. MOTLEY – Senior Writer

Participation in last weekend’s Antique and Classic Wooden Boat and Car Show at Lake Arrowhead Village was down slightly, many believe, due to the cold, foggy and drizzly weather that apparently discouraged some wooden boat and woodie car enthusiasts from displaying their vehicles and boats at this year’s 38th annual event.

Event Coordinator Rob Cassel, a former board member of the Antique and Classic Boat Society of Southern California, told the Alpine Mountaineer, “We were down this year with, I think, 17 boats in the water. I’m hoping it gets back to normal next year.”

According to a spokesperson for the Rim of the World Historical Society, the event sponsor, the number of spectators during the seven-hour-long show is estimated at over 1,000 persons, which is lower than last year, again likely due to the inhospitable weather.

Tiger Lilly, a 1958, 21’ Chris Craft Continental owned by Rudy Pock, garnered People’s Choice, Ladies Choice and Best Craft of Show trophies.

At the awards presentation, which took place at the nearby Burnt Mill Beach Club, trophies were awarded to the following winners: Best 1959 and Newer Utility – Mattia Mou, 1969 21’6” Riva Olympic owned by Ben and Anthy Price; Best 1958 and Older Utility, Best Outboard, Best Owner Restored Boat – Vino y Queso, 1957 16’ Skipper Craft Comet owned by Dan and Kris Carratturo; Best Century – Julia Cheree, 1968 17’6” Century owned by Guy and Norine Giacopuzzi, who attended the very first Lake Arrowhead Wooden Boat Show in 1985; Best Post War Double Cockpit – Anabelle, 1953 18’ Chris Craft Riviera owned by Barrick and Susan Smart; Best Triple Cockpit, Farthest Traveled and Oldest Boat in Show – Dutch Treat, 1932 23’6” Hacker Craft Dolphin owned by Tim and Linda Vanderveen; Skipper’s Choice – Escapade, 1959 17’ Dorsett Catalina owned by Bob and Janet Kircher; People’s Choice, Ladies Choice and Best Craft of Show – Tiger Lilly, 1958 21’Chris Craft Continental owned by Rudy Pock; Best of Show and Best Engine – Ezduzit, 1954 Chris Craft Racing Runabout owned by Rob and Maggi Cassell.

The Best 1940’s Woodie trophy was won by Bill and Rosemary Sampson of Malibu for their 1948 Mercury.

Ezduzit owner Rob Cassell, who has been coming to the Lake Arrowhead show every year, with the exception of the so-called COVID years, said he had first seen Ezduzit  (this year’s featured boat) in Big Bear about 25 years ago. “It was painted yellow and configured wrong,” he said of the 158 horsepower, double-cockpit Chris Craft. Then, five years ago, he discovered the same boat in Lake Arrowhead and learned that it was originally a Lake Arrowhead boat and that it was for sale, so he bought it. “The first thing I did was remove the yellow paint, and then I restored it back to original condition.”

Longest Drive honors went to Mike and Connie Taylor of Flagstaff for their 1937 Dodge Westchester Suburban.

Meanwhile, around the corner from the village docks, the Up the Hill Woodie Car Club sponsored its annual display of a dozen or more classic Woodie automobiles. Best of Show was awarded to Bud Macer of Huntington Beach for his maroon 1946 Ford. He told the Alpine Mountaineer that he bought his woodie in 2002 from a woodie dealer in Scottsdale, Ariz. “This is in unrestored, original condition. Last year, it won the William O’Neal Award, which was named for the founder and president of the National Woodie Club. Best 1939 or Older Woodie Award went to Bob and Jenny Randall of Costa Mesa for their green, 1948 Ford Deluxe; Best Steel and Wood Body trophy went to Wayne Yada of Visalia for his red, 1950 Ford Country Squire; Best Lakeside Woodie Award was given to Mick and Robin Carolan of Garden Grove for their coral sand, 1950 Ford Custom. The Best Tin Woodie trophy was awarded to Juan Rodriquez from Oak Hills for his blue, 1964 Nova.

The Steel and Wood Body Award was presented to Wayne Yada for his 1950 Ford Country Squire.

Capturing the “Longest Drive” award was Mike Taylor, who brought his 1937 Dodge Woodie all the way from Flagstaff, Ariz. Taylor said he bought his yellow Dodge Woodie in Charlotte, N.C., about 45 years ago and had it shipped to Flagstaff. “It was partially restored, but all original, and I improved the restoration,” Taylor said of the vehicle, which sports a 218-cubic-inch engine, with a one-barrel carburetor and three-speed transmission.