(Photos by Mary-Justine Lanyon)

By Mary-Justine Lanyon

The 80 vehicles – cars, trucks, vans, motorcycles – that were entered in this year’s classic car show drew a huge crowd of admirers to Lake Arrowhead Village on Saturday, July 29.

Crestline resident Russ Keller and his 1959 Studebaker Semi-Hawk.

“Members of the Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead came together as a team to put on a great show,” said organizer Jeri Simpson. “We had a remarkable turnout due to the quality of the automobiles and motorcycles displayed. Moreover, Lake Arrowhead Village merchants benefited from the large crowds of tourists and locals who joined in the fun.”

One of the winning entries was the 1928 Indian Scout lovingly restored by Kenny, Don, Russell and Dennis Majors. The motorcycle, the brothers said, had been in the family for all 95 years of its life, although it had gone through several incarnations. At one time, they noted, it had been turned into a garden tractor.

Russell had the pile of parts in his garage for years before the brothers decided to restore it to its previous glory. Most of the parts are original; Don found some missing ones in Portugal.

The project, Russell said, “kept the family together.” It took the brothers 15 years to complete the project, which won Best of Show Motorcycle.

Mark Matejka and his 1968 Mercury Cougar XR7.

The other winners included: Best of Show-Todd Hand,1956 Chevy Bel Air; Best Vintage Motorcycle-Anthony Dyke, 1949 Harley Davidson El Panhead; Pre-1950 Best Car or Truck-Richard McCool, 1937 Ford Sedan; Best of 1960-1970 Car or Truck-Jim Rose, 1970 Chevrolet Camaro; Best Use of Chrome-Russell Abrams, 2000 Harley Davidson Heritage; Best Post-1980 Car or Truck-Scot Stride, 2011 Dodge Challenger R/T; Most Exotic Car-Art Clark, 1955 Powell Sport Wagon; Best Interior-Lloyd Johnson, 1956 Chevrolet Sedan 210; Best Paint-Michael Rose, 1932 Ford Tudor; Best Engine Compartment-Sheree Driscoll, 1970 Chevrolet Nova; Best Truckbed or Trunk-Taylor Thorn, 1953 Chevrolet 3600.

Simpson noted that the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Foundation made a net income of $3,914 from the show. “This income will be utilized to provide community grants and scholarships for the local Rim communities,” she said.

She added that, in the last fiscal year, July 2022 through June 2023, the Lake Arrowhead Rotary Foundation gave $139,784 to the Rim communities in grants, scholarships and community service projects.