Spend the weekend loving good cars -- clunkers or not
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It’s exciting to hear that the Cash for Clunkers initiative seems to not only be getting those gas-guzzling old pickups and SUVs off the road, but is also benefiting American automakers in the process.
But if you can’t help being tuckered out from hearing those three words -- Cash for Clunkers, Cash for Clunkers -- ad nauseum in auto news everywhere, then you’ll be relieved to know that events still exist for you to show appreciation for those old classics, whatever the mpg.
Here are five local events this weekend to take your mind off of the demands of fuel efficiency so you can just enjoy good cars:
-- First Friday Niter Navigation Rally, Mission Hills. If you scorn maps and GPS devices, this navigational road rally by the Santa Monica Sports Car Club could be for you. Each rally will cover 50 to 75 miles on fun-to-drive country roads, and you are scored by your driving and navigating skills (i.e. arriving at checkpoints on time -- not early, not late.) Watch out for traps, make sure your car safety standards are up to date, and bring license and proof of insurance. Santa Monica SCC/SCCA; Bank of America lot, Devonshire Street and Sepulveda Boulevard; Friday, 7 p.m.; www.smscc.org.
-- All Ford Car Show, Yorba Linda. Celebrate the all-Americanness of Ford and Lincoln Mercury-bodied classic cars, street rods, trucks, and sports cars at this summer car show. Bring cans to donate to the Orange County Food Bank and enter to win a Sanyo 52-inch TV (one raffle ticket per can). John Force Race Station, 22722 Old Canal Road; Sunday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.; www.johnforceracestation.com.
-- Hi-Performance Swap Meet & Car Show, Long Beach. Vintage, classic and high-performance trucks are on display at this car show/swap meet, held 14 Sundays a year. And get your fill of new and used vintage and high-performance car and truck parts, tools and accessories on sale in the vendor area. Veterans Memorial Stadium, Long Beach City College campus; Saturday, 6 a.m. to 1 p.m.; www.toppingevents.com.
-- 2nd Annual Wounded Warrior Car Show, Long Beach. Benefiting the Injured Marine Semper Fi Fund, this car show features 300 pre-1974 American cars, trucks, special-interest vehicles and motorcycles. WyoTech Campus, 2161 Technology Place; Sunday; Gates open at 6:30 a.m.; 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.; www.woundedwarriorcarshow.com.
-- 6th Annual Walk in the Park Car Show, Simi Valley. The Simi Valley Elks Club’s friendly and casual car show is ‘50’s themed this year, with a chili cook-off, raffles and prizes to keep things exciting. There is no entry fee or admission charge. 1561 Kuehner Drive; Sunday; 12 to 3 p.m.
A note: the Dodgers Grand Slam Car Cruise at Dodger Stadium set for Sunday has been canceled due to scheduling conflicts.
-- Kelsey Ramos
Photo: 1937 Ford Coupe from the 2008 Wounded Warrior Car Show. Credit: Wounded Warrior Car Show.