Cars, Horses and Chili Are All Hot at Festival

A light breeze cooled the crowds at the Simi Valley Days festival Saturday, but the horses, hot rods and chili were all definitely smokin’.

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“There’s some chili out there that would curl your toes,” said Gary White, head judge of the Chili Cook-Off staged at the Simi Valley Drive-In. “A lot of people come out to see how hot they can make it.”

With a Godzilla-size outdoor movie screen as a backdrop, 16-year-old Jeremy Hanley was checking out the more than 50 gleaming convertibles and hot rods parked behind the chili booths at the antique car show.

“It’s everything that I like,” said Jeremy, nodding to a raven-black ’57 Chevy. “Something that goes fast and something that everybody else likes so I get a lot of ‘ooohs’ and ‘aaahs.’ ”

At the same time, Laura Martin’s 24-year-old horse, Chex-Me-Out, proved he still had the right stuff at the nearby Simi Valley Days Charity Horse Show. Martin, 33, of Simi Valley, rode out of the arena on Chex-Me-Out with a blue ribbon in the adult western equitation class.

“He came out of retirement for this,” said Martin, patting the sorrel quarter horse at the Arroyo Simi Equestrian Center.

This weekend’s horse show, cook-off and car show mark the middle of a two-week festival that will wrap up next week with a carnival and rodeo on a sprawling lot off Los Angeles Avenue at Madera Road.

Many of the nearly 500 people who turned out at the equestrian center Saturday saddled up and performed for the judges, but others came to watch from the bleachers and get pointers from competitors.

“I get to see what I’m working toward,” said Beth Gutknecht, a 28-year-old teacher from Simi Valley who started riding on a regular basis last year. “It’s very helpful to see people who are very good at what they do.”

Lindsay Dussaigne and her horse, All-That-Jazz, wowed the judges with their walking, jogging and loping in the western equitation 12-and-under class.

In April, the 9-year-old Camarillo resident fell off her mother’s horse and broke her leg, sending the youngster to the hospital for traction and a cast. Saturday’s competition was the first time Lindsay had ridden in a show since the accident.

“I was really excited to get back on a horse,” said Lindsay, clad in red jeans, a bow tie and a red plaid vest and holding her first-place ribbon. “It was kind of scary for the first show, but it was fun.”

At the Simi Valley Drive-In, near a marquis that read “Mortal Kombat,” nearly 20 food stands formed “Chili Row,” an alley of booths with names like “Yahoo-Wahoo Fire Brew” and “Rhino’s Breath Chili.” They were names that made Sandee Honisch shudder.

“My husband will eat anything hot, but not me,” said Honisch, 52, of Simi Valley, who works part time as a movie extra. “I’m a wimp.”

Rick Honisch said he was still looking for some really spicy stuff.

“I haven’t really seen any hot chili yet,” said the 54-year-old Rick, a buyer.

But Sandee Honisch wasn’t impressed by her husband’s bravado.

“Oh pleassse, “ she said.

Judges awarded “Best Chili of the Show” to the Kiwanis Clubs of Simi Valley and Santa Susana, but “Best Amateur Chili” went to upstart Rhino’s Breath Chili.

Marvin Canton, one of the Rhino chefs, said the punch in the recipe involved more than just tarragon and cumin.

“A little shot of tequila and beer,” said the 36-year-old Ventura resident, who was staffing the cornstalk-camouflaged booth. “You have to have a shot in the midst of making it.”

Carol Andrews was bored with the red stew hype and instead was sizing up a cherry-red ’57 Chevy convertible. Restored by 75-year-old Simi Valley resident Floyd Darling, this snazzy set of wheels came complete with drive-in movie trays attached to the windows.

“If I had this car, I would never make it to work,” said Andrews, 32, an escrow assistant from Simi Valley. “I’d just be cruising.”

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Simi Valley Days Calendar

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Time Event Location TODAY 8 a.m.-dusk Charity Horse Event Arroyo Simi Equestrian Ctr. 6 a.m. 5-10 K Run Fairgrounds Site WEDNESDAY 5-10 p.m. Carnival Fairgrounds Site THURSDAY 5-10 p.m. Carnival Fairgrounds Site 8-10 p.m. Rodeo Fairgrounds Site FRIDAY 5-midnight Carnival Fairgrounds Site SATURDAY 9 a.m. Parade Los Angeles Ave. at Erringer Rd. 11 a.m.-midnight Carnival Fairgrounds Site 1-3 p.m. Kowchip Bingo Fairgrounds Site 8-10 p.m. Rodeo Fairgrounds Site SUNDAY SEPT. 17 12-10 p.m. Carnival Fairgrounds Site 2-4 p.m. Rodeo Fairgrounds Site

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Admission to the carnival and rodeo is $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12 and seniorsbut does not include rides. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12 and seniors on Wednesday and Thursday. A $6 pass for rides can be purchased on Wednesday and Thursday.