Hail to the Coupe

Looking like Warren Harding, Woodrow Wilson, Grover Cleveland or even William Henry Harrison could be your ticket to the nation’s capital if you win the presidential look-alike contest Sunday at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library.

The winner of the contest, part of the annual Reagan Retrospective Classic Car Show and barbecue at the library near Simi Valley, gets a seven-day all-expenses-paid visit to Washington, said publicist Olga Badilla.

“The visitors will decide whoever is the most outstanding presidential look-alike,” Badilla said. “We encourage the contestants to come in full costume.”

Earlier this week, Badilla tallied up the entrants.

“So far, we have over 15 presidential look-alikes--Lincoln, Roosevelt, Washington and we actually do have a Millard Fillmore.” There’s also a Reagan, she said.

The Gipper’s hillside museum will also become a giant parking lot for scores of cool cars, in a show sponsored by the Tuttle-Click Automotive Group.

“We will have more cars than last time--over 90 cars so far,” Badilla said. “Some of the special ones include a 1966 Aston Martin, a 1937 Cord Custom Beverly Supercharged, a 1955 Chevy and a couple of 1940 Fords, among others. One of President Reagan’s cars, a 1974 Ford Custom Ranch Wagon, will also be on display.”

The cars will be stationed throughout the grounds, with the Rolls-Royces in the courtyard and some of the finer race cars in the Peartree Terrace.

The barbecue lunch, at $9 a person, will offer a choice of mesquite-flavored tri-tip or char-broiled chicken, plus the usual beans and garlic bread. There’s also a kids’ menu, consisting of a hot dog, soda and chips for $5.50.

All this and music too? This year’s soundtrack will be provided by the Left Coast Rhythm & Blues Band.

While dream cars garner the attention outside, an exhibit inside the facility, “Queen Victoria--Powerful Ruler of a Mighty Empire,” recalls the days when people were so tough they didn’t need cars. The car show is free; “Queen” costs $5.

Library visitors will find plenty of room for parking at the top of the hill and a shuttle at the bottom.

And did we mention that the outdoor show is being held in honor of former President Reagan’s birthday?

“President Reagan’s 90th birthday is actually Feb. 6,” Badilla said. “Between three and four thousand people came last year, and this year we expect as many, if not more, depending on the weather. We always hope the weatherman is a Republican.”

DETAILS

Reagan Retrospective Classic Car Show at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library, 40 Presidential Drive, Simi Valley; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Free. 522-2977.

Bill Locey can be reached by e-mail at blocey@pacbell.net