Car meet isn’t all show – it’s also tell for collectors and restorers
Cars & Cruisin is more than just another car meet where hobbyists can appreciate each other’s vehicles. Founder Mel Craig wanted a place where helpful advice on car repair and related services could be shared.
Craig, owner of The Detailing Pros in Huntington Beach, started the weekly get-together on Jan. 27 as a way for his customers and fellow car enthusiasts to network with one another and with representatives from all around the automotive industry, including detailers, mechanics, body shop specialists and aftermarket parts retailers.
Far too often, he said, has he gotten an earful from customers about a paint or restoration job gone wrong, so he set out to try to fix that.
“Let’s find the guys who are really doing good work, who really know how to give customers good customer service, that’s not trying to rip someone off,” said Craig, who has been detailing cars for more than 40 years and developed relationships with retailers and automotive specialists in England and Australia.
So now, at 6:30 p.m. each Wednesday, members of the car club gather in front of Craig’s shop at 16882 Gothard St., near Warner Avenue. He says he has more than 100 members, who pay a $50 annual membership. The automotive industry representatives also have to pay to participate in the car meet, though they do not have to be members. Craig said he offers them different types of speaking packages, from meet-and-greets to workshops.
On a recent Wednesday, Craig was excited to see Bruce Morrison, managing director of Motor Active, an Australia-based marketing and distribution business for automotive aftermarket products including Meguiar’s, Liqui-Moly and American Legend.
Morrison said Craig’s idea to bring enthusiasts and automotive industry representatives together is a great idea that allows a valuable exchange of ideas about what is being done correctly and what is not.
“The car hobby can often lack cohesion, where everyone does their own thing,” he said. “I like it when you get a good mix, like this [car meet]. If you bring people together that have a shared passion, it shouldn’t matter what you’re into.”
Huntington Beach resident Marilyn Ribera said she has been looking for an event where she could pick the brains of other car collectors to find the best local businesses to work on her yellow 1966 Ford Thunderbird.
Birdie, as Ribera likes to call her Thunderbird, was parked in front of Craig’s shop and bathed in fluorescent lights during this particular meeting. With a flick of the ignition, the V8 engine roared to life and then settled into a nice burble as it idled.
Ribera said her car always reads 120 miles per hour. The previous owner got it up to that speed, and the needle became permanently stuck there.
She said she can live with a struck speedometer, but she has other complaints about mechanical service on the car, which she has owned since 2008. Now, Ribera said, she would rather put her faith in recommendations from other enthusiasts when it comes to getting work done on Birdie.
“You’re always looking for a good detailer, an upholsterer, someone that knows how to fix air conditioning or whatever,” she said. “To me, this is about the only place that you could really find a good place to go.”
Morrison said Cars & Cruisin is also a good way for people to find out if car restoration would be a worthwhile hobby.
Huntington Beach resident Steve Engel walked through the gallery of about 50 hot rods — all 1970 or older is the rule — trying to clarify what he should do. He had pretty much decided to buy a Ford Falcon or a Chevy Nova.
“I’m getting close to retiring and I think it would be cool to get a car, maybe a convertible, and go cruising,” he said. “Not only is this Surf City, but it’s also hot rod city.”
