Event Coverage Cruz N Eureka '09: this weekend

Hard to believe this year's staff planning is coming to fruition starting Friday. The 16th annual benefit car show for Make a Wish Foundation of Humboldt & Del Norte Counties (including %100 of all entry fees)kicks off Friday with the ice breaker bbq @ Humboldt Bay Inn in Eureka, 4p-7p, the poker run heads off from there @ 6 and winds up @ my stop, the Samoa Dragstrip, with extra prizes, raffles and food hosted by Redwood Vintage Rods (but not before you can get tattooed by Crusty Nut's kid at his stop on the Humboldt Hill scenic overlook).
Make a Wish Foundation, by the way, grants wishes of children with life threatening illnesses, and this show helps make that an ongoing reality for such children living in Humboldt & Del Norte Counties.
Show 'n Shine in Old Town Saturday, 8am-3pm, wtih the awards starting @ 3, the annual cruise through Old Town @ 5:30 starting at the boat ramp, the sock hop party at the Eagle House Inn starting at 8 (where my wife & I met 3 years ago, though that year at the Elks' Lodge).
Humboldt Kitten & I will be hella busy that day helping run it but even so meet me near the gazebo; as the show's announcer I'll be there most the day, doing some live on-air chats with Kool 105, general announcements, etc. Later on will sneak in some laps in the cruise
Would love to have Northcoast Hamber's meet there, what time works? Even (or especially) the lurkers I keep meeting.
Coincidentally there'll be a fundraiser chicken wing fest, midday, on the boardwalk with live bands, too. Bring wetnaps, people.
What a big weekend it's gonna be, hope to see you at some or all of our functions, cruisin for the kids and celebrating life.
Contact me with any questions, (707) 834-4151, the more the merrier, especially for the kids.
www.cruzneureka.org

 

Time kinda got away from me and I never pre-entered, is it too late? Can I register Friday nite am I out of luck?

 

You can still sign up Friday night. I will be at the poker run stop at the bottom of Humboldt Hill Friday night. On Saturday I have a swap meet stall so stop by, say hi, and maybe buy some of my junk.

 

Thanks for the info, and I'll certainly stop by your booth at the swap meet, but where is it? As goofy as it may sound, I've never been even as a spectator, so I'll be a total noob this weekend.

 

My friends Carl Hovey and Fred Peralta and I were invited and came to Eureka in 1965, for the Redwood Kings show. The car was featured in TRJ #39 last year. They had us make it the centerpiece of the show in 65.
Carl Hovey had been a member of the Redwood Kings. Just had to comment on that.

Tom Warner

 

I think this is the first year I have actually entered since they moved it to Old Town. The cars park all over 2nd St and side streets off of 2nd. The swap is on E st between 2nd and 1st I think. I'll have a black open car trailer loaded with junk. Looking foward to meeting up.

 

Cool history. Do you have a picture or two of the car for us to look at?

 

This is a Snapshot taken at the Oakland Roadster Show that year (1965)

 

TomWar, that is rad.

 

Got home a couple hours ago, I spent the day hanging out in the swap area purging my shop of surplus "junk" and some actual junk, and seeing old friends. The Rusty Nuts top pick went to a sweet '30 Tudor with all the fixins on a well detailed flathead.
Maybe Humboldt Cat got a picture of it.

 

Hey, my car was parked right near your trailer, but everytime I started to come over and introduce myself, you were kinda busy, so I didn't get a chance to meet ya. However, I did get to catch up with my buddy, Mike Delaney and found out that you and Brodie are neighbors! Man, I feel old, I remember when Brodie was a little kid! In fact I remember when I was a little kid! Anyway, small world isn't it? I did get to meet Humboldt Cat, though, he seems like a great guy, and it's nice to be able to put faces with the guys here. Jim

 

Sounds like a cool run.
Got any show pics?
I'd especially like to see a pic of the tudor!

Tom, that FED is the SHIT!

 

You should have just pushed your way to the front of the line. Sales came in waves, but I had a endless stream of friends come through and hang out. Overall, it was a fun day, despite the intermittent drizzle in the morning.

Yep, I've lived next to Brodie for 6 years or so. It;s always better to have a car guy next door, instead of some chronic complainer or whatever I'm doing.

 

I also saw Brodie just down the street from you BS'ing with someone. I haven't seen him in a few years, and he was also busy, so I didn't get a chance to say hi. But I gotta say, the Eureka show was certainly one of the best I've been to. Less gold chainers and more home-built cars seem to make it more "real", you know? My Dad also saw some of his buddies from the old days including Stan Ocheltree, a genuine character if there ever was one. He was the Sgt-at-arms when Dad first joined the Redwood Vintage Rods in the '70's.

 

Finally got home from a the big weekend of running the show and the drags (season closer got halted on rain in the 2nd rain). Lots of pics Humboldt Kitten & I took, despite how busy we were.
The Rusty Nuts c.c. Pic '09 was Rich Kelly's trad A sedan, really dig it...

 

Jim, it was great meeting you, too, after only seeing yer car @ Toni's last month. I have more pics of Kelly's cool sedan somewhere. Crusty Nut looked right at home lounging casually on a trailer of surplus shop shtuff. His most enticing piece (to me): a greasy 350/350 with a not writ on green tape: runs much better than it looks, $150. Unfortunately I was with Humboldt Kitten at the time, and there began a comical standoff between the two.
BUSY, that's for sure, but well worth the work, seeing so many happy people not caring that the day was mostly overcast and (in the morning) heavily misty.

 

Believe it or not this is the only shot I got running the poker run stop my club hosted @ the dragstrip, Friday. Hosted the fan belt toss game, LOTS of cars in it, and despite it getting dark & misty-wet, everyone parked it in the pits for the tower-side food n gathering for the ice breaker's end. Turns out its tough to snap shots and run the game at the same time. No races, but after the starting line game they'd cruise up the strip.

 

Saturday was the big show, we set up @ 5:30 am, wrapped up the sock hop at the Eagle House @ 11:30p. The cruise was PACKED at the entry point (boat ramp on 1st St.).
I was the announcer, joined Kool 105's Burly Man for on-air live radio remotes too. Had fun meeting up with friends, was able to sneak away from the gazebo area to check out cars, try to talk my wife into Brodie's '61 wagon, etc. Some shots we got later on, right before hosting awards:
BTW, one of my highlights in early setup was seeing this green Bucket T park amongst the Corvette Club (who were really helping with managing parking, btw), as the Corvette guys gave a bit of an on-foot wide berth as the T parked...

 

One of the cool things for the end o' the season show was seeing cars that'd not only won or been favorites at other shows & cruise-ins. Among this season's monthly Howell N Hot Rods' spectators' choice winners, Ron Sheehan's woody was voted (late last month) as the Best of the Best, neat to see it in a sweet corner space in Old Town. But I wonder if the recognition's going to his head... tennis anyone?

 

Fory, it was nice seein ya @ the show, helpin ya lug the tires you scored "around the block" (three blocks away, heh heh). The Hellcats Car Club prez was busy photog'ing cars, photog'ing his girl, and doin some 'striping, too.

 

Fellow Cruz N Eureka committe guy Ken Suiker of Rusty Nuts c.c. had his '57 Ford Custom out, til cooling problems shortened his fun right before the cruise. I can relate: Friday morning I finally got Humboldt Kitten's Nixon-era custom on the road for its first time in 4 years (we've had it for a year and half, this year replaced a lot on it), it runs fine before the radiator begins spittin bug juice along the underside of the radiator's top (I think, but easier to monitor since it's hoodless)(doesnt massively overheat while doing this). Big Bri's lowered Pontiac tailed me to the poker run in Samoa from my Work, made it as far as Arcata but had to ditch it at my old job and hop in his ride, to get there on time. Even so, after so much work it was great to see my buddy's black lowrider (pictured) behind me cruisin down 101.

 

Laurie & I had a few people help run the PACKED cruise that night, we hadn't seen it that packed since we don't know when.
Despite best efforts at the boat ramp, it bottle necked into 1st street, the whole thing looked a bit like a radiator test, but everyone stayed in good spirits. Last picture is of Steve Smith, whose beaut of a Mopar '70 Challenger got the People's Choice award, and is coming to a future Cruz N Eureka poster and t-shirt near you.
People had fun and some even donated more than the $10 cruise fee, all of which going to the Make a Wish foundation of Humboldt & Del Norte Counties that Cruz N Eureka benefits.
Anyone take any pics? Fory, how'd yer pictures come out?

 

DAMMIT.


Tim and Matt, I **WILL** be there next year!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

DAMMIT.

 

Listen Dave, if it helps, Theresa & I haven't been to any out of town shows, this year, partly from me not workin 'til last month (and she doin 6-day work weeks), and from being so busy with the local shows and dragstrip we're involved with. Doesn't help to work Saturdays, either. We'd love to come up to Pelican Bay for October's Sea Cruise, but again: we work Saturdays. Frustratin.
Today's scheduled season-ender Samoa Championships @ the dragstrip made it to Round 2 before the oncoming offshore storm clouds landed, we'll resume it around Sept. 27, Can you come down then, 26Tudor?

 

Dave, are the * because you might not really make it next year?
Is there going to be a Sea Cruise this year?

 

Matt, I don't care if I have to call in frickin' DEAD next year, I'm gonna be there, and maybe, just maybe, with the Model T instead of "Hitler's Revenge"...
Sea Cruise is on this year, October 9th, 10th, and 11th, the actual show is Saturday, but the Friday night before is when that seldom-seen 64 Malibu SS with the 6-71 blown Big Block rumbles out of the garage. lotsa cruisin going on on 101, the cops, unless you get REALLY stupid, just kinda look the other way, unless they have to get involved...

 

Cool, I might even make it up for that. If things REALLY fall into place, I might even drive the sedan.

 

Tim - Who knows, maybe I'll find a way to get to the Samoa Championships on the 27th..
I just got back from six weeks on the road (racing stuff) and probably won't be going anywhere for a while...
Looks like a great event though - congrats!
Scotty

 

Well, I of course can not let this go unanswered. For the record he has 3 engines in his garage(1 does belong to a friend, I'll give him that much) 1 at a friends house as I write this & 1 in a parts truck @ another location. That is the real reason for the so called stand off. BTW, Crusty Nut, if I come home & find that engine in my front yard, Boooyyyy, you are in soooo much trouble.

 

These are 2 of my favorite pix of the whole event. These kids(and I use the term kids lightly, since Fory really knows what he is doing) are the future of hot rodding. It's great to see the next generation keeping the hot roddin' fever goin'. Keep an eye & ear out for this kid because he is going to be a name every hot rodder knows within 10 years. He did some freehand work for the Pandraggers Prez, Big B, during the show also.

BTW, Fory I am really looking forward to having you do some pin stripping for me. Maybe at the drag strip in 2 weeks when we finish the season closer since we were rained out.