CdM Car Show Adds Patriotic Flare

posted: September 11th, 2011 02:17 pm | 1Comment

About 2,000 people attended the 8th Annual Coastline Car Classic today at Big Corona Beach, checking out hot rods and vintage beauties and for the first time, in a nod to the 10th anniversary of 9/11, vintage military vehicles and other patriotic elements.

“Freedom is not free,” said Richard Lopez of Tuscon, who created the Memorial On Wheels that was on display at the show. The Memorial On Wheels includes a 1975 Chevrolet Nova covered in images from Sept. 11, 2001; Lopez takes tours throughout the country, he said.

Near the display of military vehicles, members of the 82nd Airborne WWII Living History Association talked to the crowd. Dressed in vintage paratroop uniforms, the men showed their vintage equipment and weapons to enraptured children and adults.

“We’re teaching kids about World War II history,” said Fred McDowell, who is a Costa Mesa firefighter. “Nowadays, those veterans are dying. Someday there will be no one left. We have to keep the stories alive.”

Brian Roitman, 9, of Newport Beach, asked if he could try on the steel helmet — which was heavier than he thought. He also admired the old-style rifles.

“I’ve seen these things on TV,” Brian said. “But to see it in person is cool. This is awesome.”

Brian’s father, Steve Roitman, said he liked how the car show added the patriotic elements this year.

“It makes it special, being 9/11,” he said.

Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce President Linda Leonhard called the show a success and added that she was glad to have Camp Pendleton Marines in attendance as guests.

The car show will run until 4 p.m. today.

This year the event also raised money for the Pediatric Cancer Research Foundation.

One Response to “CdM Car Show Adds Patriotic Flare”

Comments

Jamie

September 11th, 2011

Great show! We went down and looked at all the old cars, and the new ones too. The $200,000 plus Bentley should fit in my garage nicely. It seemed the "Batmobile" was the king of the show! I've owned the same old car for nearly 30 years now, a new paint job and some engine chrome and maybe I'll bring it down in the future. I did notice a couple of the Rolls Royce's were missing an important component - the "Grey Pupon" mustard, though we did arrive after lunch. My only complaint, I don't think the Heliotrope stairs should be closed to the public as they have been the past two years. This blocks normal public access to the beach and inconveniences many people. I'd like to see the set-up return to the way it was in past years where there was a corridor for beach users to walk down the stairs and along the storm ditch to the jetty area. If the VIP's were going to use the grassy area it would be a simple matter to have gates, since they require a special ticket in there anyway. This would allow the normal beach users to still enjoy the public beach while accommodating the car lovers.


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