Seattle Sun Newspaper - Vol. 7, Issue 6, June 2003
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The 10th Annual Greenwood
Classic Car and Rod Show
By MATTHEW PREUSCH
Organizers of this year's Greenwood Classic Car and Rod Show are planning a beefed up festival, with more music and vendors packing Greenwood Avenue North than in past years.
Organizers are hoping to attract more than just the auto-obsessed, said Mary McCann of the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce.
"It is the big summer street fair event for the Greenwood-Phinney neighborhood," said McCann.
The 11th annual car show is planned for Saturday, June 28, along Greenwood Avenue, between North 70th and North 87th streets.
McCann said this year's car show will have several new attractions. Among them is a music stage, sponsored by local Union 76 gas stations, which will feature live bands between 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. The music stage was organized in response to the popularity of last year's live act, Ginny and the Tire Kickers.
The fire station at North 73rd Street is going to host a children's area, with such juvenile diversions as face painting, tours of Engine 21 and balloon tying.
The chamber, McCann said, has also asked local crafts makers and musicians to join the show.
"It's hard to imaging people not just loving looking at the cars, but we are trying to broaden the appeal," said McCann.
Cars, though, are still the main attraction: McCann said up to 600 vehicles, from low riders to Model T's, will pack Greenwood Avenue the day of the festival, 100 more than last year.
The car show officially begins at 10 a.m., but owners usually start showing up around 7 a.m. to buff their vehicles and catch up with other gear heads.
At the end of the day, a panel of volunteer judges will award commendations in 17 categories, such as best stock car or best convertible. Red Mill Burgers, which is co-sponsoring the car show, also gives out an award. And participants themselves will vote for who should win the Best of Show award. Last year's winner, Bob Johnson's 1934 Packard, graces this year's car show posters and shirts.
Gary Teachout, owner of Gary's Games and Hobbies in Greenwood, has added a special new category this year: "Best Car That's Older than Gary." For the record, that would a pre-1935 model.
"That's a fun new one that no one knows about," said McCann.
McCann said the car show continues to be popular with auto rally regulars because of the low-key neighborhood setting.
"It's fun for them to be in a neighborhood, where so much is going on, instead of in a fairground or a mall parking lot. It's much more dynamic," she said.
Just in case, the first 500 participants receive goodie bags and commemorative dashboard plaques.
Registration is $15, or $20 the day of the show. For more information call the Greenwood-Phinney Chamber of Commerce, 789-1148, or visit the chamber's Web site at www.greenwood-phinney.com.