What is one of the first things you experience in a trip to Disneyland? The tram ride. It helps set the tone for the rest of the day or evening and seems like a gentle transition from the world outside to the special event waiting for you and your family.
This year, the Seal Beach Annual Classic Car show took a note out of that business playbook to create an all new shuttle service. For the first time in at least recent memory, parking for the car show will be anything but a problem. It will be a pleasure.
“My ultimate goal was to obtain some sort of shuttle service,” said Brian Warner, Car Show Chairman. “Our first try was the Los Alamitos school district and the Boeing parking lot. Unfortunately, it was too expensive to rent the school buses. I knew we needed something to change the way the car show participants and visitors experienced our town, and needed to improve the parking impact for our residents.”
After the determination that Boeing and the school district wasn’t going to work, John Morris, the new general manager of McKenna’s in the Los Alamitos Bay Landing, called Brian directly and heard of the need for parking.
Over a lunch meeting and along with Peter of the Big Red Bus Company, a deal was struck. Morris was going to finance the shuttle service with the Big Red Bus. In return, there are five banners to communicate this incredible parking and shuttle opportunity.
This parking is completely free and includes the lots up to the Crab Pot and even overflow at the Seaport Marina hotel. Warner said this would be approximately 700 spaces. These buses run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in a continuous loop. In addition, there is a host on each bus. Jo Dawson, Rob Janke and other local business leaders will provide a rolling commentary to riders on the bus to welcome them to the car show and our community.
Shuttle pick up location will be indicated by sandwich boards and parking lot attendants ushering visitors to the pick up point which will also have an easy up tent with balloons and the car show program booklet. The drop off point will be in the grassy area of Grace Community Church on 8th Street, with water and more information available and provided by the church.
So even if you are a resident, you might want to grab a ride out to McKenna’s, Busters and the Los Alamitos Bay Landing area for a quick trip and to enjoy the small tour. I promise, it is not an “E ticket” ride, nor will it cost you a penny!
Seth Eaker is the immediate past president of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce and founder of Black Marble Consulting.
