It rained Friday evening, threatening the success of the Seal Beach Chamber of Commerce’s Classic Car Show. There was also a 30 percent chance of rain for Saturday, the day of the event.
However, it appeared that providence was merely washing the streets down for what turned into a bright and breezy sunny day that set the stage for what the show’s fans are saying was not only the biggest, but by far the best Car Show in Seal Beach that there has ever been.
“We are getting great feedback from show participants and guests on how to improve the show for next year,” said Vince Bodiford, chairman of the show.
“The planning for the 2015 show began while this year’s show was happening. We know we cannot make the show much bigger than it already is—so we’re focusing on making it better,” Bodiford said. “The credit for the success of the show really goes to the owners of the 600 cars who bring the most beautiful cars to this show, and to our volunteers who work literally around the clock on show day.”
The Navy estimated that 781 cars were parked on the base at peak time, and the base during the day parked over 1,000 cars.
“It was an amazing event,” said Brian Kyle, owner and founder of O’Malley’s on Main in Seal Beach. “Definitely the best it’s ever been.”
Though the rain may have kept some people away, people are saying it was the best car show by far in the event’s 27-year history.
“I have been on vacation during the previous three car shows,” said Councilman Gary Miller, who represents College Park East. “This car show this year was bigger and quieter than the car show I attended in 2010. My wife and I enjoyed the event and nostalgia of seeing the cars of our youth.”
Allen Grant, owner of the Main Street zPizza restaurant, said this year’s event was the most successful of the 10 car shows that have been held while he has been in business in the area.
“We set records for lunch sales and overall sales for the day. We sold a ton of slices but this year we also did a lot of salads and sandwiches,” Grant said.
“We had a large number of deliveries for customers who didn’t want to deal with parking. I thought the car show was very well organized this year and it seemed bigger than years past. Overall I’d say it was a very successful day,” Grant said.
Customers also said business was good.
“I was spending money at the restaurants. So the car show must have been good for the businesses,” said Nat Ferguson, a real estate agent and Sun columnist
Of course, some businesses did better than others.
“Speaking for Bay Hardware, it’s not a record breaking Saturday, but I believe that this event brings people in to town who visit many of our other retail stores and restaurants and I’m sure they come back,” said Diana Brunjes, Chamber president of vice president of Bay Hardware.
“As far as Bay is concerned, if something is good for my fellow merchants on Main Street, it’s good for us too,” she said.
Mayor Ellery Deaton was also pleased.
““The 27th Annual Car Show was a wonderful event enjoyed by residents, visitors and businesses,” Deaton said. “The Navy is to be thanked for allowing us to use their base for parking and providing the servicemen to park the cars…it was a generous gesture which allowed for a Car Show that kept the impact to our residential neighborhoods to a minimum. Thank you to our Navy neighbors! The organizers, both Chamber and city, are to be commended for thoughtfully planning a fun beach town event.”
According to Seal Beach Police Sgt. Ron La Velle, police estimated that about 20,000 visitors attended Main Street Seal Beach for the show.
“I would say it was up from last year, but it didn’t seem as crowded,” La Velle said. He attributed that to the fact that car displays were spread out over a wider area than in previous years.
La Velle said police based the crowd estimate on parking at the Naval Weapons Station Seal Beach and the density of people in the area of the show.
The only problem from a police standpoint was the theft of a 1932 Chevrolet that was not part of the car show. The vintage car was stolen from the Taco Bell parking lot on the 600 block of Pacific Coast Highway.
The show had the largest number of cars on display in its history, more than 600, and also featured boats in the beach parking lot. Bands performed at Eisenhower Park and in the parking lot of Hennessey’s. There were sporadic reports of visitors spontaneously dancing during some songs.
Historically, eating places do best on the day of the car show.
“The Car Show was good for Javatini’s again,” said Rob Jahncke, owner of Javatinis of Seal Beach Javatini’s was one of the event’s trophy sponsors.
“The level of business in the store improved 10% (sic) this year. This continues to be the busiest day of the year for Javatini’s since I have acquired the store in 2010. I believe that although not all businesses benefit from the car show on the day of the event, I believe it does help in the long run for Old Town Seal Beach. The Car Show serves as an ‘Open House’ for people to visit us.
“They like what they see. Perhaps the visitors haven’t been here in awhile and they see all the improvements (new street planters, improved intersections, new street lights) and then come back again.” Jahncke also said the show brought residents together. “One thing I notice in common was how excited they were to help show off our community.
“It is a true testament to the strength of our local community which is not seen so much anymore,” he said.
Internet posts from the business community also suggested the event had been good for both the for-profit and non-profit communities.
“The Seal Beach Animal Care Center’s Bake Sale was most successful not because of the baked goods sold, but the fact a couple saw a poster of Marcy on the bake sale table, one of our shelter cats, and they went right down to the shelter and adopted her. We thank all the people who supported our animals by buying our baked goods,” said Janet Murphy Peters.
Dee Carey told the Sun that the animal shelter raised $1,064 from the bake sale.
Kori Jenkins DeLeon of RTI Insurance Services reported that the car show brought her new business that was apparently not expected.
“We sell classic car insurance and most people already have that if they’re there, but I ran into a couple that had their gorgeous cars on their regular policy. I loved being able to just talk to them to give them information. A lot of people didn’t know we were here so that was great. What I heard over and over was what a great show it was and how lucky I was to work here,” DeLeon said.
