LAKEWOOD The third-annual Hot August Car Show at Faith Lutheran Church started at 9 a.m., Aug. 11 and 10 minutes later, theyd already accommodated more than 40 cars in their parking lot.
Last years show attracted 36 cars, while the year before brought in only 13. This years show drew 60 cars and raised a total of $1,800, which will be split between the Stillaguamish and Stanwood Senior Centers. However, because last years show benefited the Arlington Food Bank, the Faith Lutheran Church was still accepting donations of canned goods.
Julie Deel, the churchs evangelism chair, thanked Dennis Bray of Lakewood Grocery and Jerod Kitchel of Custom Kettle Corn for their efforts on behalf of the show, which generated $1,050 and two barrels of food for the food bank last year.
Its a way of letting folks know that our church is here, Deel said.
Jane Hoagland, the churchs social concerns council representative, noted that the show has attracted attendees not only from Arlington, Marysville, Everett and Stanwood, but also Renton, Kirkland, Burlington, Carnation, Duvall and Bothell.
Brian Tomer of Lake Goodwin used to work at Faith Lutheran Church, but even now that hes no longer a member of the parish, he comes back for the shows.
Its not just Fords versus Chevys, Tomer said. Theyve got everything here. Theres drag race cars, modified stock cars, restored cars, tricked out cars and motorcycles. Its laid back with no pressure. Its more of a gathering and a fun hangout than an actual show. If your cars not perfect, its cool, because its for charity and its like family.
Carnations Glen Chapman and his son Craig brought their 1923 Ford T-Bucket, which Glen had owned before giving it to Craig three years ago. As the fourth owner of the car, Glen knew its history dating back to its building in 1986, and took pride in the work hed done on it since.
Its got a 350 Chevy engine, a spec head and a crane cam, said Glen Chapman, who guessed he spent $30,000 on the car. I had it eight or nine years, and I put in new pipes, all chrome, prime wheels and a new top. There was a lot of polishing that went on, but it was a lot of fun. I have back problems, but when I went out to the garage to polish it, my backache would be gone in five minutes. My wife passed away 12 years ago, so this car has been my true love since then.
Arlingtons John Kennagh has owned his 1956 Chevrolet Bel-Air two-door hardtop sedan for the past three years, but its neither the first nor the last classic car hes bought.
The latest was a Dodge Dart GT convertible, Kennagh said. I see something older, I tend to like it. These newer cars, to me, arent the way its supposed to be. My first car in high school was a Bel-Air just like this one.
Although Kennagh joked that my wife will kill me if he said how much hes spent on the Bel-Air so far, he admitted it was probably more than $40,000. He also said the car spends more time in his shop than on the road.
I dont use it much, Kennagh said. I just take it to car shows. I like shows like this, because they benefit organizations that help people. Ill see about coming back next year.
John Byerley of Everett arrived in a 1969 Yenko Chevelle, for which hes paid nearly $50,000 so far, to ensure the accuracy of the restoration.
Everything is dated right and has been correctly recreated, said Byerley, for whom the Yenko was his fifth restoration in the past 20 years. They only built 99 of these, and of those, only 35 remain. There are several different Chevelles, but the Yenko has the 427, which Im a bigger fan of than any other block.
The Yenko is no mere showroom piece, though, since Byerley takes out on the road whenever he can.
Its meant to be driven, Byerley said. The sound and the power just appeal to me. These are some nice cars and good people. Its fun to look at what other people have and talk to them about it.
Lakewoods Jim Venturo pulled into the parking lot on a 2006 Harley-Davidson FLHX with a Liberty sidecar, but quickly admitted it belongs to his wife. Venturos own enthusiasms tend more toward older and rarer bikes, including a former Los Angeles police motorcycle that hes still trying to find parts for.
Even when I was in the Navy, I couldnt fly, Venturo said. So riding a bike is the only way I can go fast in the wind.