On Saturday, the annual Culver City Car Show will rev its V-8 glass-pack engine for the 14th consecutive year.
Moving to Vets Park – instead of its usual Downtown street venue – the show will be turbo-charged with hundreds classic cars and hot rods from all over Southern California.
This iconic charity event will feature a beer garden, a gourmet food truck court and non-stop live music from show stage throughout the day. The Car Show opens at 10 a.m., and is free to the public.
Organized by the Exchange Club of Culver City, the Car Show is an official Centennial event.
The show will celebrate 100 years of movie magic and hot rodding with spectacular display cars provided by the Petersen Automotive Museum – an event co-sponsor.
Among the several classic cars on view from the Petersen will be a 1913 Mercer Type 35-J Raceabout, a 1929 Du Pont Model G Speedster and original 1948 Tucker that was the subject of the Francis Ford Coppola’s 1988 film Tucker: a Man and his Dream, starring Jeff Bridges.
Culver City is the ideal location to hold this hugely popular event. Not just the Heart of Screenland, the city has a long history of auto racing and hot rodding.
Early in the 20th century, famed real estate promoter Harry Culver used auto racing to promote his vision of a new city on the western edge of Los Angeles.
The first of two Culver City auto raceways opened in 1923. On any Saturday, up to 70,000 eager fans would gather to see the racing heroes like the immortal Barney Oldfield burn rubber as they sprinted to victory.
Among the thousands thrilled by these exhibitions of daring-do, it was not uncommon to find silent film stars such as Douglas Fairbanks, Charlie Chaplin, Buster Keaton or America’s Sweetheart, Mary Pickford, taking a break from filming their latest celluloid escapades at one of Culver City’s legendary movie studios.
Like past shows, this one will be judged event where trophies in nearly 50 categories will be on the line, including the Hammer Foundation Best in Show award.
Live entertainment from the show stage will start at 11. Returning to the show stage will be ever popular classic rockers The Red Surf Band and fan favorite Lynda Kay as the finale act.
Funds raised by this charity event go to support youth organizations such as the Downey Child Abuse Prevent Center, the Culver Youth Health Center, the Culver-Palms YMCA and Upward Bound (supportive housing for homeless families with children).
Proceeds also go toward college scholarships for deserving local students. The Exchange Club will hand out a record 25 scholarships.
Vets Park is at the corner of Culver Boulevard and Overland Avenue. Ample parking will be provided, courtesy of Sony Studios.
The Sony parking entrance is on Overland between Culver and Washington boulevards – follow the signs.
Additional parking will be available adjacent to the park. Avoid parking in the adjacent neighborhoods. The venue is easily accessible by public transit (Culver Bus) and a bicycle “valet” will be available.
For further information, see www.culvercitycarsho.com or contact Mr. Cohn at 310.402.3263.