Downtown Car Show ‘fabulous’
Hundreds of people attended the 8th annual Downtown Car Show on Main Street in Porterville on Saturday. There were more cars entered in the show than ever before, it seemed, and the weather was perfect for the event formerly known as the Parish Pride Car Show.
The show continues to be organized by the Knights of Columbus with plenty of help from the Porterville Chamber of Commerce and many other community sponsors.
More than 200 show cars, trucks, motorcycles and bicycles were parked up and down Main Street from Olive Avenue to Morton Avenue. Deejays were set up at various points playing music and making announcements.
Food, drink and informational vendors also dotted the downtown area, but most were in front of Centennial Park.
One of the perfect cars was a classic stock 1955 Chevy Belair with a gorgeous two-tone turquoise and creamy white paint.
David Beesy said the show was absolutely “fabulous,” and all the cars were really “high quality.”
There were many fabulous cars from the 1940’s up to the ’70’s, with a smattering of cars from the ’80’s and ’90’s and a couple from the ’30’s and the 21st century.
Katia and Sergio Gamez had some interesting cars and trucks entered in the show, which were “under construction.” They had two GMC COE work trucks, a 1967 Chevy Camaro and a 1953 Mercury Monterey with engine modifications.
Ernesto Macias and his son Ricky stopped by to admire the Gamez Family COE trucks and cars, and they said they were showing two rat rods.
Ernesto said that when building a rat rod anything goes and “rust” is the main color.
“You leave that as the patina,” he said. “Same thing goes for the vehicles ‘under construction.’ It’s a cool and modern’ style.”
Another great looking car that brought back memories for many people was the Chevy Monte Carlo, and there were quite a few in the show from the late-60’s through the ’70’s.
Sergio Herrera, president of Old Illusions Car Club in Tulare County, said he was “so glad,” Porterville had a car show sponsored by the Knights of Columbus and the Chamber of Commerce. Old Illusions has been based in Sacramento since the ’50’s.
Daniel Coghlan of Porterville said he was glad to see the car show on Main Street because the businesses need more exposure to the public.
Felomena Barcellos was showing her elegant navy blue 1949 Buick Super Dynaflow, and said she was enjoying the variety of all the cars at the show as well as meeting friends.
The Buick Super has been in the Barcellos family since her parents-in-law drove it on their honeymoon, 67 years ago. Felomena and her husband have been restoring the car for more than 10 years, and have kept it original. They’ve matched a perfect dark blue-grey mohair upholstery in the car’s interior and the dark navy blue paint just shines.
“When we drove it to my in-laws last August,” Felomena said. “My father-in-law just cried. And my motherin-law said, ‘It looks just like the car we had.’ It is yours mom’ I told her.”
Another great car in the show was a cherry red 1959 Chevy Park Lane Station wagon that was gorgeous, and practical.
Ernie Lemus was admiring the cars and said a lot of time and money had been invested in the well-preserved cars.
Felipe Martinez was enjoying the car show and admiring a perfectly restored stock turquoise green 1959 Chevy Apache Pickup Truck with a wood bed and side rails that belonged to Kevin Murdock.
“It’s great to see all these cars,” said Martinez, a current Porterville Unified School District trustee. “All these different models bring back memories of family and friends who’ve owned the various cars through the years. And at 60, I’ve owned at least 12 cars. It brings back good memories.”
Darin Lansford, vice president and general manager of Faggart Auto Center, was showing his black 1970 SS 396 Chevelle which he’s had for about 20 years. He doesn’t drive it too much said “it’s fun” when he does.
“It’s a beautiful turnout for the show, and I’d like to see the car club come down to Main Street more often. The weather is perfect, and I’m enjoying seeing old friends, meeting people and representing Faggart.”
One of the only old time cars to be seen at the show was a 1931 green Ford Model A Roadster owned by Art Serna. It had dual carburetors and a 4-cylinder engine.
There were so many beautiful cars that it was difficult to see them all, but one that got a lot of attention was a pale green metallic 1970 Buick Electra restored by Renee Fusco, of Fusco’s Detail Show. The car “was about a mile long, with a glistening pale apple green finish.”
Ed Case and his son Matt from Visalia were showing Matt’s 1968 Red Chevy Camaro that has white racing stripes.
Matt said, “It’s a beautiful day and a great turn-out, with lots of nice people.”
The Cases own and run Old Cars and Motorsports Newspaper, and Ed owns a 1928 Ford Model A pickup. He says its all original and has been in the family since the mid50’s.
Matt has owned the Camaro for six years and has shown it in the Downtown Car Show before and won awards. He said, “You never know whom you’re going to see at the show. That’s what’s great about car shows.”