PACIFIC BEACH – The second annual Pacific Beach Car Show, co-hosted by the Pacific Beach Town Council, is racing to Garnet Avenue on Saturday, Aug. 2, from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“All gear heads, car buffs, and hot rodders are invited to join us,” wrote PBTC president Charlie Nieto in a recent PBTC newsletter. “This neighborhood event is one major way that our town can both highlight the unique aspects of San Diego culture and show off what our beach community has for everyone to enjoy.”
Nieto noted that this free event, also known as Charger Steve’s (Lordigyan’s) Wild Rides, is set between Mission Boulevard and Dawes Street and has been held intermittently over the years. He added PBTC thought it was the right time to revive the car-centric extravaganza and put it back on the regular event schedule.
That schedule also includes PBTC’s board installation dinner at the Catamaran Resort in January; a community graffiti-day cleanup in May; Concerts on the Green at Kate Sessions Park in summer; and the PAESAN barbecue honoring first responders in September.
“This is a cool event, more of a cultural thing and, with all the Woody’s and VW Bugs out there, we wanted to bring it to our beach town and introduce it to more people,” noted Nieto, who’s bringing his classic 1974 Buick Apollo.
Some of the judged car show categories this year will include hot rods, classics, modern muscle cars, sports cars, low-rider imports, and more.
Nieto said the event’s footprint has been shrunk this year to minimize the exhibition space to “have each block more filled with cars rather than spreading them over a greater distance. We wanted to pack the fun all in one place.”
The PB Car Show is also a way to promote local businesses on the weekend.
“We’re encouraging businesses to bring their storefronts out to the street to make it more of a street fair,” Nieto said. “Some of the sponsors, like Filippi’s, are bringing out their tables and serving food, or just having a little booth to engage with the community. It’s a nice way for them to get more exposure.”
Looking ahead, Nieto said the goal for next year’s car show is to “maybe have some music and some more showy stuff.”
He added that last year, the event included a snake charmer.
Another highlight of this year’s show, said Nieto, will be a specially designed nitro car with an engine powered with a fuel containing nitromethane mixed with methanol.
“That’s a crowd favorite,” he noted, while pointing out that it is loud, adding that’s why the nitro car will be surrounded by businesses, so it doesn’t affect residents.
Nieto added that the event has also been pushed back an hour from last year to make it “more of a lunchtime event,” accommodating businesses that don’t open until later in the morning.
The event is free for attendees, but there is a cost to enter your vehicle for exhibition. Car entry slots are nearly sold out. Interested in entering your chariot? Email general@pbtowncouncil.org.
Top sponsors for the PB Car Show are Filippi’s Pizza Grotto, Bluewater Vacation Homes, Smash And Stack Burgers, and Woodstock’s Pizza.