Show what?!
$95. Ā Oof. Ā Iām going to just leave that there for a momentā¦
Sheās worth it.
After the gas binge and dollar purge, I drive Sacrebleu over to the parking lot adjacent to the Drive-In. Ā This is where the actual show will take place, and aside from the DJ already there setting up, Iām first, the first to show up for the show. Ā Itās probably 6:30am, I park next to a walkway. Ā After a few minutes thought, I move my car to another spot, backing in, close up on a curb, a ding prevention technique offering maximum space to the passenger side. Ā I sit in the car for a few minutes, reading before getting out to give Sacrebleu one last wipe down. Ā Pulling a microfiber towel from the trunk, I give the wheels a bit more attention, then clean the glass, inside and out, along with dusting the dash. Ā Thereās nothing to be done about the little bit of fir needles and such in the footwells, so I leave it be. Ā Pulling the manuals from the glove box, I arrange them on the passenger seat, for show attendeesā viewing pleasure. Ā
Preparations complete, itās 7am, before long another car shows up. Ā Itās a ā65Ā Pontiac GTO, also blue. Ā I find out later that the owner is a true built-not-bought bucks down guy, he describes how he built a fuel injection setup for it using a Megasquirt controller, selling off the Tri-Power setup it came with to fund it. Ā He also installed a 5 speed manual transmission. Ā I come away from the conversation impressed, these are the kinds of people whose understated creativity always astounds me. Ā A little while later, a gnarly 3rd Gen Firebird Trans Am shows up, parks, and immediately begins puking coolant. Ā Oh, that girl got HOT. Ā Itās an Indy Anniversary Edition Pace car, very personalized with side pipes, and such. Ā The owner pops the hood, and I spot the leak coming from the water outlet at the block. Ā Itās not the worst, but itās not great. Ā The owner of that Firebird is a Character, with a capital C. Ā Heās fun to talk with, after taking a few minutes to admire his car and commiserate about the carās cooling woes, I wander off. Ā
The show was posted online as starting at 8am, but doesnāt start until 9am. Ā More people arrive, and around 9am, registration begins. Ā We all casually wander over to the registration table set up, keeping at least 6 feet between us. Ā I canāt tell you if the distance was because of theĀ āRona or the Seattle Chill, 50/50, pick āem. Ā $20 later, I have a goodie bag with a coupon for $5 off at XXX, a voting slip for the three Marques holding the show, and my first (!) dash plaque! Ā Wow. Ā This is SO cool. Ā IāM IN A SHOW! Ā
A later arrival catches my attention, so I follow the car to where the owner decides to park it. Ā Helping guide him into the spot, I ask him about the car. Ā Itās a 1977 Oldsmobile Cutlass Brougham, with 61,000 miles on it. Ā That works out to aboutā¦1500 miles per year. Ā Wow. Ā What attracted me to the car was it is the last of the A-Body platform cars, before GM switched to the G-Body in 1978. Ā It represented the end of an era, and the 1973-1977 cars, which have gone for so long without much love or appreciation, are finally starting to get some. Ā Malaise era cars are maligned by a lot of enthusiasts, as the Domestic Car Manufacturers struggled to comply with Federal Emissions Requirements, resulting in cars that were way down on power and performance. Ā Itās good to see a preserved survivor of the era being shown. Ā
More cars roll in, a lot of Firebirds, turns out the local Firebird club wanted to really represent. Ā There was a magnificent 1979 Firebird, a survivor with immaculate paint, fully loaded, sitting on the iconic Snowflake Wheels. Ā So good, with a 403 Olds in it. Ā I take multiple laps of the parking lot, chatting with other owners, taking time to stand near my own car, soaking in the appreciation. Ā
A 1972 Olds 442 W-30 car showed up early, and the paint color was GORGEOUS. Ā See for yourself!
I also came across this magnificent boat, a 1963 Pontiac Bonneville. Ā It was a 4 speed car, and had either a Tri-Power, or a dual quad carburetor setup on it. Ā The air cleaner was ENORMOUS. Ā No photos of the air cleaner, but see the car hereā¦
My favorite Pontiac of the show was a 1970 Firebird, a survivor that looked like it had been daily driven for most of the 51 years it has lived. Ā The car was rough, and battle scarred, but that was part of the appeal. Under the scuffs and dings and flawed paint and poor repairs, still a car with beautiful lines. Ā That twin snorkel hood, genuine ram air!
Finally, the votes were tallied, and awards announced. Ā Sacrebleu didnāt win. Ā A 1956 Roadmaster that had been given as a birthday gift 42 years earlier, in 1979 and then lovingly restored, won best Buick. Ā Thatās okay, a trophy would have been nice, it was a great experience regardless. Ā Oh! Ā I did win a raffle, for a free Triple X Burger!