Cruisin’ for a Cure

For any automotive enthusiast, a car show loaded with incredible cars is reward enough, but the OCCA’s Cruisin’ for a Cure goes way beyond just a show. The Orange County Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa, California is packed every year with over 3,500 vehicles on display and 200 vendors at the show. With such a huge turnout, it’s a perfect opportunity for the Orange County Cruisin’ Association to support both prostate cancer research—with 100% of the proceeds going to charity—and to administer free prostate-specific antigen (PSA) tests to screen for cancer.

That’s where Cruisin’ for a Cure stands out. Not only are the cars amazing, but over the past several years, 10,000 men have made their way into the screening area and got a simple blood test to check their PSA levels. As a direct result, hundreds of lives have been saved. Imagine how cool it is to attend as a cancer survivor, knowing your cancer was detected at the show. It is literally a couple of minutes that can save your life so many make Cruisin’ for a Cure the date for their yearly checkup.

Cruisin’ for a Cure is not just for the men. The many cars cruising the fairgrounds are loaded with wives, daughters, and entire families. There were also many seen cruising with their four-legged co-drivers as well. Even if the show didn’t have a higher purpose, it’s always one of the biggest shows of the summer.

The late summer weather in Southern California can’t be beaten; there wasn’t a cloud in the sky and a nice ocean breeze kept the heat from the bright sun at bay. For those who spent hours cleaning and polishing their rides, they could cruise all day with no worries. Those who were sporting patina had the same payoff without all the work. The vehicles on hand spanned that entire range.

Beautifully restored classics, hot rods, all types of customs, rat rods, muscle cars; even super clean daily drivers were all circling the show during the day. If you got hungry or thirsty, plenty of food and drink was available. Show food is typically expensive, but the selection of beers and the quality of the food made the prices tolerable. Once you had your beverage of choice, there are plenty of nice spots along the cruise route to take a load off your feet, and take in the rolling car show.

If you needed a break from the sun, several buildings were packed with things to see. Building 12 was filled with many high-end cars on display. Awed by their pristine condition, I was especially impressed when I witnessed several fire up and took a few laps around the show. They were very nice, but apparently not trailer queens. The Hangar, Building 18, had some Meguiars trophy winners on display and included bikes built by Arlen Ness, some old school hot rods, and a 1962 Pontiac Grand Prix now owned by John D’Agostino with an incredible paint job by Art Himsl.

Building 10 housed several vendors selling custom fire extinguishers, clothing, hot wheels, and model car kits. It is where the model car contest was judged, and where we saw Ed Iskenderian signing books and posing for photos. Other celebrities spotted at the show were Barry Maguire, and Ralph Holguin from the Velocity Channel show, RMD Garage. Ralph was handing out posters at his booth that sat across from the stage in the main mall. The stage was home to the band all day, and then became the place to be as awards were announced and trophies handed out to those who earned them.

It’s always a great day when you can take home some hardware, but the peace of mind from getting tested and the memories formed with friends and family made everyone a winner at Cruisin’ for a Cure.

The Great Labor Day Cruise

Labor Day is our national celebration of the American worker’s contribution to the country, and the automobile has to rank near the top as one of their greatest accomplishments. Auto workers have cranked out millions of cars and trucks which facilitated the growth of our nation. Not only did the automobile help to spur the industrial revolution, but it became synonymous with American culture. The same workhorse that brought transportation to a nation was also a symbol of American ingenuity and freedom. What better way to celebrate the Labor Day holiday than at a car show?

The Orange County Cruisin’ Association’s Labor Day Cruise is a unique event that is a rolling car show. Observing their 36^th annual event, the show brought enthusiasts together from all over the country. Open to American made vehicles to 1987, and new this year, pre-’71 Volkswagen Bugs, pre-’79 VW Busses, All Karmann Ghias, VW Squarebacks, Notchbacks, and Fastbacks, 2018’s event was named “The Great Labor Day Classic Hot Rod & VW Camp“O”Rama.” That’s right, the event also has camping spots available. Their all-inclusive package includes camping space for your RV, trailer, or tent for four nights (Thursday thru Sunday), parking space for your pre-1987 registered event vehicle, entry pass, two participant wristbands, two event mugs, and a commemorative event dash plaque.

That’s a whole lot of bang for your buck. To top it off, the money raised from the show goes to The Warrior Foundation Freedom Station. Their mission is “To be the leading force in assisting, honoring and supporting the military men and women who have so bravely served and sacrificed for our country. We are committed to supporting our warriors in a variety of ways, providing quality-of-life items, support services and transitional housing designed to assist them and their families during recovery.” 

A great venue, great cause, great cars, and great people, all add up to a great time had by all. The endless parade of cruising cars gave you the opportunity to set up a lawn chair or kick back at the many different spots to hang out on the grounds and watch the show go by. You could also have a bite to eat at the Baja Blues Bar and Grill while the cars cruised right past the dining patio. The sound of healthy engines and assorted music coming from the cars added to the incredible sensory experience. With such a huge mix of vehicles, you could hear everything from the rumble of lumpy V8’s to the rap of an inline 6 through a set of glass packs. 

Even though the show was dominated by American made cars, the VW’s in attendance were fine examples of the mark. Many who drive American cars and trucks today had a VW of some type in their past. The simple and unique cars were popular with college students, surfers, offroaders, and hippies for decades. These days, the cars still hold a strong following, and fine examples are skyrocketing in value.

If the cruising, camping, and good food weren’t enough, the show also had a live band, vendor’s booths, and refreshing beverages for everyone. Participants competed for trophies and awards, and many of the vendors had raffles and prize giveaway’s available to anyone in attendance. An observation was made that many of the cars cruising on Sunday were part of a different group than those on Saturday. That means if you hope to see it all, it’s best to attend both days. With the Orange County Swap Meet happening right next door, The Great Labor Day Classic Hot Rod & VW Camp“O”Rama is a great way to spend the Labor Day Holiday in Southern California.