For years Canyon Lake residents have thrilled to the sights and sounds of the Canyon Lake Car Show, and organizers want this 10th anniversary show to be the best yet. It will roll into the Lodge grounds tomorrow, October 10 – making this a 10-10-10 event!
Festivities run from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., followed by a cruise through the community by many of the vehicles. Spectators and the 300-plus participants who register for the show will enjoy live music, raffle, auction, and food and merchandise vendors.
Organizers say Canyon Lake is considered a premiere venue for many owners to show off their pre-1973 classic and custom rides because of the show's scenic location on the lake and access to a restaurant and three bars.
One of those organizers is Joe Landin, a founder of the Car Show and president of the Canyon Lake Car Club. Joe and his wife Ann are the proud owners of five show quality vehicles: a 1941 Willys coupe, a 1952 Jaguar XK120 coupe, a 1957 Oldsmobile 88 two-door hardtop and a 1961 Corvette convertible, which Joe uses to drive dignitaries in the Fiesta Day Parade. The couple also owns a 2015 high performance, shark gray Corvette.
These are but a few of the cars Joe has owned in his lifetime and for which he has won awards. But he is quick to point out that no Canyon Lake Car Club member will be eligible to win awards at the Canyon Lake show, where there will be several categories of recognition.
Cars will be judged by industry professionals for the top awards. These include Best Paint, Best Interior, Best Engine, Best of Show and the Sam Foose Award. Sam and his wife Terry have been very involved with the car show over the years. They are former Canyon Lakers and are the parents of Chip Foose, star of TLC's popular television series, “Overhaulin'.”
An automotive designer and fabricator, Sam is a hot rod legend who has been in the Grand National Roadster Show Hall of Fame, the San Francisco Rod, Custom and Motorcycle Show Hall of Fame, Goodguys Hall of Fame, West Coast Kustom Hall of Fame and National Rod and Custom Car Hall of Fame, to name but a few of his accolades. According to Joe, when Sam judges a car, he's looking at every finishing detail.
Terry Foose will be running the auction, proceeds of which benefit the Progeria Research Foundation. The Foose's daughter, Amy, died from complications of the genetic disorder at the age of 16.
Judging Best of Show will be Gil Losi. a famed car collector and national car show judge who has been involved with hot rodding more than 50 years. Losi lives in Murrieta and, last year, brought his national winner, a 1961 Chevrolet Bubbletop, to the Canyon Lake Car Show. "We never know what car he'll bring to the show," says Joe.
In other judging, awards will be given for People's Choice and Dignitary's Choice. Every registered participant will receive a ballot and will be asked to vote on their favorite cars. Dignitaries from the Canyon Lake POA and the City of Canyon Lake also will get a chance to vote for their favorites. Awards will be announced at 3 p.m.
Joe notes two of the highlights for car show attendees to be aware of. First is a completely restored race car driven by famed NASCAR champion Bobbie Labonte. Second is the presence of "Mr. Hot Wheels" Larry Wood, innovator and chief designer in Mattel's die cast Hot Wheels division, who has agreed to sign autographs at the show. (The car show's 10th anniversary logo T-shirt will be available for purchase, as will posters.)
It takes a lot of planning to put on an event of this magnitude, and Joe has been just the man for the job for the past 10 years.
Those who work with Joe to put on the Canyon Lake Car Show know that his 12-page action plan will ensure everyone is on target to provide a first-rate show.
But knowing his business background isn't all there is to know about Joe. Like many of his generation, he comes from humble beginnings. Joe was raised on a farm in Farmingdale, New Jersey and learned how to drive on a tractor.
He bought his first used car for $65 when he was 15, a 1937 Buick Special. When he was 18, he borrowed $300 from his dad to buy a 1934 Ford Coupe that had no engine or transmission. He wanted to turn it into a hot rod, a goal he says his hardworking father did not understand.
Joe's first new car was a 1963 Oldsmobile 88 equipped with the bigger motor police package. Joe claims the first rock 'n' roll song was written about an Olds 88, "Rocket 88."
Noting that he has been an "Olds nut" all his life, Joe says the 1957 Olds 88 he now owns is his favorite car. It's a one-off car that easily reaches speeds of 120 mph and has the most elaborate dashboard of any of the vehicles he's owned. He plans to show it in this year's show.
After Joe moved to Canyon Lake in 1989, he began to meet other Canyon Lakers with amazing cars. He had been going to car shows for many years; so by 2006, he and some other collectors decided it was time for Canyon Lake to have a first-class car show and encourage residents to get their pre-1973 cars "out of the garage and down to the Lodge." This became the show motto.
There was no Car Club yet, but Joe put together an action plan and a committee, and they got the cooperation of Activities Director Kathie Barnes. Financial support initially came from the Association and from sponsors the committee recruited. Some of those first committee members included Pat Colleary, Pete Delia, Carl Farris and Tom Nagle.
Tom drove the streets of the community looking for open garage doors. Anywhere he saw a classic car, he stopped and invited the owner to sign up for the car show. Joe says they also passed out flyers at the Temecula Rod Run.
The first year was a success with about 200 registered vehicles. Sam and Chip Foose designed the first logo and Terry initiated the fundraisers for Progeria research. The Car Club came into being soon after that first show and eventually began running the annual Car Show without the financial support of the Association.
As a 5013c nonprofit organization, the Car Show donates all its profits to various groups and causes in and outside Canyon Lake. It has given funds to the Canyon Lake Veterans Memorial, Canyon Lake Emergency Preparedness Committee, charity golf tournaments, college scholarships, park benches at the Lodge and the Oak Grove Center in Murrieta, among others.