Lions Car show rolls into town

Terry Beatty has close to 70 awards filling his garage. An impressive sight, indeed.

But they aren’t his.

Beatty is chairman of the annual North Whidbey Lions Car Show. He said the impressive collection of trophies will go to the winners of Saturday’s show, being held in Oak Harbor’s Windjammer Park.

The Lions Club’s car show, which starts at 11 a.m., is being held for the 32nd year.

“We’ve got people who are proud of their customizations, and want to show them off, so come out and support them,” Beatty said.

“It’s a nice family affair.”

The show began with a few cars being displayed on a vacant lot next to Oak Harbor Auto Parts, and has grown throughout the years to fill Flintstone Freeway and, now, Windjammer Park.

Participating cars can be entered on the day of the event for $30.

The vehicles, which will be parked in rows on the grass, will be joined by vendors selling hot dogs, hamburgers, fries and ice cream.

Out in the shine of the polished paint jobs, attendees will vote for their favorites between 11 and 3 p.m., selecting the top three cars in each of several categories.

The top vote-getters will be named “Peoples’ Choice” winners.

Commanding officer for Naval Air Station Whidbey Island Capt. Geoffery Moore, a Whidbey News-Times representative and Beatty will give out special awards, as will some business sponsors.

The car show is historically loads of fun, Beatty said. “Everybody likes cars.”

And Beatty has a few favorite memories from the car show’s long history.

“When we were out on Flintstone Freeway … some guy would bring in an old hulk of a car and drain all the oil out of it and put some of his ‘magic’ super lubricant in it, and we would try to run it until the engine froze,” Beatty said.

“It never did.”

For information go to http://e-clubhouse.org/sites/northwhidbey or call 360-679-1595.