New things coming to the show this year.

As the date of May 19th gets closer, we are finalizing a few things for the car show.  In addition to good weather,  more cars than ever before and loads of good food and prizes, we will have craft vendors at the show this year.  We lost our espresso stand during the last couple shows but espresso will return this year.

Also, the cruise will return for the second year.  Starting at the Yakima Chamber of Commerce and running throughout the valley, on to Naches and back in the form of a poker run with prizes to be awarded at the show on sunday.  As the date gets closer, e-mail us at AmReflections@yahoo.com for updated info on this cruise.

The word is out and Hot Rods and Harleys officially starts on Friday, May 17th.  We will be at this show to hand out flyers and sign people up for the cruise and show.  The same as we did last year. 

See you at the 13th annual American Reflections open car show on May 19th, 2013 at the park in Moxee, WA.  Look at this site for news and pictures of the show afterwards.

2013 Cruise and Car Show

Plans for the show this May 19th are shaping up nicely so far.  We are working on contacting various vendors for the event.  Also contacting and looking for trophy sponsors.  Last year we had more people wanting to sponsor trophies than we had slots for.  I am urging everyone to contact me early if they want a trophy sponsorship.  It runs $30 for a set of three trophies.  That being a 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place in each of 22 different classes.   Here they are:

Best of Show                                 1990 to Current
Participants Choice                        Sports Car
Best Interior                                   Pickup, 1960 & Older
Best Paint                                       Pickup, 1961 & Newer
Distance                                         4X4
1939 & Older                                 Sport Compact
1940 to 1949                                   Orphan
1950 to 1959                                   Foreign
1960 to 1964                                   Under Construction
1965 to 1969                                   Street Rod
1970 to 1974                                   Low Rider
1975 to 1979                                   Rat Rod
1980 to 1989                                   Bicycle
and..................Motorcycle

CRUISE INFORMATION

Now, as promised here is some information on the cruise which will take place on May 18, 2013.  Registration for the cruise is $20 which qualifies you for the cruise and gets you into the show the next day.  The cruise is basically a poker run which will start from the Holiday Inn on E. Yakima Ave. here in Yakima at 10:00 AM.  Prizes for the cruise will start with $100 for first place. 

 

 

The Holiday Inn is located at 802 E. Yakima Ave. (1-800-315-2621) and have reserved a block of 20 rooms for our show at a special rate for those of you coming in from out of town.

Then.....at 6PM the evening of May 18th (Saturday), there will be a no-host dinner and get together at the Stop and Go Drive In at  2820 Fruitvale Ave., here in Yakima (509) 452-4641. 

All this is to get you in the mood for the Moxee Show the next day.  Our events coordinator wants that day remembered as:

"SUPER SUNDAY"  

The American Reflections 13th Annual Open Car Show in Moxee, WA.   May 19th, 2013.   See all of you at the Show

                              

Our 2013 Show is Coming.

Our 2013 Show is coming.  This year marks our 13th year as a club and our 13th annual open car show.  It will be in the park in Moxee, WA. again this year on the 19th day of May, 2013.   If the weather holds, it promises to be the best show ever! We plan on the cruise again this year to get everyone in the mood.  This will take place on Saturday, May 18th.  The details of the cruise are still being worked out at this time but I will post information on this page as soon as things are settled. 

We plan to have more vendors this year than in the past.  This means more things for the family to do and see at the show.  I am also trying to get some additional sponsoring this year for more excitement.

I will post three things with this entry.  First, is the registration form.  Simply click on the form to  bring it into your computer so that you can print it as a full sheet .jpg.  Then click your "back" arrow to return to the site.

  If you cannot successfully print the registration form from this website then e-mail me at AmReflections@yahoo.com and I will send you a copy to fill out and send in.  Registration fee before May 10th is just $15.00 for the cruise and show.  After May 10th the fee will be $20.00.  Fill out the pre-registration form in your best printing, then sign it  and send it to the American Reflections Car Club, P.O. Box 11377, Yakima, WA. 98909. and we will return a card to you with your registration number printed on it.  This card will be proof of payment for the cruise and the show.

Here is the Registration Form:

 

 

Next, here is the color poster I made up for this year:

And finally, here is a copy of the club and show card that you may see this year...Also it might possibly become the dash plaque.

Thats it for this post.  Lets all get together this year (2013) and have the best and biggest show of all time.  Remember to watch this web site for more information on the cruise and show for this year and please feel free to e-mail me at AmReflections@yahoo.com if you have any questions at all.  

SEE YOU AT THE SHOW.

A Great Car Show Season!

As the 2012 car show season comes to an end, I usually "reflect" on the year.  Again this year we had a successful show in May with the interest of some additional corporate and internet sponsorship.  We are becoming one of the favorite shows of the season.  Of course, weather plays a big part in the participation of any classic car show.  One of these years we will have everything right.  Perfect weather, great sponsorship, and a great turnout (well over 200 cars).  We already offer the most trophies and have the most vendors of any other show in the area.  Our next show will be on May 19th, 2013 at the park again in Moxee.  A park that is so nice that two other clubs now have their shows there during the year.  Volkswagens and Sports Cars.

Each year we try and make our show even better.  We are experimenting with a cruise on Saturday before the show.  2012 was our first year for the cruise and we had about 12 participants with only one breakdown.  The cruise turned into a poker run through Yakima and Naches with some great prizes.

After our Moxee show, club members went on to make people aware of other up-coming events and attend several shows in different parts of the Pacific Northwest.    We met many new people and found more interest in our club this year.  Research shows that some of the other clubs in the area are decling in membership and interest.  These are clubs that were once very strong.

Club contributions this year were strong too.  Organizations such as Make a Wish, Camp Primetime, and the Yakima Veterans received our support.  In addition we donated to DSHS and made a Christmas dinner donation to some Senior Citizens that usually don't get much this time of year.

Our club and our show would not be possible without sponsorship.  Sponsors can donate anything including goodie bag fillers, advertising items, trophy money (their names go on the trophies), give-a-ways, coupons, certificates, raffle items, merchandise, or anything else to make the show more successful and promote themselves.  American Reflections buys several raffle items each year but since we give most of our money away, we have little left for trophy expense, advertising and other things.  If you would like to become an American Reflections partner and sponsor, simple e-mail us at AmReflections@yahoo.com and I would be honored to include you in our efforts next year.

The club voted to start sponsoring trophies at other shows next year.  This should also help build interst.  We will again head the "car games" portion of the "Vintiques Northwest Nationals" here in Yakima for 2013.  This is one of the largest shows in the Pacific Northwest and takes place right here in Yakima the first part of August.  In 2012, the show had almost 700 participants and it was the first year for us to manage the car games. It turned into a wild and crazy contest and everyone involved had a blast!

So, at the end of this period of "reflection", I think we are slowly growing as a club.  We had a successful show this year ( of course, we are always looking for new members and sponsorship).  We have helped a few more individuals, both in and out of the hobby and have spread our name a little more.  All in all, it has been a great car show season.

Successful Show in 2012!

One of the things that the American Reflections Car Club does is put on an annual show.  Turns out, it is one of Yakima's biggest and most successful car shows.  A success because of the wonderful club members,  beautiful park we use, the local sponsors we have, the great vendors, the number of trophies we give out and the number of prizes we give away and raffle. 

As the date of the show gets closer we always start looking at the weather forcast closely.  In the month of May, we had warm sunny days with little rain.  The forcast for the week before the show called for more sunshine throughout the week and weekend with rain forcast for the following Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday. 

Then, suddenly two days before the show, the forcast changed to a 20% chance of rain on Sunday, May 20.  As I've said before, some people make their decisions when they get up in the morning and sure enough, they looked outside and saw dark clouds.  This is enough to make some people decide that they do not want to take their cars out for the day. Their Loss.

  On Saturday before the show (May 19th) we got together and had a cruise which ended up being a poker run.  With a total of 5 stops, we cruised to Naches and back ending up at the Yakima Museum.  The winner of the poker run made about $120 with second and third places hauling in $40 each.  Then at 6PM on Saturday we sponsored a mini show at Bobs Burgers and Brew right here in Yakima.

Each year we try to make this event bigger and better.  Regardless of the weather threat, enough people did come to the show to make it a great success. The rain held back and we had 177 entries from the Yakima area and from as far away as Wenachee and Moses Lake.  At the show we gave out about 75 trophies and could have given out more.  We were short on 4X4's, Bicycles, Sport Compacts and Foreign cars.  Classic car people are some of the greatest, (and nicest) people I have ever met.

  American Reflections would like to thank our valued local sponsors for this year.  Without these sponsors the show might not be possible.  Below is a list of these great sponsors.  I hope that anyone reading this blog will do business with these people.  Here goes:

Toyota of Yakima………………………..2230 Longfibre Rd. Union Gap

Valley Ford, Nissan ……………………….…….910 S. 1^st Street, Yakima

Bob Hall’s Sunfair Chevrolet …………..…1700 E. Yakima Ave.,Yakima

Kim Eccelston Motors……………………...3709 Main Street, Union Gap

True’s Auto Sales…………………..……….4011 Main Street, Union Gap

Frank’s Auto Sales…………………………..2619 Main Street, Union Gap

O’Reilly Auto Parts………………………………….……………..Yakima

Les Schwab Tire Center………………….….702 E. Yakima Ave., Yakima

Johnson’s Auto Glass & Upholstery…………………..19 S. 1^st St., Yakima

R.J.’s Tire Factory………………………...…10160 S. Naches Rd., Naches

Frank’s Tire factory………………………….2612 Main Street, Union Gap

American Body and Paint………………….404 W. Birchfield Rd. , Yakima

B&B Auto Restoration……………………..1927 McNair Ave., Union Gap

R&Q Parts & Machine……………………..…….…403 S. 1^St Street, Selah

A Muffler Bandit………………………..………..601 S. 1^st Street, Yakima

Renegade Powdercoating……………………. 916 Rose Street, Union Gap

Joe’s Grinding …………………………..…..1114 Fruitvale Blvd., Yakima

Gabbord Street Rods………………………....1706 Fruitvale Blvd., Yakima

Sharp’s Automotive Service..…………………..208 E. Moxee Ave., Moxee

Touch Of Class Upholstery…………………..…..516 N. 20^th Ave., Yakima

Budget Appliances…………………….…….1404 Fruitvale Blvd., Yakima

Scrivner Dental Lab…………………….…2230 Longfibre Rd. Union Gap

Yakima DAV Chapter 8…………………..……..911 N. 15^th Ave., Yakima

Sears Automotive…………………..….9 E. Valley Mall Blvd., Union Gap

Mattress Factory……………………..…..…….………109 Iler Rd., Moxee,

Elliott Insurance………………………..….702 N. Front Street, Union Gap

Joel Goesch Insurance…………………….…...3010 Summitview, Yakima

State Farm Insurance……………………….………105 S. 1^st. Street, Selah

JSH Designs……………………………..…14711 Rutherford Rd., Yakima

Big Red’s Diner………………………..……………110 Holly Dr., Moxee

Mel’s Diner……………………………….….……314 N. 1^st Street, Yakima

Bob’s Burgers & Brew…………………………...112 N. Fair Ave., Yakima

Twin Bridges Restaurant……………………..…1315 S. 1^st Street, Yakima

Miz Dee’s Barbeque…………………….…..523 W. Yakima Ave., Yakima

Old Town Station………………………….….2530 Main Street, Union Gap

Tony’s Big Cheese Pizza…………………...2204C Nob Hill Blvd., Yakima

Magic’s Pizza Shack…………………….………..….309 S. 1^st Street, Selah

The Hair Café (Amy)………………….………....412 S. 48th Ave., Yakima

Dad’s Barber Shop……………………..….…2601 S. 16^th Ave., Union Gap

Yakima Nation RV Park………………….…….280 Buster Rd., Toppenish

Holiday Inn……………………………..……………Yakima Ave., Yakima

Coca Cola of Yakima

Now, here are some pictures of the "American Reflections 12th Annual Open Car Show"  in Moxee, WA.

12th Annual Open Car Show, May 20, 2012

Some of the members of our club want to make this year one to remember.  We are trying to create excitement and have fun all weekend long.  The first Hot Rods and Harleys will be on Friday night, May 18th, two days prior to our open car show.  Hot Rods and Harleys is a Friday night meet and show which takes place at the McDonalds drive-in on 40th Ave. and River Road here in Yakima from May thru September each year.  The turn out is huge and it allows everyone a chance to unwind from the week and look at and talk "Cars".  Usually we pass out flyers for our show and talk to people about coming to our event.  This year however, we plan to have a Poker Cruise on Saturday and allow participants to register and get a sixth poker run card during this McDonalds event.

On the next day which is Saturday, May 19th, the club and participants will meet at the Bi-Mart Parking Lot at 10AM for the Poker Cruise.  We will leave the parking lot and cruise to Naches and other points collecting cards along the way and finally end up at the Museum Soda Fountain on Tieton Drive, here in Yakima for the final stop.  Depending on up-coming sponsorship for this event, the prizes could get pretty high.  Later that day, at about 6PM, we will all meet at another Drive In Restaurant called the Stop & Go for a relaxing get together.  Stop & Go is located at 2830 Fruitvale Blvd. here in Yakima.

Sunday, May 20th is the big day.  Our open car show is from 9AM to 3PM.  Plenty of vendors will be on hand.  All entrants will recive a dash plaque as well as be eligible for one of approximately 80 trophies given out in over 22 classes.  Not to mention best of show, participants choice, best paint, etc., etc.  As usual, we will have loads of door prizes and raffle items as well as music and free magazines.  This show is considered to be one of the best single day shows in the Pacific Northwest and we usually have participants coming in from all over Washington and Oregon.  We had over 200 participants last year.

At the show this year we also are going to try something different.  We will have the participants judge what they think is the best club cars. We are doing this to encourage our club members to also bring out their cars so you will have something more to look at.

It sounds like a super weekend packed full of excitement.  If you are interested in participating in any one or all of these events, I am posting a registration form on this web site.  It is posted as a picture.  To use it, just click on it to enlarge then right click on the enlarged version and select "save picture as", then name your saved picture.  Once you have it saved in your computer you can print and  fill it out.  Once filled out, send it along with a check for the registration fee to; The American Reflections Car Club, P.O. Box 11377, Yakima, WA. 98909 and we will pre-register you for the show and send you a card.  If you can't get the picture to work, then e-mail Don at AmReflections@yahoo.com and we'll be happy to send you back a form.

Hey old-timers, it's 2012 already.

This is very hard to believe.  We are at the end of the 2011 year and about to turn over a new calendar page to January 2012!  For us old-timers, that is hard to believe.  Especially for those of us that can remember the cars back when they had style and personality.  You know, before the 80's.  That's what this blog and the American Reflections Car Club is all about.  The american vehicles of the past.  Ones that were made of steel and set the standards. 

Back in the 50's, 60's and 70's  a person could see a car going down the street and know just what it was.  People could recite the make, model and year of many older american cars at a glance.  With the vehicles of today, we cannot tell exactly what they are.  If the color "silver" is popular, almost all cars are then painted silver.  If a Mercedes or BMW has a popular body style, then all cars start to look like a Mercedes or BMW.  If one manufacturer makes an SUV or "Crossover" vehicle, then everyone has to have one.

I grew up in the 50's and 60's and remember trying to think of what a vehicle might look like in say the year 2010.  I thought it would be something that might fly.  Or at least something that would look like a space ship.  You know, like in "The Jetsons".   I  am somewhat disappointed in the vehicles of today.  Oh sure, they are safe in that we have air bags, seat belts and that vehicles are designed to totally disintegrate upon impact. Prices continue to go up as they add "gadgets" and "electronics", but where did the personallity go?    I guess this is one reason that as car club members, we cherish and preserve our vehicles of the past.  As the older vehicles are preserved, the values are managing to keep up with the new ones.  Besides being rare, they have charm, personallity and beauty.

 Some of us car nuts have put our older cars away for a long winters nap.  Myself, I am working on two of my vehicles and am trying to sell the third one.  Usually there is something completely different for us to look at in the spring as people trade, paint, remodel and build over the winter months.  This is a fun hobby!  Full of friendly people that love nothing more than talking about their classic cars or hot rods.  I urge everyone that reads this blog to attend a car show in your area or get a classic yourself and get into this hobby.  The American Reflections 12th annual car show is scheduled for May 20, 2012 at the park in Moxee again.  It should be the best show ever in 2012.  We are also planning a cruise for Saturday the 19th of May to get everyone in the mood.  Come on and join us, you won't regret it and you will have the time of your life as well as meet some great people.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you.  (we're old-timers, remember?)