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?)

Moxee Show is a Success!

One of the reasons I have waited almost 5 days after the show to post this article is that I have been talking to various people that have attended the show to find out what they thought of it.  I have received nothing but positive statements saying that they thought it was the best show that they have attended in quite some time and that they looked forward to the next one.  Many people said that they have attended two day shows that did not offer as many give-a-ways, entertainment, trophies, vendors or fun for that matter.

As the show approached we were intently watching the weather reports because as you know, the weather can make or break a show that you have been planning for months.  As the week began the report stated that there would be rain on Monday thru Thursday and then the sun would shine the rest of the week meaning Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Looked good to us. 

As the week grew older the weather forcast changed and the weather was essentially perfect all week until Saturday when it rained all day.  Our show was the next day, Sunday and we just had two vendors cancel.

There is good news!  Sunday came and the weather was good, not perfect, but good enough to have the best turn out ever!  We had 204 cars at the show from all over Washington State.  We ended up with enough give-a-ways to cover almost everyone.  They loved the free magazines we gave out and the raffle items raised over $650 by themselves.  We had 80 trophies to give out in 22 classes and we had every class of vehicle on site except bicycles.  Yes, it was the best show ever.

Let me take a little space to thank some of our major sponsors of which the show probably could not have taken place without them.  If at all possible, we all need to do business with these people because they have gone the extra mile for us.

Les Schwab Tires       Bud Clary Toyota    Moxee Matteress Factory
Renegade Powdercoating    Elliott Ensurance      RB'S Auto Sales
A Muffler Bandit     Budget Appliance     Yakima Veterans Group
DAV Chapter #8     B&B Auto Restoration    Old Town Station
C&H Hardware    Joel Elders Sunset Auto Sames     Johnson Auto Glass
Joel Goesch Insurance     Scrivner Dental Lab    Big Reds Diner    
McIntosh Auto Body     Wenas Feed & Seed     RJ's Tire Factory
Mike's Upholstery     Joes Grinding     Gabbord Street Rods
Kim Eccelston Motors     Miz. Dees BBQ     Touch of Class Upholstery
Sears        Mels Diner     TSR Sports     Big Cheese Pizza
Tire Centers Inc.     Magics Pizza     Star Rentals and Sales
State Farm Insurance, Selah

And our internet sponsors:
Edelbrock.com     Hagerty.com    InlineTube.com     RockAuto.com
SurfCityGarage.com    YogisInc.com     PacePerformance.com
K&NFilters.com     OldRide.com     SteelRubber.com
Jegs.com     SummitRacing.com  Streetsideauto.com

And now, here are a few pictures of the show.  Click on the image to get a larger picture then click on the back arrow at the top or your screen to return to the blog.

American Reflections Car Show

Here is the new poster for 2011.  Look for this image on our shirts as well.....

11th Annual Open Car Show is Coming!!

The new year means we are working towards our next car show.  The 11th Annual American Reflections Open Car Show is coming up this May 22, 2011 at the park in Moxee, WA.  Now this is possibly one of the best single day shows in Central Washington and always a favorite for many because the cars are displalyed on cool grass, not hot pavement. This beautiful park is just 4 miles east of Yakima on highway 24 at Rivard Rd in Moxee.  This allows for a short cruise to get you in the mood.  Just like past shows, there will be plenty of Vendors on hand to keep you fed along with the excitement of dash plaques,trophies, music, games, fun and free magazines. 

The show is always open to everyone.  Customs, Classics, Streetrods, Ratrods, Stockers, Trucks, LowRiders and Bikes will all be there. There are over 22 trophy classes!  If you have a classic car, truck or rod and want to show it off, this event is for you.  Entry fee until May 10, 2011 is just $15.00.  After May 10th and at the show, entry will be $20.00.  People love to look at and talk about all sorts of vehicles, so bring it out, finished or not.  SPECTATORS ARE ALWAYS ADMITTED FREE.

Proceeds from the show go to help out the Yakima Veterans, the Make a Wish foundation and Camp Primetime.  Several well deserving organizations.   So dust off that old ride and bring it out.  I know you are dying to show it off.  Some other shows do, but we do not descriminate against "For Sale" vehicles.  Several classics have been sold at our past shows for some pretty big money.

                                            PRE-REGISTRATION
Below is a reproduction of our registration form.  With your mouse, right click on it and then select "save picture as" you may save, enlarge and print the form.  Then send it to American Reflections, P.O. Box 11377, Yakima, WA. 98909 along with a check for your entry fee made out to American Reflections and we will register you for the show and send you back a registration number which you then will bring with you to the show.

                                                              

This show would not be possible without the help from our valued sponsors.  We have both local and national sponsors.  Most of our national sponsors are from the internet.  Please do business with these great people whenever possible.  They could easily ignore us but instead they go out of their way to help us at their expense.  The show participants each year benefit from their samples, product information, certificates, or savings.  Below are some internet links to these great companies.
http://www.npdlink.com/     
http://www.paceperformance.com/ 
http://www.rockauto.com/
http://www.yogisinc.com/    
http://www.hagerty.com/                
http://www.knfilters.com/
http://www.borgeson.com/  
http://www.coker.com/                   
http://www.edelbrock.com/
http://www.jegs.com/           
http://www.ididitinc.com/                
http://www.inlinetube.com/
http://www.oldride.com/     
http://www.surfcitygarage.com/      
http://www.ogdenchrome.com/
http://www.streetsideauto.com

Nearing the end of the Season

It's almost the end of the 2010 car show season.  What a great season it has been too.  This year the American Reflections Open Car Show was more successful than it has ever been.  Probably due to the early date and the hard work our club puts into it.  We make sure that everyone has a good time and goes away with something.  Prices are going up on the other shows and quite often they don't have enough items or features to keep most of the car owners interested. 

The car show scene is getting to be a focus for everyone who wants to raise quick money.  Unfortunately, the cost of these shows all to often fall on the car owners themselves.  Although many of the shows are for great causes, I can see why car owners are selective in the shows they want to attend each year.  This is one of the reasons that I am trying, along with the club, to keep the costs down and provide a great show with lots of prizes, tophies, dash plaques and other items for the  participant and spectators to enjoy.  We want our show to improve each year.

Naturally, a few members have said goodbye to us this year but we have also signed several new members.  So many in fact that we may be forced to look for a larger meeting place if it keeps up.  Still, we welcome anyone that wants to look at our club.  Our meetings are every second Thursday of the month at Magics Pizza Parlour in Selah at 7PM.  Members usually show up about 6PM so they can visit until 7.  The meetings then usually don't take much over an hour. 

Speaking of Magic Pizza, I would like to take this opportunity to say Thank you to them for providing us with a meeting place and being so kind to us for the last 2 1/2 years.  I think our members love going there and I truly believe they love having us.

Each year that we have had the car show in Moxee, we have had vendors. At first, only food vendors.  Then we included car related merchandise vendors.  In 2010 we had 13 vendors who not only sold merchandise and food but a person could purchase items for their pet, their kids, theirselves,  or even pick up car insurance.



I think that some of the regular readers of this blog check back often, even though I do not regularly change what they look at.  I would like to announce that our next car show will be on May 22, 2011 at the park in Moxee, WA.  It will be our 11th annual show and therefore our 11th year in existance as a club.  Look forward to the same great setting, prizes, trophies, music and amount of fun. 

On this site, there will be one listing after this to get us through the winter months.  I would like to take that listing and talk about our great sponsors and maybe provide you with some of their web addresses.  Please visit these sponsors who support us and use their goods and services.  They are true friends of the American Reflections Car Club.

Here is our Address:  American Reflections Car Club, P.O. Box 11377, Yakima, WA. 98909.  Our E-mail - AmReflections@yahoo.com and a phone number to call if you have questions, (509) 965-2547.   Thank You

Pictures of our show are always good too.

May 23rd, 2010..The Day of the Show

All week I was watching the weather report. Each day the report had pictures of clouds and rain except for Sunday, May 23rd. Each time I checked, everything was changing but the sun was still there for the 23rd. I had gone over every aspect of this car show in my mind, over and over. Now, if everyone would just follow through with their assigned tasks.

The day of the show was here! We had loaded up two trucks the night before and secured them for the night. We got up at 5:30 AM because we wanted to be at the park in Moxee by 7AM. The park is 20 miles from home. When we arrived at the park, three vendors were waiting. I immediately started working with them so they could set up. They all needed power. Oh, the Weather? Cold and clear, slight breeze with no rain.

Vehicles started arriving at about 8AM. I had asked the members to park the vehicles a little tighter this year. Everything was going good so far. Registration started out smooth as the PA system was being finished up and event signage was going up. We had put the speakers on a high scaffold this year so that the sound might travel farther. I checked it out later and found that it worked perfectly.

We had a successful show last year but with this being our 10th anniversary and our 10th annual show we were doing everything bigger this year. We had more vendors this year than ever before. While other shows have only one food vendor, we had four and an espresso van. While other shows have no merchandise vendors, we had seven. This year we had more trophies than ever before. Each set of trophies (1st, 2nd, 3rd) were sponsored in 22 classes. In addition to the classes we had trophies for best of show, best interior, best paint, distance, participants choice, kids choice, poker walk (hi and low) as well as two other game trophies and cash prizes. We also had a participant who gave out four trophies of his own. Total trophies...80. More games, more free magazines, more give-a-ways, more raffle items, more cars this year and more of everything else. We even sold t-shirts. All this, but we didn't have a single bicycle register this year. Oh, and Weather? Cool, clear With no rain...yet.

The cars kept coming! The registration line was getting long and we finally ended up with about 177 entries at the show along with about 30 club vehicles which we don't ever count (at this show anyway). Everyone did their jobs very well and the show went quite smoothly. We created more excitement with a Minute to Win It stacking game, an Automotive trivia contest and a poker walk. We had so many door prizes to give away that we called car numbers during the entire show. A person could also buy tickets for a dollar and take a chance on winning one or more of the valuable prizes we had to offer. We gave away a shop vac, tool boxes, floor jacks, air compressors, canopy chairs, clocks, gas money, ceramics, car parts, and autographed posters by famous people in the automotive design and drag racing industries. The raffle items raised over $700. Tickets were sold for the 50/50 by the Make a Wish Foundation and an additional $370 was raised with the raffling of a generator. The club will in turn kick in another $500 to Make A Wish. The weather? About 2 PM the wind came up and it felt "wet"..Sun was hiding.

People were starting to get impatient as the sky got darker. We had much to do yet, and so the raffle items, auction and trophy presentation was started at 2:30 PM. An hour later the show was brought to a close.

What a day, What a Show! I think people will be talking about this one for a long time to come.