Veterans Day Car Show

November 11, 2017

Huntington City Beach Parking Lot
Pacific Coast Highway & Huntington St.
Huntington Beach, CA
veteransdaycarshow.org (website not active)

Surf City Veteran's Car Show Roars

By C. MacDonald

Huntington Beach, CA--The Surf City Veteran's Car Show recently attracted 7,000 people, admiring more than 500 cars of all shapes, sizes, styles and brands, worth more than $100 million. It started off with a Military Salute to veterans, including an incredible taps performance by dual buglers in the city parking lot across from the Waterfront Hilton. All branches of the military were honored at the annual patriotic event, incredibly put on by tireless J.R. Nichols and his friends, like Vic Galich. Sponsored by Johnny's Saloon, Vision2Victory and others, the proceeds earned from the spectacular show go to U.S. combat-wounded veterans from Iraq and Afghanistan to help them in transitioning from military to civilian life.

Among the awesome car entrants were former Marine, Terry McCarty's beautiful 1932 Rockne (named for the legendary Notre Dame football coach) and Jerry Wiegert's amazing, one-of-a-kind, Vector WX3, which he designed and manufactured in his Wilmington facility.

But the star of the show was Rescue 5, a fire engine from Staten Island that took 12 firefighters to the World Trade Center in New York City, responding to the September 11, 2001 attacks. Eleven of the firefighters perished trying to save other lives. The damaged engine itself was finally rescued a month later and would continue to serve until the city put it up for sale in 2011. Rescue 5 was purchased by the Remembrance Rescue Project, a non-profit which turned it into a mobile memorial to educate, honor and remember 9-11 as well as all firefighters who lose their lives in the line of duty.

It now tours the country and is hosted by fire departments. And even more than 13 years later, amazingly, dust from the horrific event still falls out of the truck, said firefighter David Monday, whose Los Angeles County Fire Department, was hosting the famous engine. The hosting is done by volunteers and made possible by people who contribute funds to the Remembrance Rescue Project.

Mayor Matthew Harper, a recently elected Assemblyman, enjoyed the event, along with newly-elected City Councilmen Mike Posey and Erik
Peterson. At noon, Peterson told the car owners to rev up their engines and the sound of the drag racers, combined with all the other cars, was a thrilling thing few visitors will forget.

The car show grows ever year--going from 365 last year to 500. There's even a Club Trophy given to the club with the most cars in the show. To find out more, visit vision2victory.org. And, if you missed it, be sure and check out the spectacular event next year. You'll not only be able to thank and support all our veterans and current military, but have a great time, too.

Events are not guaranteed. It is your responsibility to confirm before going.