Car shows and cruise-ins have been a staple of Clark County summers since the 1950s, when high school students began “cruising the gut” down Vancouver’s Main Street, showing off their sweet rides.
Slo Poks car club member Michael Finn, 66, remembers that time with fondness. People would drive by Dairy Queen where his father, a policeman and Slo Poks member, would warn cruisers to slow down and quit squealing their tires. On Saturday morning, though, they’d be over at the Finn household, where Michael’s dad would tune up their cars for next Friday’s cruise.
“It’s a sickness,” Finn said, poking affectionate fun at car enthusiasts’ unstoppable love affair with chrome, horsepower and tires. “It was kind of born into me, the whole car thing.”
Founded in 1952, Slo Poks is one of the oldest continually meeting car clubs in the country, Finn said. Its members (“all Vancouver boys,” Finn said) still meet every Friday night, except for Christmas and the Portland Auto Swap Meet in April. In some cases, Finn said, club membership spans three generations of gearheads, with father, son and grandfather bonding over cars.
Finn loves to see younger kids getting excited about cars. In the era of ever-more-expensive cars and skyrocketing gas and insurance costs, car ownership doesn’t hold the same luster it once did. Throw in Uber and beefed-up public transportation options, and you’ve got a generation that doesn’t know an antique Model T from a rat rod — and doesn’t much care.
“There’s so many getting older and their kids or grandkids, it’s not their thing,” Finn said. “They’re more into the turbo imports. I know a lot of kids 25, 26, 27 that don’t drive. They ride the bus.”
(Finn jokingly called the bus “the LC” or “loser cruiser.”)
However, if you look at Clark County’s packed schedule of car shows, you’d never guess classic car culture might be decelerating. It’s true that some car shows have disbanded or left Clark County for other venues, such as Beaches Summertime Cruisin (formerly at Pearson Field Airport, now in its last year at Portland International Raceway) and Columbia River Concours d’Elegance (formerly on Officers Row, now in Forest Grove, Ore.). But new car shows have quickly filled the gaps — like 54-40 Brewing’s first Cruise to the Shoug car show on Aug. 4.
The fact is Clark County has a lot of fired-up car enthusiasts. (Just look at the public support for Cruise the Couve, which is no longer officially sanctioned but continues anyway.) Some of the summer’s biggest car shows may have already passed but there are still a dozen different car-related events from now through Labor Day. In addition, there are three “cars and coffee” drop-in meet-ups happening weekly in Felida, Fisher’s Landing and at Vancouver Mall, not to mention cruise-ins at Alderbrook Park, every Friday from late May to mid-September.
Finn is looking forward to the Uptown Village Association Show & Shine, hosted by the Slo Poks from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 10 on the corner of McLoughin Boulevard and Main Street. The first show in 2012 was a fundraiser for the nonprofit Hough Foundation, but it also served another purpose.
“Saturday morning, you could shoot a cannon down Main Street and not hit anybody,” Finn said. “We started it to bring business to Main Street.”
Finn said the Show & Shine is a relatively calm, “old school” car show. Several blocks of Main Street are closed off for viewing. Finn said he’s expecting up to 700 spectators to gaze longingly at 150 to 200 cars. He’s proud that the Slo Poks have made such a positive contribution to the community. In addition to the increased foot traffic on Main Street, he estimates that the Slo Poks have raised $20,000 for the Hough Foundation over the years, plus donations of school supplies. Car people “are just really nice people,” Finn said.
“They’re pretty diverse, the cars that are registered,” Finn said. “If you think your car is cool enough, bring it in.”
Clark County car shows and meet-ups, now through September
Alderbrook Park hosts a Friday Night Cruise-in from 3 to 7 p.m. every Friday night through Sept. 13 at 24414 N.E. Westerholm Road, Brush Prairie. Admission for spectators is $3 to $8 and vehicle registration is $5 to $10. Learn more at alderbrookparkevents.com.
Beaches Summertime Cruisin’, Wednesdays through Sept. 25 (except Aug. 21) at Portland International Raceway, raises money for nonprofit organizations. Vehicle registration opens at 3 p.m. ($5 per person and $5 per bike) and spectators ($10 per person, 12 and under free) arrive at 4 p.m. The show, which continues until dusk, features 1,000 hot rods, exotic sports cars and motorcycles. The event includes live music, food carts, a full bar, drag racing, kids’ activities and a shady picnic area. Learn more at beachesrestaurantandbar.com.
La Center’s Our Days Steamboat Celebration includes a car show from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Holley Park, 1000 E. Fourth St., La Center. Vehicle registration is $20; register online at lacenterourdays.com/car-show. Gates open at 8 a.m. for parking. Vehicles will be on display from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Judging is 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and awards are at 2 p.m. Dash plaques and goodie bags go to the first 150 participants.
Felida Cars & Coffee drop-in show is 8 to 10 a.m. Saturday as well as Aug. 10, Aug. 24 and Sept. 14 at Creed Coffee, 10718 N.W. Lakeshore Ave., Felida. Event attendees will receive 10 percent off purchases at Creed Coffee. Get more details at facebook.com/creedcoffeeco/.
Orchards Cars & Coffee hosts a meet-up for car enthusiasts from 9 to 11 a.m. Sundays in the lower southeast lot at Vancouver Mall, 8700 N.E. Vancouver Mall Drive, Vancouver. Attendees are invited to bring their families, park and enjoy seeing other custom and classic cars and hot rods. July 28 is 80s Day; costumes encouraged. Learn more at facebook.com/Orchardscarsandcoffee/.
King’s Kruz-In is 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Glenwood Community Church, 12201 N.E. 72nd Ave., Vancouver. Registration ($20 per vehicle) is 8 to 10:30 a.m. The show features 300 rods and custom cars, live bluegrass music, barbecue lunch and snack bar, plus balloon art and Woody the Magic Guy for kids. Car show entrants receive a free lunch and a dash plaque. Twenty-one trophies will be awarded, including Best of Show. Bring nonperishable food donations for FISH Vancouver. Proceeds from King’s Kruz-In support Options360 Women’s Clinic. Learn more at facebook.com/glenwoodcc/.
54-40 Brewing will host Cruise to the Shoug from 2 to 5 p.m. Aug. 4 at 3801 S. Truman Road, Washougal. The event includes live music, raffle drawings and custom or collector cars, trucks and motorcycles. Spectators attend for free and vehicle registration is $25. Funds raised support the Camas-Washougal Community Chest. Car show staging is at 1 p.m. and viewing is at 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for people’s choice, kids’ choice, fan favorite motorcycle, fan favorite truck, weirdest ride, most attention to detail and best daily driver. Register cars at cityofcamas.us/communications/page/cruise-shoug or call 360-843-6918.
Fisher’s Landing Cars & Coffee meet-up is 9 to 11 a.m. Aug. 4 and Sept. 1 at Black Rock Coffee in east Vancouver, 1801 S.E. 164th Ave., Unit 111 (behind Gustav’s). All types of vehicles are welcome. Discounted beverages are available for attendees; just mention Cars & Coffee. Learn more at facebook.com/FishersLandingCarsandCoffee/.
The Uptown Village Association Show and Shine, hosted by the Slo Poks Car Club, is 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 10 on Main Street in Vancouver’s Uptown Village. The event is open event to all hot rods, custom cars, bikes, rat rods and collector cars. The show includes raffle drawings, giveaways and goodie bags for entrants. Registration is $15 per car, plus a donation of school supplies. Spectators are free. A portion of proceeds will be donated to the Hough Foundation. Cars should enter on the corner of McLoughlin Boulevard and Main Street. For more details, call Michael Finn at 360-281-5333 or visit vdausa.org/event/show-and-shine.
Yacolt is hosting the Classic & Custom Car Show from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 in downtown Yacolt. The event is a showcase of classic and modern cars. The show includes a kids’ car show, artisan vendors, food carts and live music. Registration opens at 9 a.m. at $25 per vehicle. Funds raised benefit The Listen Line. Get details at townofyacolt.com.
Velvet Acres Gardens, 18905 N.E. 83rd St., Vancouver, will host a car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 18 featuring classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars and bikes. The event includes live music, awards, raffles, vendors and food carts. Registration is $10 per vehicle. Learn more at facebook.com/events/421212974154726/.
The Port of Camas-Washougal will host Wheels and Wings from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 24 at Grove Field Airport, 632 N.E. 267th Ave., Camas. The event includes a free hot dog lunch and a car and airplane walk-through. Registration is $20 at portcw.com.
True Impressions and Playmakers Bar and Grill will host a car show from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 25 at 1503 N.E. 78th St., Hazel Dell. Registration ($20 per vehicle) opens at 10 a.m. The show includes a hop competition with cash prizes, trophies, vendors and raffle drawings. Proceeds benefit local families in need. Learn more at facebook.com/events/990952015870147/.
The 40 et 8 Labor Day Car Show is 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sept. 2 at the 40 et 8 Chateau, 2809 N.E. 78th St., Vancouver. The show includes music, trophies, raffle drawings, food and beer. For more details, call 360-574-3872. Learn more at cmac11.com.
