Charity
Car Show Gives Back to Community
By Glen Wallace - Staff Writer, Santa Ynez Valley News
Sunny Fields Playground
Tuesday afternoon the organizers of the Wheels and Windmills Car Show presented the city of Solvang a check for $10,300 to help with the completion of the Sunny Fields Park.
City Park and Recreation chief Kristin Thomsen was on hand to help accept the check. She said the money will go primarily towards landscaping and benches at the park.
The third annual car show (held in Buellton for five years before that) was held in Solvang on Aug. 25, 2007, closing down Copenhagen Drive two blocks of First Street, and a city parking lot.
"We enjoy giving back to the city," said Bob Stokes, the lead organizer for the show.
Earlier this month, the group presented a check for $4,260 to the Santa Ynez Union High School automotive department. The money was raised by raffling off a V8 engine, donated by show sponsor Jon's Equipment and Construction Co.
The organizers of the show reported a record 260 cars were placed on display this year, with a goal next year of 300 participants.
Not everyone will be happy to hear the car show will return however. The show was the first major event subjected to a city ordinance asking affected business owners to fill out a questionnaire to gauge community reaction. Only 28 questionnaires were returned to the city, out of hundreds.
"They liked the event, but they kind of wished it would move to a part of the year when they already had a lot of business," said Deputy Director of Public Works Brian Just, summarizing some of the questionnaire results.
At the Sept. 24 city Council meeting, Councilman Edwin Skytt said that in his own polling of downtown businesses, the timing complaint was common, with many suggesting a later weekend for the show.
Ironically, the Wheels and Windmills car show had originally been held weeks later in September, only to be asked by the city to move to August to avoid over scheduling with events like Danish Days that also require street closures.
Stokes said the show could show flexibility depending on the City Council's wishes, but that rescheduling car shows is a tricky prospect, as travel plans and potential calendar conflicts with surrounding shows are done months in advance.
The council eventually decided to keep the August weekend date for the car show, voting 3-1 on the motion. Council member Eugene Boyle was absent, and Skytt was opposed.
A nice thank you from Mike Garley at Solvang Parks & Recreation
