A car custom built by legendary designer George Barris for Bo Derek when she became a “10” was one of about 35 very cool cars of all sorts at the second monthly Carcadia @Route 66 today (Jan. 19, 2014).
The 90-minute gathering casually discuss and admire each other’s rides is presented by the non-profit Arcadia’s Best Foundation and Glenn Oyoung’s turn3 Creative takes place in the parking lot behind Denny’s on Huntington Drive (the original Route 66). Denny’s not only allows the use of its parking lot but offers participants coffee and breakfast at 15% off.
Carcadia @Route 66 is scheduled for 7:30 a.m. – 9 a.m. Sunday, Feb. 23, and the fourth Sunday through October.
In just the second outing, the number of participants doubled and included representation from the Arcadia Fire Department and Arcadia Police Department (1959 Ford Galaxie 500 patrol car “adopted” by the Arcadia Historical Society and presented today by Society President Gene Glasco, who is also a Police VIPS and City Clerk).
The Barrister from the man behind the 1960s Batmobile and Munsters mobile is a modified 1979 Corvette with a Chevy 454 and a radiator grille in the front the second of only eight created by Barris for celebrities including Derek, Sammy Davis, Jr. and James Caan. Among the other vehicles that rolled up Sunday were a 1971 Rolls Royce owned by City Council candidate Sho Tay, a 1930 Lincoln that has a Rose Parade medallion, a Road Runner, several 1950s Chevys, a Porsche, a 1967 Firebird, a 1965 Mustang, a Z28 Camaro, vintage hot rods, a classic Triumph motorcycle and many others.
Belle n’ Beau photography studio owner Raymond Elgin returned with his Cobra Shelby GT 500 Mustang.
The gathering is free for those who want to bring their cars or just enjoy the vehicles of others. The parking lot behind Denny’s is most easily accessible from Santa Anita Avenue north of Huntington Drive and south of Wheeler Avenue.
Arcadia’s Best Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit group that presented the Arcadia’s Best Patriotic Festival and parade on First Avenue south of Huntington Drive in 2011; November’s One Community, One Book, the third citywide book club program; and the Arcadia’s Best Downtown Christmas Market every Saturday in December before Christmas from 5-9 p.m. on First Avenue north of Huntington Drive.
— By Scott Hettrick