Parade of Spectators Attend Memorial Day Car Show

It was almost like a second parade in Gilroy on Monday–the endless stream of spectators that came to see the more than 200 cars in the second-annual Car Show at .

“The turnout this year is way better than last year,” said Juan Arjona, a member of the show’s organizers, Central Coast Muscle Cars & Classics.

While last year’s event exceeded expectations for both participation and popularity, club Vice President Jerry Mangano said that they had more than three times the amount of preregistered cars and nearly double the total number of cars in the show on Monday.

The club donates the participant fee to the Memorial Day parade, and proceeds of a raffle went to the non-profit organization that sends care packages to troops, Operation Interdependence.

“Every single part of this is donated,” he said, “Our club is mostly geared towards veterans.”

Show cars from all eras were lined up, with many of their owners standing beside the glimmering chrome and immaculate paint to give the back story of their creation.

One participant, Isie Quistian, won best-of-show last year with his 1941 Plymouth Business Coupe, The Bomb.

“This car has done everything,” he said, recalling how the now green hot rod had spent time as a low rider in years past.

Club members judged cars in different categories, including chrome, paint and custom work. Vehicles from 1964-1976 were the club’s original focus when it started in 2007, but they have since branched out to include muscle cars, said Mangano.

The event in Christmas Hill Park is their biggest of the year, though the club participates in different shows year-round, he said.

“The car people love it. It’s one of the best parks around,” said the vice president, pointing out the shade that covered much of the lot where the cars were displayed.

Those interested in joining the Central Coast Muscle Cars and Classics club can find the application on their Web site. Membership costs $100 for the first year, and $75 for each following year.