An estimated 1,500 people stopped by Honolulu Avenue on Sunday for the 20th Annual Montrose Car Show. Under clear skies with a cool breeze, the community came together to see 300 cars, trucks and motorcycles on display.

The event had something for everyone, even those who don’t know a whole lot about cars. Bob Beck, the announcer for the show, offered this advice: “If you have a cool car, let the kid in the front seat. That’s how you get them interested in cars.”

Beck also hosted the awards ceremony. Twenty-five car owners were recognized for their effort and care in the vehicles they maintain. The winners were Roger Morrison, Troy Stallinas, Bill McChessney, Armen Kzaryan, Roy Shaneyfelt, Ruben Barragan, Tom Evans, Ross Lowande, Greg Eisele, Jim Ortega, Gary Schaedler, Steve Purrel, Hunter Bloch, Gary Songstad, Jim Arkin, Simon Holquin, Kris Wilcox, Joe Garcia, Candice Osborne, Mike Sellheim, Rick Bittle, Junior Machado, William Slemmons, Damion Bogosian and Vidal Herrera.

Crowds gathered for “Cackle Fest” where several nitro car owners got to rev their engines and show off their special mix of nitromethane and methanol fuel. All the cars present for this demonstration were vintage nitro cars, featuring forward placed engines instead of the rear engines found in today’s models. Each car produced quite a roar, though viewers of the show might be surprised to learn that these vehicles were actually rather quiet in comparison to the ones typically found on the race track. Anyone interested in learning more about these vehicles can check out the Nitro Revival on Nov. 5 and 6 in Irwindale.

One of the cars on display was a 1951 Volkswagen Beetle, owned by Robert VW Kidd and one of the first cars to have ever been officially imported by Volkswagen to the United States. Incredibly, the car sat in a junkyard for years and was scheduled to be junked. Fortunately, the car was saved and it eventually made its way to its current owner. Nicknamed the “Junker” due to how he got it, Kidd managed to bring the car back to working order while still preserving much of its original features. He even drove it to the show that day.

Another featured car was a 1966 Volkswagen Samba, most notable for its 21 windows. The owner, Rick Bittle, got the vehicle from a friend of his after it sat in his backyard for 26 years, seemingly unable to run. Bittle put in a new engine, changed the oil and the old timer started right up. This was the same car that Bittle and his friend used to drive around back in the ’70s, and now it drives around Montrose looking brand new.

Tom King, who ran the registration booth, said, “The show brings people to the city and highlights the businesses we live in. It’s not done for profit, but for the community we live in. To give back.”

The show, organized by the Montrose Shopping Park Association, was fun for the whole family. Besides the classic autos, motorcycles and hot rods, there was also the weekly Harvest Market and local businesses for the public to enjoy.

For anyone who missed this year’s exhibit, don’t despair: Plans are already being made for the 2023 event.