La Jolla residents will have no choice but to stop in their tracks for the fourth annual La Jolla Motor Car Classic this Sunday, Jan. 13 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Hosted by Promote La Jolla, the free event will be held at the La Jolla Cove and is featuring the pre-1916 Horseless Carriage, in addition to celebrating the origins of the motorized car through the 1950s.
Car collectors across California will have the chance to enter their vehicles in a contest judged in 10 categories that include Excellence in Design, Director’s Choice and Best in Show.
“They’re judged for beauty, and they’re judged for cleanliness primarily,” said automotive journalist Johnny McDonald, who writes a monthly column for the Village News. “Sometimes the judges will come out with white gloves and reach under a certain area of the car. If they come up with some dust or oil, that’s points against them (the competitors).”
Spectators will have the opportunity to judge the contest by electing their favorite vehicle for the People’s Choice Award.
The La Jolla Motor Car Classic has featured an array of automobiles, including Italian and British marques, woodies and other cars designated classics by the Classic Car Club of America.
In order to earn the title “classic,” an automobile must have been manufactured in limited numbers and at a high price. Such vehicles represent advances in engineering and design for the era, according to organizers.
The featured car this year, the pre-1916 Horseless Carriage, is a hand-cranked automobile featuring gas lighting and elaborate brass decorations that was usually reserved for the wealthy.
The Horseless Carriage and other classics will not be the only cars on display. Car enthusiasts can enjoy expensive makes and models that include Bentleys, Rolls Royces, Cobras, Ferraris, Speedsters, muscle cars, exotic sports cars and much more.
The afternoon will also include entertainment from the San Diego Chamber Orchestra and the Monarch School’s Steel Drum Band.
For more information, visit www.lajollabythesea.com or call McFarlane Promotions, (619) 233-5008.
