West Coast Kustoms Cruisin’ Nationals drives into Santa Maria for weekend car show
SANTA MARIA, Calif. -- One of the biggest yearly events held in Santa Maria rolls into the city today with the arrival of hundreds of cars that are part the 42nd Annual West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals.
The popular car show features one-of-a-kind customized cars and will run Friday through Sunday.
"The cars have to be a 1965 or older modified car," said Doug Mason, West Coast Kustoms Santa Maria Area representative. "It's amazing to see the different people. We have them come from all over the United States. You'll find hot rods, rat rods, custom paint jobs that will blow your mind. It's just one car after another that's a spectacle to see, and if you haven't seen it or been here, it's the time to come."
Held each Memorial Day weekend, the show is expected to bring hundreds entries, as well as thousands of visitors to the city.
"I love it," said car owner known as 'Murpho,' who drove in from Austin, Texas. "It's a great time. I think anybody who hasn't been to this car show that loves customized cars should come out and check it out because it's one of the best gatherings of cars you're going to see everywhere."
Many of the car owners are expected to arrive into Santa Maria on Thursday. The event officially begins on Friday at 11 a.m. with the start of event registration.
Over the next few days, customized cars will be seen driving all over the city, especially along the busy Broadway corridor around the Historic Santa Maria Inn, which serves as the official host site.
"They're some of the best cars that I've ever seen and I've been to some of the best car shows and this is the show that everybody needs to come to," said car aficionado Luis Lopez of Grover Beach. "This is about a 10 as far as car shows go."
One of the most popular events in the car show is the Friday night cruise along Broadway, which begins at 7 p.m. and is free for spectators to attend.
"They will shut down the boulevard in front of the inn and let everybody cruise up and down and that's really something to see," said Murpho. "It's a super good time and that's something that makes it very unique."
Over the weekend, the model car show will be held at the Santa Maria Fairpark, where spectators will be able to see all of the cars up close and personal.
"The cars are stationary," said Mason. "They're just sitting there, but you get to hear the cars, and the blowers and the hopped up cars and the hot engines and it's fun if you like to breath in exhaust fumes, well that's part of the whole situation."
An entry fee is required for the model car show, which runs 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday.
The weekend car show will also feature the George Barris’ Batmobile and actor Erik Estrada, who famously portray CHP officer Frank Poncherello in the popular TV show ChiPs TV, which ran from 1977 to 1983.
For more information on the West Coast Kustoms Cruisin' Nationals, click here.
