Yorba Linda – Twelve SCC Members attended the John Force Car Show at the John Force Race Station in Yorba Linda, California on December 6th, 2009. The show partnered with the CHiPS for Kids charity which provides toys for children during the  Christmas holidays. A total of 950 car entries were lined up in and around the surrounding streets of John Force’s Race Station. A donation of fifteen children’s bicycles was given by SCC Members to the CHiPS for Kids charity.

As 6:30 a.m. shown on the car’s clock, I pulled into the parking lot at Allied Signal Corporation to find Kevin waiting there already. It’s been something that has made me smirk all year; having someone be earlier than I when we have met for a car event. Usually I’m earlier than anyone by a long shot. Kevin drives in from really far away as well. He is the Challenger driver that never sleeps, the owl of SCC. Soon after I arrived other members began pulling into the lot and lining up in adjacent spaces. As these members began pulling in I kept watching the time as I was anxious to get our members into the show. I was also freezing my butt off so that gave me extra vigilance. It was cold, damn cold. The forecast was that a storm was coming in later that day. At that moment it was fairly clear and cold, but the wind was picking up and clouds were way off in the horizon. Go time was 7:30 a.m. We were still missing a few people, but it was time to go. We had an appearance to make! I promptly drove my car over the edge of a concrete island on my way out of the parking lot. I guess it just wasn’t too early for me to make an ass out of myself. Was I channeling Mickey Thompson? Luckily there was no damage done and I had gotten the “making an ass of myself” part of the day over with.

As I turned the group into the Kaiser Permanente parking lot where we were to be pre-staged, A volunteer got on his walkie-talkie and stated, ”Ron, we just had a whole lot of Challengers pull in” ”A whole lot of ‘em”. Pulling into car shows in formation makes such an impact on people. It’s a very powerful visual. It’s why we do it. It makes a definite impression. The gal at the check-in line thanked me for having our group already have their placards taped to their windshields. She said it made her job a lot easier and we got waved in much faster. We were able to park very close to the Race Station where it ended up being a great spot for people to see our cars. We were right at the intersection of the two busiest streets. Once we were parked, we shined ‘em up and got ready for showtime. The best part was yet to come.

Richard had been at this show in year’s past and had given children’s bicycles to the CHiPS for Kids charity. It’s something the charity has a real need for, but gets very few of. Of course they are grateful for all the toys they receive, but they have a high demand for bicycles. Richard had proposed that we all try to bring a children’s bicycle to the event to donate. Of course we all brought one. Some of us brought two for good measure. He also proposed that we make a group presentation to the charity. Great idea. About 10:15 or so, we all lined up with our bikes, took a few photos, and headed up to the booth. I had Richard lead us up there. This was his baby. It was only right that he would lead us up there. As we started walking up there people starting making comments. “Look at all the bikes!”, “How cool of you guys to do that!” People started clapping. That feeling, I tell you, was better than any pile of trophies we’ve ever gotten or will get. Richard had the speech down, ”On behalf of SOCAL Challengers we’ve brought fifteen bikes for you today”. They were floored. They had no bikes donated whatsoever until we got there. They didn’t have any more bikes donated after us either. John Force thanked us in his speech at the awards ceremony. His wife also thanked us at the end of the show. It was an amazing moment I will never forget. Although we received no material awards that day, we all took a gift home from that show…All of us.

People clamored over our cars throughout the day. It was probably the largest crowds we’d ever seen at a show, even more than Cruisin’ for a Cure. Just a sea of people….All day long. It took our minds off the bitter cold and wind. The rain missed us that day. Try again Mr. rain man, try again.

I want to thank John Force Racing for putting on by far the most well-run show we’ve been at this year. This is an invitation-only show and we’re glad you invited us. I also wanted to thank Richard for the bike and group presentation idea. That was an incredible experience. Next year, more cars……and more bikes!!!

Los Angeles- Fifteen members of SoCalChallengers attended the 14^th annual “Cops for Tots” car show which was held at the old Los Angeles Police Academy in Elysian Park on October 25^th, 2009. SoCal Challengers swept the “Challenger Class” at the show and also took home trophies in the “Daily Driver”, “Special Interest”, and “Group Participation” categories. The “Cops for Tots” show raises money for selected children’s charities in the greater Los Angeles area. Over 500 cars filled the entire police academy parking lot as well as the surrounding Academy Road that runs between the police academy and Dodger Stadium.

I pulled into Dave’s shops’ parking lot at a quarter to six that morning. It was dark, it was foggy. I was excited as this show we had been looking forward to for some time. We had our own class for our cars, (Which has only happened at one other show this year), and there was a group participation trophy to be had as well. I thought we had a good shot at getting that group trophy with our projected turnout of fifteen cars. Several members were already there when I arrived. Bill and Macy, Joe, and Rick were good to go. James, Dan, and G1 were there soon after. Then G2, Kevin, Jim, Chris, and the rest rolled in. We were excited to meet Joe M, who had come from the inland empire to roll in with us. His Inferno Red R/T was nice to see as we don’t have that color in our group yet. Jeff had been nice enough to give him his pass for the show as he was unable to attend. We were waiting for Brendon from San Diego, but needed to go as the staff at the show wanted us at the gate at 6:30 a.m.

As we pulled up to the show we passed a long line of entrants cars and were put into a side staging area in the Dodger Stadium parking lot. Then we got a lesson in waiting. Although we were asked to be there at 6:30, we were still in that staging area waiting to be placed at 8:00 a.m. We hung out in that area, talking and such….dee ..de….dee. It seemed like forever. We learned of James’ hatred of spiders. We also picked up another Challenger driven by Chuck and his wife. They accepted our invitation to park with us. Most of our wives and kids went back to sleep in their respective cars. Right about 8:00 a.m. a golf cart came over and said they were ready for us to come in. We were taken past the rest of the cars in line and were placed on two adjacent roads, not together like we were promised. I remember Rick coming back to my car while we were in line and letting me know they were doing that. He wasn’t happy about it. Neither was I. It ended up working out as we set up our ez up on the corner in between the two groups and also the “Challenge Her” dragster of Richard’s. It also gave us a gap to place Brendon as he showed up later in the morning.

After we were placed and got our cars cleaned up, Dave and I went to the Judge’s tent to get our briefing. We were judging the modern LX cars other than Challengers. Two SoCal LX members (Mighty Noid and SRT John) were judging the Challenger Class. As we got our judging sheets and were explained the process we were supposed to follow, I noticed that Dave and I were given a bunch of old Mopar cars to judge as well. That was fine by me, the fun part was finding them. They were all over the show as they did not put the same make of cars together. I had one sheet that said “’34 Dodge”. That’s all. No area where it was, no license plate, color, nothing. I never found that one. The organizer in the judges tent told me, ”If you have a sheet, then it’s here”. I responded, ”Well, you better show me where it is then ‘cause I can’t find it.” Freekin’ 500+ cars and I have to find a ’34 Dodge somewhere. There were some beautiful cars though Dave and I got to judge. The Blue Road Runner was stunning. There was a great old Hemi-Orange Challenger there too. I was happy to eventually find all the rest of the cars and get them judged.

We ended up taking home six trophies that day. We won the “Group Participation” Trophy. Rick won in the “Daily Driver” category. Richard won in the “Special Interest” category for the dragster. In the Challenger Class, I received first place for the very first time this year. Dan and Dave received “Show Stopper” runner up awards. Although it was poorly organized at best, we as a group made our usual best of it and took home more bling for the mantle.

I’d like to thank the LAPD for personally inviting us to the show. Thanks also to Dave for providing the meeting place for us to roll in from. And thanks to the members who helped me later that day…It meant a lot……