Beach Barons members gather at Wilson Field on Labor Day to prepare for the upcoming Rod Run. Members from left to right are Michael Ferrerua, Nicholas Holtermann, Dennis Farmer, Gary Matthews, Brad Nelson, Robi Nelson, Veronica Frink, Jim Meyers and Bobbi Reynolds. In the center of the photo is the engine that will be raffled off during the event. On the left is Dennis Farmer's 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback, painted by Jeff Nesbitt of Ilwaco. On the right is Jim Meyer's 1966 Chevy Corvette Stingray, painted at Classic Bodywerks in Warrenton, Ore.

By Natasha Crater

Observer correspondent

OCEAN PARK — The 32nd annual Rod Run “to the end of the world” will take place on Sept. 12 and 13. This popular event hosts between 900 and 1,200 classic cars in addition to nearly a dozen smaller activities. Organized by the Beach Barons Car Club at their 27-acre Wilson Field in Ocean Park, the two-day event offers music and vendors among the glimmering rows of vintage rides. Cars must be made before 1985 to be included in the event.

Rod Run traditionally marks the last big tourism weekend of the season. In recent years, the event has reported paid admission for anywhere between 4,000 to 8,000 people. Many other visitors are unaccounted for on this busy weekend, coming to enjoy the Rod Run experience without actually attending the event. They line the streets to witness the organized Rod Run cruise on Saturday evening, and many stay street-side even longer to watch for classic cars coming and going. Some of these visitors bring their own vintage or novelty vehicles in all states of restoration from rusty, to rattle-canned, to mint condition.

As area residents, businesses and law enforcement brace for one last inundation of visitors and revelry, the Beach Barons are busy in preparing for the main event.

According Beach Barons administrator and founding member Nicki Andrews, those preparations are “going fine.”

“We pull a lot of volunteers from the community,” Andrew said, “easily 100 people.” Among the volunteers are Ilwaco High School Cross Country team members who will come help shuck corn for the Sunday afternoon seafood barbecue.

Dennis Farmer, acting Beach Barons President and Rod Run Show Chairman said that there are over 100 families listed on the club’s membership roster. Many members serve on a variety of committees that coordinate various aspects of the event. According to Kitchen Chairman Gary Matthews, “We all start working on the year’s event in January and February.” Matthews says that his committee “has been in the kitchen cleaning, sterilizing, organizing and ordering for about a month.” They are preparing to serve around 1,000 participants during Saturday’s continental breakfast and another 1,200 to 1,300 at Sunday’s seafood barbecue.

Lots of local support

Local businesses are an integral part of the Beach Baron’s game plan. “We try to buy everything local if we can do it,” said Bobbie Reynolds, who oversees event registration. Matthews added, “Jessie’s supplied our fish this year and really did good by us.” The Cottage Bakery will be providing 100 dozen donuts for the continental breakfast. Jack’s Country Store, Okie’s Thriftway Market, Sweet Phee’s and Napa Auto Parts are other major local suppliers.

More than 150 local businesses also sponsor trophies, which are given to the vehicle of their choosing. These trophies are presented along with awards for people’s choice, participant’s choice and club selections. According to Trophy Chairman Jim Meyers, “170 trophies will be presented on Sunday.”

Fun activities

Many smaller activities will take place during the car show, including a raffle for a brand new engine. Proceeds from this raffle are donated to several local charities that “mainly benefit children” according to Robi Nelson, the club’s treasurer. Some of the raffle proceeds are also put toward an annual high school scholarship.

Another activity, the Poker Run, will take place on Sunday between 9 a.m. and noon. It has Rod Runners heading out to different businesses on the Peninsula. Each business has a deck of cards. In the spirit of a scavenger hunt, the participants pick up a card at each location and, as Andrews simply puts it, “whoever has the best hand wins the Poker Run.”

Andrews said that “for the ‘Brick It’ event, we take the oil and water out of a car, and then we start it. We put a brick on the gas pedal and run it.” Spectators may “purchase a time slot” for how long it will take before the car “blows up,” and the best guess takes the pot. According to Andrews, the car, which comes from the junkyard, could run “anywhere from 15 seconds to a couple of minutes.” Brick It will occur between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. on Saturday.

An auto swap meet will happen on both Saturday and Sunday. As in years past, the Beach Barons are soliciting canned food donations for the local food bank. The city of Long Beach is also offering free roundtrip trolley rides between downtown (3rd and Oregon) and Wilson Field every 30 to 45 minutes from 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday.

Admission is $5 at the gate, with parking in the Lions Clubs lot available for $5.