You wouldn’t have known from looking at it, but this meet had a false start. Our first plan, which was to hold the event in San Marino’s Lacey Park on April 28, fell through when the city fathers decided against us. Fortunately, director Tom Musson was able to negotiate the use of Tri-City Park, Placentia, on very short notice.

     In 1973, the president of the Cadillac-La Salle Club was Ron Van Gelderen. Grand Nationals had not been conceived yet, and Van Gelderen encouraged each region to hold a big show in August, so that the pictures from them could be used in a new, special issue of the Self-Starter known as the Annual. He dubbed the local events “national” meets.

     A lot has changed since 1973. The Self-Starter Annual is no more. There is now a Grand National meet, so calling our big regional show a “national” meet is confusing. The rather synchronized meets Van Gelderen invented have drifted all over the calendar. However, one thing remains the same: We keep holding a big show and competition once a year. This was our thirtieth. Considering the fleeting nature of hobby clubs, holding thirty consecutive annual contests is quite an accomplishment.

     This year’s turnout was good, given the relatively short notice and change of dates. About 60 cars were on display, with another three as gate guards. Once again, the cars included some of the finest examples of their kind in the world. The long distance car was probably the ’57 convertible of M. Grasso’s; it came up from San Diego County the day before. We also saw Jerry Morrissey from Arizona. Morgan Woodward suffered a broken radiator hose along the way and was not able to bring either of his cars.

Late morning, there was a minor territorial dispute when the Swiss Family Robinson started to encroach on our lunch area. They were pushed back without bloodshed.
     The awards ceremony went swiftly. In the raffle, Chris Le won a start on his children’s college tuition with repeated wins.