Classic cars cruise down Colby

EVERETT– Decades ago, Colby Avenue was the main spot where teenagers cruised on the weekends to meet and have fun.

“It was the thing you did after high school games,” said Connie Wittren, foundation director of Providence Hospice and Homecare of Snohomish County.

On Sunday, that practice was relived thanks to the 12th Annual Cruzin’ to Colby Car Show that saw about 450 hot rods, stock cars and other kind of vehicles cruising downtown for about four hours.

“Just like when we were teenagers,” Wittren said.

Seattle Rod-Tiques, a 30-member car lovers group, most of whose members live in Snohomish County, organized the show to raise money for the Providence Hospice and Campfire USA of Snohomish County. Those two organizations provided more than 70 volunteers for the event.

The event also helps Everett downtown businesses by attracting people to the show on Sunday and Monday, president Wayne Soderquist said.

“This is one of the biggest events Everett has to attract people to downtown,” he said. “It’s a car show but’s it’s more of an event.”

Streets downtown were closed to make way for cars to parade, mainly on Colby Avenue between Everett and Pacific avenues. Engines roared and klaxons were heard to the delight of car enthusiasts standing on the sidewalks. Drivers later put their cars on display. There also was an evening dance at the Holiday Inn.

Organizers calculated 8,000 people attended the event Sunday and expect more Monday.

In the past, about 25,000 people have attended the car show.

The event is scheduled to continue Monday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. with live music and 70 vendors. There will be no cruising but about 800 cars are expected to be on display.

On Sunday, there were drivers from Idaho, Oregon, eastern Washington and Canada.

Joe Huden came from Whidbey Island to display his blue 1923 Ford T-bucket which he has worked on the past eight years.

This is the second time he participated in the event. Even though he does about eight to nine car shows a year, this is one of his favorites.

“This is the event if you want to cruise,” he said.

It is also a good place to go if you want to see a variety of unique cars.

“It has a little bit of everything,” Huden said.

People came with their families and took pictures of the cars. Some of theme even brought chairs with them.

Dean Kerr, of Mukilteo, was one of them.

He came because he wanted to see classic cars that were made in Detroit, where he used to live and work. As a car enthusiast, he says classic cars can be considered a work of art.

“They’re all different. Cars now are all the same,” he said.

Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@ heraldnet.com.

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