MONROE — The two cars waited side by side, engines running.
On a signal, their drivers sped up as fast as possible on First Air Field runway Sunday morning. The drag race between the two Ford Shelby GT350 Mustangs were part of an independent film project being shot in the city.
Director Gina Lockhart wanted to showcase her hometown.
“If I help to promote (Monroe), it helps me as a filmmaker,” Lockhart said.
Lockhart and her voluntary film crew of about 20 people were filming a three-minute trailer for the film “Carrera” — race in Spanish — for the Seattle-based Faith vs. Fate Productions.
The drag racing scene was the climax. On Saturday, the crew filmed in other parts in Monroe, including Ixtapa Restaurant, to make it look like the characters were in Mexico.
The crew filmed the trailer hoping to attract the interest of a Los Angeles producer to make it a feature-length movie.
Lockhart and crew only had two shooting days to do the trailer. “Carrera” is one of eight projects Faith vs. Fate is trying to get funds for, producer Erin Neal said.
Neal wrote and plays the lead. The movie, to be filmed in English, follows a woman as she sets out to race on the Pan-American Highway through Mexico, which was famous in the 1950s.
“Carrera” is the only one of the eight projects filmed in Snohomish County.
All eight short films or trailers are scheduled to be presented in a private screening for the crew Feb. 18 in Seattle. They will be available later on the company’s Facebook page or on its YouTube page.
Lockhart hopes to show it somewhere in Snohomish County, too.
First Air Field’s runway was closed for the day Sunday, but filming had to be disrupted for some minutes when a small airplane landed. Airport owner Daryl Habich allowed the crew to film because he also wants to showcase Monroe.
“I think it’s exciting to let the film industry in Monroe,” he said.
The classic cars attracted the attention of local residents who were driving or walking nearby.
That happened to Kirby Duncan and his family who wanted to see the cars race.
“You don’t see that every day,” Duncan, 43, said. “It should be interesting.”
“I really hope they get the money so we can see it,” 16-year old Andrea Juvik said.
Lynn and Dian Duerksen were walking their dogs but stopped for some minutes to watch the cars.
Lynn was familiar with the distinctive Shelby Mustangs, and with drag racing, because he used to do it in the early 70s. “They are doing a good job. The setting is good and everything looks good,” he said.
Alejandro Dominguez: 425-339-3422; adominguez@heraldnet.com.
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