Dana Point Lantern District Car & Motorcycle Show

I helped judge the recent Dana Point Lantern District Car & Motorcycle Show, courtesy of an invite from Chief Judge Bill Sundin. I’m not new to this form of automotive enthusiasm. I’ve judged numerous car shows, ranging from the super serious, white glove events such as the Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance and Meadowbrook Hall to the more low key events at Hillsborough and Corona del Mar. I place these latter events into the fun category because, as judges, we get a chance to vote much more on emotional appeal and gut reaction to a particular car or bike and less on the originality of the Phillips head screw used to attach the rear view mirror to the windshield header.

The Dana Point event is organized by the local Chamber of Commerce, in partnership with the City of Dana Point, and features hundreds of custom and classic cars and motorcycles displayed along several blocks of a wide, divided public street closed for the day. The good news is that normal access to Dana Point businesses and restaurants is not disrupted by this closure. The gooder news is that the DPLDC&MS is free to the public who can wander around to their heart’s content, checking out all the 2- and 4-wheel coulda, shoulda, wouldas. Every mile a memory with friendly, smiling owners happy to explain the minutest detail of their personal pride and joy to anyone and everyone within earshot . . . especially we judges. LOL.

There are numerous Best awards, starting with categories—mild custom, modified, and restored—and more specific Bests for such things as finish, pinstriping, flames, engine, interior, woodie and survivor.