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About The daily Astorian. (Astoria, Or.) 1961-current | View Entire Issue (Sept. 10, 2015)
Wheels , WAVES AND Vern McCleary’s 1966 Chevy Impala Super Sport. I Photo by Jeff Ter Har Photo by Joshua Bessex Because Wheels and Waves is scheduled in September, the weekend after La- bor Day, it is one of the last big shows for the season in the Pacifi c Northwest. David Pedegana sits for a portrait in his 1937 Ford Slantback, which he bought for his wife, Kathy, for Mother’s Day in 2000. By Katherine Lacaze EO Media Group It’s about featuring high-quality classic cars; it’s about closing the summer season in style; but most importantly, Seaside’s Wheels and Waves car show is about bringing families, car enthusiasts and the community together for a weekend of fun sur- rounding a common interest. What makes the annual car show and Seaside such a good ¿ t" “It’s the scenery; it’s the beach theme; it’s the fun atmosphere,” said car owner Travis Diebolt, of Seaside. The event has undergone changes in name and promoters over the years, but the mission of dis- playing classic cars for people to enjoy has stayed the same, according to Seaside Downtown Devel- opment Association Events Coordinator Laurie Mespelt. The 2015 Wheels and Waves event, sponsored by Sunset NAPA Auto Parts, kicks off Thursday, Sept. 10, with daily activities through Sunday, Sept. 13. Organizers are expecting more than 300 quality vehicles, made in 1965 or before, with en- tries from as far away as Florida. A brief history Photo by Jeff Ter Har Car afi cionados and the public can all enjoy seeing classic cars on display during the car show Sept. 10 to 13. 12 | September 10, 2015 | coastweekend.com NOSTALGIA Show-quality vehicles from 1965 and earlier will be displayed in downtown Seaside Sept. 10 to 13 as part of the Wheels and Waves car show Photo by Joshua Bessex Wheels and Waves started in 199, the ¿ rst of its kind in Seaside. At the time, it was called Hot Rod Happenin’s and invited cars made in 1962 or before to participate. According to Mespelt, the show “helped to extend the summer season for downtown merchants.” In 2004, the association took on a new partner- ship with Flashback Promotions and local busi- nessman Gary Diebolt, Travis Diebolt’s father, and the event’s name was changed to Wheels and Waves the following year. Under Gary Diebolt’s leadership, the car show thrived. He added activ- ities for car owners and visitors to do throughout the weekend. ‘I wanted her to have a car equal to or better than what her brothers had, because she never had an opportunity to have a car when she was young. That’s just the way it was in those days.’ “He was very much a people person. He want- ed to make sure everyone had a good time,” local car owner David Pedegana said. After Gary Diebolt passed away in 2009, the downtown association partnered with Trent Camp- bell as the event’s next promoter through 2013. Af- ter that, the association started promoting Wheels and Waves on its own. Reliving the past One of the activities Gary Diebolt added that remains a tradition to this day is the Senior Cruise. Starting at 4 p.m. Thursday, a number of early birds will gather to tour the three local assisted living fa- cilities — Avamere at Suzanne Elise, Avamere at Seaside and Neawanna By the Sea — and give residents an exclusive preview of the cars. The last stop is Thousand Trails’ Seaside RV Resort, where car owners are treated to a barbecue, courtesy of Thousand Trails. The event usually involves about 50 vehicles. About 90 percent of them are out-of-towners who arrive early and are looking for something to do, said Pedegana, the Senior Cruise director. He got involved in the cruise about eight years ago by accident. Gary Diebolt mistook the car leading the parade for Pedegana’s car and thanked him for helping out. Pedegana confessed it wasn’t him but volunteered to lead the tour in the future, to give Gary Diebolt one less thing to worry about. “It’s so much fun,” Pedegana said. “We have such a good time.” Residents from the assisted living facilities come outside or watch from their windows as the cars cruise by. “They’re reliving a part of their past again, be- cause some of the cars in the parade are cars that either their parents owned, or their brother owned, or they owned, or they dated in. We’ve got all kinds of stories,” Pedegana said. Nostalgia tends to be a leading role in the car show as a whole. Many people who participate do Photo by Jeff Ter Har People peruse the classic cars parked along Broadway in downtown Seaside during the 2013 Wheels and Waves car show. it “because you get to sit and talk to people,” Pe- degana said. “There is always interest in the cars,” he added. “There is interest in how the upholstery was done, why the engine was swapped, a variety of different things. ... Or they want to reminiscence about cars they had when they were kids, and that’s a lot of times what happens.” Pedegana and his wife, Kathy, have participat- ed in Wheels and Waves since 1999, when they purchased a 1961 Impala. On a trip to Redding, California, for a car show called Kool April Nites, Kathy spotted a 1937 Ford Slantback and was tak- en by the teardrop headlights. She said if they were to acquire another car, that was the one for her. In 2000, Pedegana tracked down an iden- tical model — bright red — and presented it to Kathy for Mother’s Day, complete with a li- cense plate reading Her37. Kathy grew up with four brothers who always had cars and that’s why Pedegana bought the Ford for her. “I wanted her to have a car equal to or better than what her brothers had, because she never had an op- portunity to have a car when she was young. That’s just the way it was in those days,” Pedegana said. While “it’s her car,” he added, “I get to drive it to car shows and put gas in it, and clean it up.” Over the years, he’s touched up the car with new upholstery, wheels, bumpers and air conditioning. Passing along the hobby For Travis Diebolt, his involvement with car shows started because of his father. While he was growing up, the two would attend car shows as vendors, selling 1950s and 1960s nostalgia items. One summer, they hit up 72 events, he said. “My dad joked around that we were like car- nies,” Travis Diebolt said. “I’ve seen every state this side of the Mississippi, minus Hawaii, due to going to car shows and traveling with Dad.” When Gary Diebolt became the main promoter for Seaside’s car shows and BikeFest, Travis Die- bolt helped out as his father’s “errand boy,” he said. Later, he contributed his artistic skills for T-shirts and promotional items, even during the few years he lived in New Orleans. Travis Diebolt remembers his father as very dedicated and meticulous when it came to promot- ing events. “The night before the car show, he’d be out there counting parking spaces trying to ¿ gure out, µwhere can I get one more car, comfortably"’” Tra- vis Diebolt said. “He had a passion for Seaside. Anyone who knew him knew that. He was always for events that would bring people to Seaside to help out Seaside.” Because Wheels and Waves is scheduled in September, the weekend after Labor Day, it is one of the last big shows for the season in the Paci¿ c Northwest. “It’s kind of the ‘end-of-the-summer’ type thing,” Travis Diebolt said. When his father passed away, Travis Diebolt got his 1952 Chevy Sedan Delivery. He now shares the tradition of attending Wheels and Waves with his own 8-year-old son. They park the car along Broadway with the rest of the participants for the Show and Shine, put out chairs “and play tourists for the day,” Travis Diebolt said. Something for everyone From Friday through midday Sunday, Broad- way will be closed to traf¿ c and transformed into a pedestrian mall from its intersection with Holla- day Drive to the Turnaround. The public can walk freely and enjoy the “Show and Shine” from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days. Cars will spill over to Colum- bia Street and the public parking lot by the Seaside Civic and Convention Center, as well. Saturday is the main event, as several bands are scheduled to perform throughout the day. At 4 p.m., the signature “Downtown Street Cruise” car parade starts, allowing owners to show off their cars in action. The Seaside Elks Lodge also is putting on the Schedule of Events: *Many events on the schedule are intended for participants only. Please note where those events are specifi ed. Thursday, Sept. 10 Coastline Poker Run: Noon to 4 p.m. Senior Cruise: Starting at 4 p.m. Photo by Joshua Bessex Vern McCleary stands for a portrait with his 1966 Chevy Impala Super Sport. McCleary bought the car a couple of years ago from Great Falls, Montana, and restored it. McCleary has participated in Wheels and Waves since it began in 1998 as Hot Rod Happenin’s. Elks Swap Meet to coincide with the car show. The swap meet will be from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at the Seaside Elks Lodge, 324 Ave. A. About 20 vendors will be selling mem- orabilia, clothing, car and motorcycle parts and other items. A few unique cars, such as a Stanley Steamer, will be on display. The cost for vendors is $60 per two days for an indoor space and $50 per two days for an outdoor space. The revenue will go to the Elks’ scholarships for local seniors. The organization hopes to make the swap meet an annual event. There is no admis- sion cost to attend the swap meet. On Sunday, the Seaside association will hold an awards ceremony for car owners at the convention center. Pedegana said his wife once won an award titled “Car Crazy Chick.” They do not put much emphasis on the 35 plaques and trophies they have collected, though. “If you enter a car show strictly to win hardware, you’re going to be disappointed. Because that’s not what it’s about,” he said. “It’s a nice thing to have hap- pen, and nobody says it isn’t, but it’s not why you go.” For more information about Wheels and Waves, contact the Seaside Downtown Development As- sociation at 503-717-1914. Friday, Sept. 11 Show and Shine downtown: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Coastline Poker Run: 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Poker Walk: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendor Alley on Edgewood Street: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Beach Party at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 12 Show and Shine downtown: 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Treasure Hunt: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Vendor Alley on Edgewood Street: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Downtown Beach Party at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center: 5:30 to 8 p.m. Sunday, September 13, 2015 Show and Shine downtown: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Vendor Alley on Edgewood Street: 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. September 10, 2015 | coastweekend.com | 13