Corvette Spectacular, fall festival car show coming soon

By Gary & Genie Anderson, Special to the Town Crier

The incredible, eclectic assortment of automobiles assembled at the recent Community Picnic and the nice array of cars that show up at the Donut Derelicts’ gathering each Saturday morning behind the Main Street Café & Books are proof of what a great place Los Altos is for many car lovers.

Two annual events coming up this month will be even bigger for auto aficionados.

On Sept. 18, Main Street will be filled with examples of America’s classic sports car, as the Santa Clara Corvettes once again host the Corvette Spectacular. More than 100 ‘vettes are expected to line both sides of Main Street, closed for the occasion. Corvette owners from all over the western United States will gather to show off their cars, enjoy music and car-related vendors and experience Los Altos hospitality during the day and into the evening, when they can share “A Taste of Los Altos Village” with the rest of us.

Everyone’s welcome to come and enjoy this show, as spectacular as its name, any time between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Cars will register and prepare for judging until 11 a.m. Judging then starts, with the cars entered in four classes according to preparation (stock, modified, custom and competition) and seven divisions by year of manufacturer from the 1953 models all the way to the present. Awards will be handed out at 3 p.m.

For more information on the event, call Andy Hoepfner (510) 449-2639.

Next is the Los Altos Fall Festival, set for Oct. 1 and 2, featuring a classic car show boasting several vehicles from local garages.

As in previous years, the cars will be arrayed on the plaza between First and Second streets, just off Main Street. Approximately 50 cars will be displayed each day. Most of the cars will be rotated, so even if you see everything the first day, a fresh set of cars will be on display the next day.

Based on previous years’ experience, the cars will run the range from sports car to limousine, with a few pickup trucks and hot rods here and there, and they’ll represent every decade from 1900 to the present. Awards will be given each day by the mayor, the chief of police, the editor of the Town Crier and other dignitaries.

If you have a collectible car or truck and would like to join the show, there may still be time to get your entry in. Call Bob Mabe at 941-6534.