Car show, concert livens the scene at Tachi Palace

An estimated 3,000 people came out Sunday to attend the Seventh Annual Cruise-in Car Show and Concert at the Tachi Palace Hotel & Casino.

The concert featured local acts and as well as headliners Paul Wall and Brooke Hogan.

"It was a good show overall, with the local acts throughout and with the big name acts it blended in well," said Brian Ayala of Hanford.

The car show competition, presented by L.G. Productions Inc., featured a variety of low-riders, classics, motorcycles, trucks, bicycles and other vehicles.

Joshua Schumacher of Visalia said he bought his ticket at 2:30 in the morning so he could get the $20 price instead of paying $40 at the door.

Schumacher said he thought the car show had a pretty good variety.

"They've got low-riders, trucks and bikes. I grew up going to different car shows. I used to be into low-riders but now I'm into mini trucks," Schumacher said.

Harold James, of Fairfield drove four hours to display his 1963 Chevy Impala convertible, "Hawaiian Punch."

"We call it Hawaiian Punch," because my wife is originally from Hawaii," said James, about the car, which was painted candy-apple red, and included holographic Tiki heads and Hawaiian patterns.

James, a civilian jet mechanic at Travis Air Force Base, said he did all the body work himself on his low-rider, which among other things, included a molded trunk and hood, custom paint and interior and a $20,000 custom hydraulic set-up in the trunk.

Jose Garcia of Visalia had his 1979 Oldsmobile Cutlass Supreme on display. Garcia, who has been showing the car for two years, said he likes bringing his family to car show events and enjoys looking at the other cars.

"Some people say it's gang-related, but it's not," said Garcia's stepbrother, Manuel Gonzalez of Visalia. "It's fun, you get to see the artists, other cars and competition and see some ladies. It's a family thing also."

The reporter can be reached at 582-0471, ext. 3052.

(Sept. 10, 2007)