Out of my dreams and into my car
Fall Rod Run draws classic vehicle lovers
By NICOLE SACK - Staff Writer | ∞
A spectator looks at Tim Grant's 1957 Chevrolet Bel Air Saturday during the annual Temecula Rod Run. (Photo by Andrew Foulk - for The Californian) 
The streets in Old Town Temecula were lined with classic cars and trucks during the annual Rod Run. (Photo by Andrew Foulk - for The Californian) TEMECULA ---- Depending on who you ask, those weren't cars being displayed at the fall Rod Run. They were dreams come true.
Thousands of spectators perused the 725 vehicle entries, musicians and vendors at Saturday's event in Old Town. While all walks of life strolled past shining chrome and waxed-to-perfection machines, the owners of some of those cars said it was what you can't see that makes the vehicles truly special.
Jim Boatright of Murrieta said he purchased his 1941 Willy's Coupe five years ago. And for the past four years, he has been a fixture at the Rod Run events ---- even securing the same choice parking spot on the corner of Sixth Street. The effort calls for him to reserve his spot 24 hours before the actual Rod Run event.
When he's out driving the coupe, he said, the 390 Chrysler Hemi engine releases the 750 horsepower capacity and brings the car to 140 mph on a quarter mile.
"I've always had a desire to have one as a young man, but I could never afford it," Boatright said. "As you get older and older, you stay with your dream until you follow it through."
He said he's done some pretty outrageous things to pamper the coupe.
"I turned down a $150,000 offer for it about two years ago," said Boatright. "But I've still got the car."
Would that amount of money cause him to part with the torch-red beauty today?
"Oh, yes," he said with a laugh.
Charlie Mazurek was enjoying the attention his black 1973 Corvette Sting Ray was attracting Saturday morning. Mazurek, who owned Charlie's Corvettes in Temecula before moving his business to Lake Elsinore and changing the name to Hot Rod Hut, said Corvettes are his passion.
He also said the beauty can be a beast. He recalled taking part in a run with 400 other Corvettes on their way to Laughlin, Nev. And then he recalls the carburetor giving out in Baker, in the desert near the state line.
"I just remember being on the side of the road, spending the whole day trying to get her running, all the while watching these other Corvette owners driving by. You put so much time into a car like this, and it's torture when something goes wrong when your out having fun with it," he said. "They all looked like they were having a great time, and I was just about ready to leave (my car) on the side of the road."
His wife Rhonda disputes his tough-guy attitude toward the car.
"He loves it. He keeps it in the garage, which he keeps closed. No one is allowed to walk by it, let alone get in or drive it," she said of his protectiveness of the car.
J.C. and Nelda Epps brought their purple and fuchsia 1950 Mercury Coupe from Arizona to the Old Town Rod Run. J.C. Epps said he's owned more than 15 classics.
"When I was a kid, I had to drive cars like these," he said. "Now, I want to."
He jokes about how to keep the vintage machines in cherry-shape.
"Don't let the wife drive it," he said. "She can take my truck, she can take my wheelbarrow, but just not my street car."
Nelda, his wife of more than 20 years, doesn't protest. She gets to be driven around, after all.
But not all of the car owners are folks who are nostalgic for vehicles of years past.
De Savage, 18, of Bonsall, sat next to his flame-covered 1944 Ford pickup at the end of Old Town Front Street. He said it is the first car he's ever owned. Savage said it's not just the looks that interested him in his vehicle choice.
"I like the crowds that come with cars," he said.
Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.
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GardenGal wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:49 AM:This show is the biggest waste of money this town has seen yet. The streets are closed and no one comes into my store even though it's right on Front Street. The city has wasted hundreds of thousands of dollars on ridiculous things like this and what has it done for the businesses of Old Town? NOTHING! It actually hurts my business. These visitors don't have any money and they only want to buy cheap t-shirts and drink beer. This is not the caliber of people we want to attract to Old Town. The city council only does things to line their own pockets by having people like these running all over town all weekend. It's a waste of my tax dollars and it hurts my business. No Rod Run! No Quilt Show! No Western Days! Just bring well educaed customers who want to spend money in Old Town. It's time to tell our city council to stop wasting our money!
Preservationist wrote on Oct 12, 2008 9:19 AM:Oh no! Garden Gal, are you suggesting that Old town hasn't developed into a super special awesome place where every body is happy like the pod people from "Invasion of the Body Snatchers."? Because you dared to express a negative opinion, be prepared for a barrage of blogs from people who don’t know you or anything about you explaining how you live in a cave with your 10 cats, watching for black helicopters; because you’re not being at one with our city leaders. Myself, I’m not so much against Quilt Day or Old West days, or even Jazz days. The Old West has a long tradition in this town, and educated people are among the biggest fans of quilts of Jazz and Quilts. And none of those require shutting down the streets, and taking up all the street parking. As far as the Rod Run is concerned, it might behoove the organizers, with all the people who run restaurants and eating places in Old Town, to stop allowing food concessions. Like the farmers market, the city should not allow outside interests to sell things that compete with local businesses. No matter how worthy the cause is. The organization yhat runs the already gets plenty of money from those who pay to exhibit their cars, and from licensed merchandise.
To Garden Gal All the Others that are so NEGATIVE wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:09 AM:Why do you have such a problem with an event that runs twice a year each time for ONE weekend! So many children and families enjoy this event!!! And Temecula does not have many events anually, but this is one that I remember going to as a child and I loved it!!! And how can you say those people dont have money??? You dont know them! And personally I think even if the Rod Run slows down your business for a few days out of the year...maybe your business isnt that great if a few days makes so much of an impact to make you such a bitter person! The Rod Run is not going anywhere...so if you do not like it LEAVE!
To GardenGal wrote on Oct 12, 2008 11:50 AM:It is so pathetically obvious that you are one of the city hall insiders! Yes, it is true, the car show is getting old and stale, the city can do no better. 2 car shows a year in Old Town show their lack of vision and imagination (workshop?). You try to make the Old Town merchants look bad because they are exposing you for what you really are: A city goverment controlled by developers and insiders. Your pathetic spin machine is coming to an end on Nov 4th. if not sooner. JUST SAY NO TO INCUMBANTS!!!
Rod Run wrote on Oct 12, 2008 12:55 PM:The Rod Run does not help my business, but it is one of the few traditions left in Old Town. We used to have the Tractor Races, but I don't think that event was hip enough for our City leaders tastes. This Rod Run didn't put any extra jingle in my pockets but it was well run, and people had a good time. I understand the frustation of the Merchants down here, I'm one of them. I think the anger and frustion should be directed toward our City Leaders who seem to have absolute destain and arrogance toward small Merchants in Old Town.
Ole Doc Pane
Life is too short wrote on Oct 12, 2008 1:27 PM:Oh paaaleeeze! It's a darn car show! It's fun....quite complaining you old hens! Do you not have anything better to do? It amazes me that people complain about such ridiculous things! Life is too short and therefore.....I'm done! GET A LIFE PEOPLE!!!!!!
nomore wrote on Oct 12, 2008 4:55 PM:Rod Run is lame. get rid of it.. Anything that adds congestion to Temecula needs to leave. This place is becoming a joke! That includes the council!
To all naysayers wrote on Oct 12, 2008 6:56 PM:This is the first time my husband and I have attended the Rod Run. We absolutely loved it. We took hundreds of pictures to send to our friends. We thought it was well run. Also, to Garden Gal, you have no idea how much money was really there. I live in the area and been to Old Town and have really found nothing of interest to me. I have taken visitors to Old Town and they were not impressed either.
Civic pride wrote on Oct 12, 2008 7:32 PM:Rod Run is part of Temecula, people! We are doing away with Patriotism and Christmas. Halloween has become the promotion of evil and Easter is all about bunnies. They've even turned Columbus into a shady guy. But the Rod Run is about the love of big fat shiny American cars. Don't change it.
In a nutshell wrote on Oct 12, 2008 8:10 PM:As an O/T business owner I see Rod Run as a fun, family event. It kills my business and I don't care! The trade off is worth it.
The problem is there are too many events in O/T hurting business so everyone is frustrated.
As a business owner you only get 104 weekend days per year. Approx. 72 of those days have events which hurt business, so the good ones like Rod Run get slammed too.
I'd like to see 1 or 2 good signature events per quarter... 10 event days per year!
Currently we have 1 or 2 happening simultaneously on every Saturday.
I think it's too much of a good thing. Most of the events see a lower turnout than not event days. Lose those events and expand on the successful events...those bringing in excess of 10,000 people to Old Town!
Hmm wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:34 AM:Old Town used to be a nice place to go to and shop. Not anymore. With all the construction, "New Town" pretty much sucks. The old shops were just fine, antiques and stuff were great buys. Now, you'll have towering buildings and for what? Greedy developers and their council buddies. I like the Rod Run, but it's a shame some of the businesses suffer because of over development.
Patrick wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:39 AM:GardenGal, I think it's time for you to retire...I went to the show with my son and enjoyed it; I had money in my pocket and didn't buy anything, why, because I chose not to. People go to the Rod Run to look at and enjoy the cars not the Old Town shopping. Old Town shopping isn't for everyone; I didn't see anyone walking around drinking beer either. If the city isn’t being managed properly as so many of you think then you guys/gals should run for Mayor, quite complaining or move.
Jim wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:46 AM:Having only lived in Temecula since 1993, I love the city and foresee my family staying here for a long time. Old town isn't just for business owners, it's for the residents as well. The ONLY time I visit old town is for one of the many events being put on. For the most part, I either can't afford or not interested in what's being sold in Old Town. This is America for God's sake, if your business is not working at your location, move or sell something else. Times change and so does this beautiful city that we (residents) live and pay city taxes in. Thank you for allowing me to voice my opinion.
To Jim wrote on Oct 13, 2008 10:59 AM:Sorry you don't enjoy Old Town. I find it interesting with many different kinds of shops shops. The fact you can't afford or your not interested in what is sold, is your problem, not Old Towns.
Preservationist wrote on Oct 13, 2008 12:40 PM:I agree with you Patrick. Garden Gal should retire, from "her" job with the City of Temecula, which is indubitably where "she" works. There are folks who have legitimate gripes with the city, that “her” time would be better applied toward solving those real problems then mocking the people who are making the complaints..
My Wish Comes True wrote on Oct 13, 2008 7:46 PM:Oh, good. Maybe the Rod Run will be the nail in the coffin of you Orange County rejects who've moved to this great town into your over-mortgaged home which you can no longer afford. Keep moving on to points east. This has been a great town for many years before you naysayers came, and it will be a thriving city long after you leave. Hey, here's an idea ... you creat something out of nothing, make it the best it can be and then have everyone complain about it. Puuuuulllllleeeeeaaaaaassssseeeee, go back and watch Real Housewives of the OC!
c wrote on Oct 14, 2008 1:01 PM:The ROD RUN is hands down the best event in Temecula. What a great piece of California Culture. As for the shops in old town, if people are not buying, it is because they don't like what you are selling. Mostly junk and stuff you don't need
Preservationist wrote on Oct 14, 2008 8:56 PM:"Mostly junk and stuff you don't need" That description could also be applied to most of what's sold at the Promenade Mall. I'm not aware of a single Old Town merchant who wants to end the Rod Run, just some pro city council bloggers, like the one who posted as "GardenGal", who are trying to create that impression. Those postings are intended to ridicule those who have genuine issues with the city.
c wrote on Oct 15, 2008 5:17 PM:Hey Preservationist, I agree, maybe they can consolidate all those shops in old town into the soon to be vacant shops and restraurants at the mall. We can have all the junk at one place
Preservationist wrote on Oct 15, 2008 9:33 PM:Hey, don't you know,once that new civic center is completed, there won't be any vacancies in Old Town, because everybody in America is going to want to run a business near where Naggar and the rest of the council have offices.
To Preservationist wrote on Oct 16, 2008 2:10 PM:Stop being so bitter and get over yourself...every post you make you are nothing but negative and you sound like a grouchy old man! If you dont like the way things are propose something better...or better yet why dont you become part of the city council and really get things going! Your probably not up for that!
Preservationist wrote on Oct 16, 2008 5:47 PM:I thought that my post did say something positive, that everyone would want to have their business near the new civic center. You just can't win.
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