Friday Harbor will soon be taking a step back in time. The smell of hotdogs and hamburgers, and the sound of rumbling muscle cars and oldies music will be coming from Spring Street in celebration of the fifth annual Rick Campbell memorial on Saturday, Aug. 7.

“We will make Friday Harbor rumble,” said Ryan Campbell, Rick Campbell’s. The rumbling will begin around noon as classic car owners start up their engines.

After moving to San Juan Island with his family in 1980, Rick Campbell made an impact on the community. The car show will give islanders and visitors a chance to celebrate that.

His influence began when upon moving, he bought an old car repair shop and renamed it to Lug Nut Automotive. Unlike the shop before it, he decided to add an auto store to it where people could purchase car accessories and parts. Prior to his store, there had been a Napa on the island since the 1970s and it had remained the only shop to sell car parts. Ryan Campbell said that his father’s decision to sell car parts reduced the price of parts as it gave Napa competition.

Lug Nut Automotive was not Rick Campbell’s first experience with cars. He had always had a passion for classic cars. He had purchased his first car, an old Chevy, for $500 when he was 15 years old, said Ryan Campbell. At just 15, that first car purchase spurred a lifelong commitment to working on cars.

When Rick Campbell died in 2016, his family decided to hold a memorial. Contrary to most memorials, his friends and family decided to make his a hot rod show to celebrate his love for cars.

“It was such a hit that we continued to do it each year,” said Ryan Campbell.

The one year that they were unable to carry out the memorial was in 2020, due to COVID.

“We had so many people who would look forward to it each year,” said Ryan Campbell. He went on to say that many had come into Lug Nut Automotive to express how saddened they were by the canceling of the car show.

Since missing out last year, Ryan Campbell said he looks forward to experiencing some extra excitement in the air.

“It’s just nice that we are back. It is such a good feeling,” he said. “That is the best part.”

There will be contests at the show, such as a burnout competition. Whoever wants to join in on spectating the car show will be given ballots to fill out and act as a judging panel. There will be prizes and plaques awarded to first, second, and third place.To also incorporate customer appreciation at the show, the hamburgers and hot dogs will be free, though participants can donate if they’d like to.

While there are a loyal group of locals who enjoy participating in the car show each year, the noise also draws in new visitors who make their way up Spring Street for the event.

“Seeing everyone out and enjoying the same love of cars that my dad had is probably my favorite part,” he said. “It’s nice to carry that on.”