2024 Rotary Car Show –Record attendance, fun and funds

Submitted by Rotary

Record funds, attendance and fun, August’s Annual Rotary Car Show brought in spectators from around the country, a record number of contributions, and an amazing line-up of vehicles on San Juan Island.

The net proceeds will go to the Joyce L. Sobel Family Resource Center, 36 Weekends (Nutrition for Island Children) PolioPlus (Rotary International’s effort to eradicate polio) and the Rotary Foundation of the San Juan Islands. The variety of vehicles, among the 60 on display, showcased humor, history and innovation.

Included was a 1971 white Hearse complete with coffin and cobweb-covered skeleton — a big hit with the kids. Best of Show went to Dave Moorhouse’s 1956 Buick Super 2-door, and the People’s Choice award was awarded to Hank Snider’s Jaguar XK-120 OTS. Other winners included: RickSmith’s Porsche 356, Michael Corliss’s 1951 Chevy Pickup, Dennis Harshbarger’s 1972 GMCShort Bed pickup, and the motorcycle award went to John Sewell’s 1975 Kawasaki Z1B. The car that came the longest distance — trucked from Northern California — and drew the most excitement was the world-class, historic Tesla Roadster #2. This iconic sports car is owned by one of Tesla’s two founders, Martin Eberhard. Eberhard was on hand to answer questions.

Martin and other futurists will be presenting a free lecture and panel discussion “The Future isElectric” Oct. 10, 6 p.m., at San Juan Island Yacht Club. Be sure to save the date. Special thanks go to Jim Clark and Mike Bloom for judging the vehicles.

Clark, a classic car owner and owner of a Lexus/Toyota repair company in San Diego told us, “I wasn’t expecting such a variety of high-caliber and interesting vehicles, especially on a remote island.”Thanks to the San Juan Vineyard for providing a classy venue and to OPALCO for sponsoring the “Alternative Fuel Vehicle” display.

Now in its second year, this category keeps growing. We were pleased to have the Friday Harbor High School STEM program’s self-built electric car on display next to the Tesla Roadster and one of the Port’s Chevy Bolts.