TR Robertson –Main Street in Vista Village on Sunday was the place to be in your Halloween costume as people young and older took part in viewing the 65 cars taking part in Muscles on Main Street on the street running in front of Cinapolis Theatre. This 8th annual event, not counting the lost COVID year, is sponsored by the Pride of Vista Lions Club Foundation as a fund raiser for their eye screening program and the North County Food Bank.
A variety of activities filled the day such as a Scavenger Hunt, Children’s Pumpkin Painting, a Costume Contest, Face Painting, and a variety of raffles such as the bike raffle. Tony Acosta, DJ Tone, from Real Turntable Entertainment, provided music for the day and took requests from passer-bys. Prizes were awarded to winners as well as prizes to car owners for Best of Show, People’s Choice, Best Theme, Best Pick-up, Best Convertible and Pride of Vista Lion’s Choice. A number of the participants took part in a drive to Vista Gardens Memory Care Home at the end of the day.
Photos by Brian Robertson
Car owners added to the festivities with many of them decorating their vehicles for Halloween and providing candy hand-outs for children in costumes. Miguel Alaniz had on a Batman t-shirt and mask as he sat next to his black 1976 Corvette Stingray, complete with Batman logo on the car. I told him he looked like a retired Batman. Jim Ramsey and friends were in attendance with their most unusual vehicles from Rat Rods. Jim said they formed their club three years ago and named the club 5150 Rat Rods and now have twenty-two members. He said the 5150 is the police call number for a mentally unstable individual and they took the number as part of their name for fun as their vehicles are a mix of everything imaginable you could put on a vehicle. Information about the group is on Instagram at 5150 Rat Rods.
Rona Bixby proudly told us about her 1940 Hudson 40p Deluxe Six Convertible painted California Cream. She said it is the only one in existence and cost $795 brand new in 1940. Danny Buchanan was the proud owner of a 1965 Cobra Roadster that he built from a kit and had painted Ferrari Red. Bryan Dorman displayed his 1965 Ford Cobra that he had for sale for $58,000 dollars. Rebecca Elllis and Lindsey Saunders were decked out in Hippie outfits as they sat by their 1972 Volkswagen Van complete with a Hippie Halloween decoration in the back of the van. Former Lincoln Middle School science teacher Ed Mathews excitedly told us about how his 1960 Austin Healy picked up the name Fred the Frog. Cam and Tim Whittier said they were in a Family affair when it came to muscles cars as they had on display a 1972 Dodge Charger and a 1972 Plymouth Road Runner. Many of the vehicle owners were members of different car clubs, such as the Drifters.
A number of great looking rods, pick-ups, muscles cars, classics and everything in between was available for those attending to look at, speak to the owners, take pictures of the cars and have a relaxing morning stroll on Main Street looking at amazing vehicles. It was a great day for the family to take part in dressing up for Halloween, like John and Lizzie Koch and their kids Hannah and Lewis showed in their Ghostbusters and ghost outfits. Another great day and fun activity in downtown Vista.
The results of the voting for awards were :
Best of Show –Clay Wallace 1964 Pontiac Gran Prix
People’s Choice – Lindsay Saunders 1972 VW Bus
Best Theme – Jim Ramsey 1927 Model T Rat Rod
Best Pick-up –Jim Dickerson 1939 Ford COE
Best Convertible – Charlie Buehl Cadillac
Pride of Vista Lion’s Choice -Ron Keith 1956 Chevy Nomad
