Tag: vintage cars

Merry sights at the La Jolla Christmas Parade!

A merry sight along the La Jolla Christmas Parade route!
A merry sight along the La Jolla Christmas Parade route!

Today I enjoyed watching the annual La Jolla Christmas Parade! After walking a bit around La Jolla, I settled onto the curb and watched Christmas-themed floats, vintage cars and marching bands celebrate the merry season.

It’s a wonderful parade that I hadn’t seen before. Very glad I did this year!

Here are my best photos. Read the captions to follow along.

The Community Christmas Tree is hung with lights and ornaments at the La Jolla Recreation Center park.
The Community Christmas Tree is hung with lights and ornaments at the La Jolla Recreation Center park. A festival would be held here at the Christmas Parade’s conclusion.
This Community Christmas Tree is dedicated to the people of La Jolla this day, October 27, 1984, by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club.
This Community Christmas Tree is dedicated to the people of La Jolla this day, October 27, 1984, by the La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club.
As I walked down Girard Avenue, I spied some colorful Christmas cookies in a shop window!
As I walked before the parade down Girard Avenue, I spied some colorful Christmas cookies in a shop window!
In the parade staging area, various floats and groups were assembling before the scheduled early afternoon start.
In the parade staging area, various floats and groups were assembling before the scheduled early afternoon start.
A kid checks out the bright red OMBAC Fire Department engine, which is seen in many San Diego area parades.
A kid checks out the bright red OMBAC Fire Department engine, which is seen in many San Diego area parades.
Everyone is getting into position for the big Christmas parade in La Jolla!
The participants are getting ready for the big Christmas parade in La Jolla!
I saw these folks driving a vintage car to the staging area while I walked back to the parade viewing area.
I saw these folks driving a vintage car to the staging area while I walked back to the parade viewing area.
In 2016, the theme of the La Jolla Christmas Parade was Christmas in the Future. A special newspaper was printed up for the event by the La Jolla Village News.
In 2016, the theme of the La Jolla Christmas Parade is Christmas in the Future. A special newspaper was printed up for the event by the La Jolla Village News.
While people gathered along the parade route, these four guys in Santa hats came strolling along. They were singers!
While people gathered along the parade route, these four guys in Santa hats came strolling along. They were singers!
A musical quartet belonging to the Pacific Coast Harmony of La Jolla serenades people along the parade route! Great voices!
A musical quartet belonging to the Pacific Coast Harmony of La Jolla serenades people along the parade route! Great voices!
Pre-parade entertainment included some lion dancers coming down Prospect Street.
Pre-parade entertainment included some lion dancers coming down Prospect Street.
Residents revel in a time-honored tradition. 2016 is the 59th year of the La Jolla Annual Christmas Parade!
Residents revel in a time-honored tradition. 2016 is the 59th year of the La Jolla Annual Christmas Parade!
Just before the parade started, several vintage airplanes flew overhead. They were billed as the Antique Aircraft Flyover.
Just before the parade started, restored old biplanes flew overhead. They were billed as the Antique Aircraft Flyover.
The La Jolla Christmas Parade gets started! It is sponsored by The Dr. Seuss Foundation. The popular children's author lived in La Jolla.
The La Jolla Christmas Parade gets started! It is sponsored by The Dr. Seuss Foundation. The popular children’s author lived in La Jolla.
Biplanes continue to pass overhead as enthusiastic parade groups march and dance on by.
Cool aircraft continue to pass overhead as enthusiastic parade groups march and dance on by.
Here come the costumed Sons of the American Revolution parading down Prospect Street!
Here come the costumed Sons of the American Revolution parading down Prospect Street!
The Stella Maris Academy won Best Overall award. Their float featured an astronaut, a Christmas nativity scene and music lyrics. We believe the children are our future...
The Stella Maris Academy won Best Overall award. Their float featured an astronaut, a Christmas nativity scene and music lyrics. We believe the children are our future…
The La Jolla Presbyterian Church had Joseph, Mary, shepherds, an angel, and two live camels!
The La Jolla Presbyterian Church had Joseph, Mary, shepherds, an angel, and two live camels!
A young elf hands out Christmas candies to people watching La Jolla's joyful holiday parade.
A young elf hands out Christmas candies to people watching La Jolla’s joyful holiday parade.
A horse and carriage and folks dressed in Victorian garb for Christmas.
A horse and carriage and folks dressed in Victorian garb for Christmas.
Every parade must have marching bands!
Every parade must have marching bands!
Here comes a Girl Scout Troop and a friendly dog.
Here comes a Girl Scout Troop and a friendly dog.
I guess robots will celebrate Christmas in the future!
I guess metallic robots will celebrate Christmas in the future! Or wait. It just occurred to me those might be gift-wrapped boxes.
Here come the Sweetwater High School Red Devils!
Here come the Sweetwater High School Red Devils!
The Red Devils band marches by playing Christmas tunes!
The Red Devils band marches by playing Christmas tunes!
Just a fun float featuring a surfboard and Dr. Seuss characters. Like many, it was created by a local business. I've photographed the guy in the crazy Darth Vader outfit at other cool San Diego events!
Just a fun float featuring a surfboard and Dr. Seuss characters. Like many, it was created by a local business. I’ve photographed the guy in the crazy Darth Vader outfit at other cool San Diego events!
The La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club was spraying Christmas snow onto the onlookers with their stocking covered fire truck!
The La Jolla Sunrise Rotary Club was spraying snow onto the onlookers with their Christmas stocking-covered fire truck!
There goes The San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group with lots of canine pals!
There goes The San Diego Golden Retriever Meetup Group with lots of canine pals!
Another cool sight at the annual La Jolla Christmas Parade.
Another cool sight at the annual La Jolla Christmas Parade.
Merry Christmas!
Merry Christmas!

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I live in downtown San Diego and love to walk around with my camera! You can follow Cool San Diego Sights via Facebook or Twitter!

1915 Road Race vintage car show in Balboa Park!

Kid checks engine of vintage car at Balboa Park show commemorating 1915 race.
Kid checks engine of vintage car at Balboa Park show commemorating 1915 race.

One hundred years ago a famous road race took place in San Diego. Many of the world’s greatest race drivers took part. The 1915 San Diego Exposition Road Race was a thrilling, dangerous 300 mile race around the streets of Point Loma. Those streets still exist today.

This morning, dozens of vintage cars took part in a rally along the old race route. The event was part of Balboa Park’s Centennial celebration, which is being held all year long to remember the 1915 Panama-California Exposition.

Before the rally, the participating cars gathered in Balboa Park in front of the San Diego Automotive Museum for a special car show. I walked up to the park this morning to check things out.

Wow! Double wow!

Please enjoy these photos. While I love looking at classic cars, I’m very far from being an expert. If you detect an error in the captions, or have something interesting to add, please leave a comment!

Guy drives his classic automobile through Balboa Park, heading to a special car show.
Guy drives his classic automobile through Balboa Park, heading to a special car show.
Old race car is pushed into position. San Diego Automotive Museum is in the background.
Old race car is pushed into position. San Diego Automotive Museum is in the background.
Vintage cars from era of Point Loma road race that began 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Vintage cars from era of Point Loma road race that began 1915 Panama-California Exposition.
Someone checks out Fiat racing car at special Balboa Park Centennial event.
Someone checks out Fiat racing car at special Balboa Park Centennial event.
Wooden dashboard full of knobs looks almost prehistoric compared to modern cars!
Wooden dashboard full of knobs looks almost prehistoric compared to modern cars!
Engine of 1914 Tahis Special that competed in many races!
Engine of 1914 Tahis Special that competed in many races!
Collectibles from 1915 road race in Point Loma that kicked off Panama-California Exposition!
Collectibles from 1915 road race in Point Loma that kicked off Panama-California Exposition!
People can still ride in style in this elegant Pierce-Arrow.
People can still ride in style in this elegant Pierce-Arrow.
Pierce-Arrow luxury automobiles in early 1900s were owned by many movie stars and tycoons.
Pierce-Arrow luxury automobiles in early 1900s were owned by many movie stars and tycoons.
So many amazing cars were lined up in the parking lot it was hard to take it all in!
So many amazing cars were lined up in the parking lot it was hard to take it all in!
1910 REO Model D Touring car has a very classic look.
1910 REO Model D Touring car has a very classic look.
Check out this awesome vintage Cadillac!
Check out this awesome vintage Cadillac!
1909 Pope Hartford on display at Balboa Park Centennial special car show.
1909 Pope Hartford on display at Balboa Park Centennial special car show.
This isn't your father's Buick. But it might have been driven by the grandparents!
This isn’t your father’s Buick. But it might have been driven by your grandparents!
Walking around, I felt like I'd stepped back in time one hundred years!
Walking around, I felt like I’d stepped back in time one hundred years!
Here's the grill of a cool Ford. License plate is for a Horseless Carriage.
Here’s the grill of a cool Ford. License plate is for a Horseless Carriage.
Colorful Ford is painted orange and green. Awesome!
Colorful Ford is painted orange and green. Awesome!
Red and green signal light near spare tire on back.
Red and green signal light near spare tire on back.
1910 Velie Model D Touring cars were popular. Velie race cars were also successful.
1910 Velie Model D Touring cars were popular. Velie race cars were also successful.
Many of these beautiful old cars contain wood, brass and leather.
Many of these beautiful old cars contain lots of wood, brass and leather.
Dozens of classic cars were out on display!
Dozens of classic cars were out on public display!
Inspecting another Velie, made in Moline, Illinois.
Inspecting another Velie, made early last century in Moline, Illinois.
Very cool 1911 Ono, a vintage chain driven race car.
Very cool 1911 Ono, a vintage chain-driven race car.
Someone nearby joked: It's a motorcycle chain!
Someone nearby joked: It’s a motorcycle chain!
And here's a guy checking out the engine of an Italian Isotta Fraschini.
And here’s a guy checking out the engine of an Italian Isotta Fraschini.
Makes my own extremely modest car look downright futuristic!
Makes my own extremely modest car look downright futuristic!
Chests full of tools that car mechanics would use back in the old days.
Chests full of tools that car mechanics would use back in the old days.
Kid checks out a 1912 Packard race car in Balboa Park.
Kid checks out a 1912 Packard race car in Balboa Park.
Many refurbished motors were open for people to investigate.
Many refurbished motors were open for people to investigate.
A large crowd enjoys many super cool cars in front of San Diego Automotive Museum.
A large crowd enjoys many super cool cars in front of San Diego Automotive Museum.
News cameraman gets a shot of young girl in pink pretending to race a vintage car.
News cameraman gets a shot of young girl in pink pretending to race a vintage car.
Racing goggles lie ready on leather seat. The road rally will begin in a few minutes!
Racing goggles lie ready on leather seat. The road rally will begin in a few minutes!
I've never seen so many cameras taking so many photographs in one place!
I’ve never seen so many cameras taking so many photographs in one place!
Fun historical costumes were everywhere you turned.
Fun historical costumes were everywhere you turned.
This fellow is ready to go! It's a perfect Saturday morning for a road trip!
This fellow is ready to go! It’s a perfect Saturday morning for a road trip!
It might have a dent or two, but it still runs!
It might have a dent or two, but it still runs!
One guy checks out the steering wheel, another the unusual wheels on the asphalt!
One guy checks out the steering wheel, another the unusual wheels on the asphalt!
Getting the engine started with the old hand crank!
Getting the engine started with the old hand crank!
Gentlemen, take your seats! We're about to get started!
Gentlemen, take your seats! We’re about to get started!
Don't touch this fancy car unless you are nude! (And showered, presumably.)
Don’t touch this fancy car unless you are nude! (And showered, presumably.)
I love this shiny oval grill on a Pope-Hartford.
I love this shiny oval grill on a Pope-Hartford.
Not sure how this old horseless carriage would fare in a race.
Not sure how this old horseless carriage would fare in a race.
That's about as primitive a car you'll ever see.
That’s as primitive a motorcar as you’re likely to ever see.
Folks are talking and having a whole lot of fun!
Folks are shooting the breeze and having a whole lot of fun!
This guy is getting ready to climb aboard a gorgeous classic Hudson.
This guy is getting ready to climb aboard a gorgeous classic Hudson.
Car show disbands and crowds have scattered to make way.
Car show disbands and crowds have scattered to make way.
Here they come! That's the San Diego Air and Space Museum in the background.
Here they come! That’s the San Diego Air and Space Museum in the background.
Many drivers and onlookers wore clothing styles from early 20th century.
Many drivers and onlookers wore fashion styles from early 20th century.
A long line of beautiful vintage hundred-year-old autos rumbles past.
A long line of beautifully restored hundred-year-old autos rumbles past.
Heading out of Balboa Park for Point Loma, where historic 1915 race will be commemorated.
Heading out of Balboa Park for Point Loma, where historic 1915 race will be commemorated.

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Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase in Gaslamp.

cool cars in front of ghirardelli's

I enjoyed checking out lots of cool cars at the Fifth Avenue Auto Showcase on Sunday morning. The event filled several blocks of downtown San Diego’s historic Gaslamp District.

High-performance and rare vintage automobiles were all over the place. I saw a row of Ferraris, some Porsches, a DeLorean, Vipers, Corvettes, Camaros, Mustangs, Thunderbirds and even a group of mint condition Model A antique cars. Many of the exhibits were courtesy of the Mopar Club of San Diego.

cool cars and historic buildings in gaslamp

Here’s a wide shot that shows some cool buildings along Fifth Avenue.

antique car at san diego gaslamp showcase

bmw isetta 300 at fifth avenue auto showcase

This Isetta 300 is a tiny bubble-like Italian-designed car that was once was produced throughout Europe. The front of the car swings up, serving as the driver’s door!

cool cars displayed in downtown san diego

steve mcqueen's bullitt car in gaslamp

Here’s a Ford Mustang identical to the car used in Bullitt, that Steve McQueen movie with the classic chase scene.

vintage car at fifth avenue auto showcase

Auto enthusiasts were in heaven!