From The Staff
Where the Heck is All this Going?
By David Marin & The CruZin' Staff
It was a sold out, standing room only extravaganza, beautifully coordinated, smoothly emceed. Obviously, the folks that put together the Washington State Hall of Fame banquet, April 25, at Tacomas La Quinta Inn were thoroughly experienced at hosting car shows and rod runs. Helen Meadows, who seems to have mastered the magic of being in two places at once, was most helpful to the CruZin crew.

The 300 people on hand watched as Lance Lambert of the Vintage Vehicle Show, and Hall of Fame Chairman of the Board Steve Bender, guided an emotionally charged audience through an evening of numerous chuckles and a few tears, too.

Leading up to the announcement of the 2009 inductees, the applause was long and loud as the Seattle Rod-Tiques, Kings Men, the Demonos and the Dukes car clubs were honored with 50-year awards. Then more applause as The Legends were presented the Club of the Year Award.

The big moment arrived as Gina Edwards, Dave Gibson, Larry Hanson, Marlin Lannoye, Clyde Moslander, Tom Armstrong, Art Morrison and Walt Kaplin were called to the stage. Touching moments as these most deserving individuals were recognized for the giving theyve done to their clubs, to the hobby, and, to their communities (see photo on opposite page).

It was a perfect evening. Old friends found each other, new friendships were formed. The fellowship was amazing, yet, I kept asking myself, whats missing, telling myself, something is missing. Steve Bender and Lance Lambert hit a home run, they touchedem all, no problem. The door prizes were great, we had three winners at our table, even the banquet food was, well, OK. Still something didnt click, something was missing, or, was it just me? Then, glancing around at the other nine people at our table I realized that my 14-year-old daughter was the only person under age, well, lets say the average age was over 40.

Looking around at other tables its the same scene. Lots of wonderful folks, but, theyre my age.

So youre thinking, where the heck is all this going? And my response is the same. Where the heck is the future of all this, the hot rod hobby, going? Youth is the future of everything, including hot rods and cool cars of any kind. If we dont invite and encourage, if we dont engage them, wonderful evenings like the one we enjoyed courtesy of the Hall of Fame, marvelous car shows that weve enjoyed for years, and especially, the remarkable old iron we love and enjoy will fade and eventually wind up as a few brief paragraphs in the history books.

What can we do to invite, encourage and engage the next generation? I know of several events that are getting a much-improved youth attendance by offering free admission to anyone under age 18. More of that could only help. A few events offer a youth or teen competition class. Let them enter their tuners or pickups. Once they see what hot rods and the hot rod hobby are all about, theyll come around. Theres a lot more, including things were doing here at CruZin. More on that later, but, bottom line is, all this is going where we steer it. Grab the wheel!

Stay low in the turns and Keep CruZin’,
David Marin & the CruZin’ Staff