Don Riseling has driven from French Valley, California to Coronado in his 1940 Ford Deluxe Tudor for the past 10 years. His ghost flamed, pin striped, white street rod is Chevrolet powered with 385 horsepower and equipped with air conditioning and powered windows – the perfect road trip companion for his yearly trek down to the MotorCars on MainStreet car show.
Riseling sat beside his restored 1940 rod as hundreds of people flocked through, taking pics of, with, and admiring the car. His car is one of over 400 vehicles responsible for shutting down traffic on much of Orange Avenue on April 28.
MotorCars on Mainstreet returned to Coronado for its 35th annual car show on April 28 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
It was as if the skies cleared perfectly in time as thousands gathered under the Coronado sun from all over Southern California and beyond. One tourist called it a “happy accident” stumbling upon the car show after seeing all of the commotion that took over the center of the island. Spirits were up as families, couples and car enthusiasts equipped with a camera in hand strolled through the array of restored antiques, classics, rods and customs before them.
Lowriders, exotics and more showcased
This year had a specific emphasis on lowriders, exotics and electric vehicles which was seen through the show’s exhibits.
The San Diego United Lowrider Coalition had contributed 30-35 cars to the lowrider section.
Event-goers surrounded “La Mistress” – a 1961 Chevrolet Impala SS Rag lowrider. Owned by Frank and Theresa Gonzales, the lowrider features a LS2 Corvette 6 Speed Tranny engine and a shiny, multi-dimensional orange candy coat paint. Only 491,000 Chevy 1961 Impalas exist, 453 of which were built with the Super Sport (SS) package seen in the “La Mistress.”
Other cars in the exhibit showcased the unique hydraulic systems that characterize lowriders. Many of these cars have the ability to raise or lower, bounce or three-wheel upon command, thanks to a hydraulic system initially developed by Ron Aguirre in 1959. This development can be attributed to the binational roots of lowriders, a key component of this year’s exhibit.
Binational roots behind this year’s exhibit
In the 1940s, Mexican American veterans came home to Tijuana in search of the perfect cruiser. They used their mechanical skills picked up in the army to create a car that was “low and slow” – a direct contrast to the fast and flashy cars that Americans were seeking out. At the time, it was a way of rebelling after a massive deportation of Mexicans in the 1930s.
However, it wasn’t long until these cars spread across the border into Southern California. In 1957, California placed a ban on lowriders by limiting how low a car can be – Aguirre’s system offered a solution to that ban.
Now, about 70 years later, the hydraulic systems that Aguire kick-started are a part of a lowrider exhibit that contributes to the World Design Capital San Diego Tijuana 2024, a program that showcases the design achievements of the San Diego-Tijuana region.
Star Car Central brings pop culture to MotorCars on MainStreet
A MotorCar on MainStreet exhibit rich in binational history sat just beside one rich in American pop culture. Movie-lovers and kids were especially excited to see replicas of the famous brown tow-truck, known as “Mater” from the “Cars” series, and the modified 1959 Cadillac Miller-Meteor Sentinel ambulance, converted into a limo-style car, that drove the Ghostbusters around New York City. The cars were contributed by Star Car Central, a car group dedicated to curating a collection of famous television and motion picture vehicles.
Fast Lane Drive, an exotic and luxury car club, lined their cars along the street of the exotic exhibit. Their 2023-2024 Ferraris, Lamborghinis, Bugattis and more had people lining up to take turns sitting in the driver seat. From vibrant, flashy green sports cars to sleek, all white rides, the MotorCars on MainStreet special exhibit showcased the best in this year’s luxury vehicles.
The Emerald Keepers of Coronado, an organization dedicated to addressing local environmental issues, had a key role in this year’s electric vehicle (EV) exhibit. In partnership with MotorCars on Mainstreet, the group reached out to local EV companies and owners to encourage the large attendance of eco-friendly vehicles seen at this year’s show. Lucids, Teslas, Rivians and more testified to the wide variety and accessibility of eco-friendly vehicles that the group hoped to educate on.
Emerald Keepers educate on EVs
Set up with a tent in the middle of the exhibit, the Emerald Keepers spent the day educating and busting common myths surrounding EVs – such as the misconceptions that they are unaffordable, lacking enough power supply, worse for the environment and more.
Over the span of five hours, MotorCars on Mainstreet brought together thousands of enthusiasts, families, curious tourists and Coronadians for an event that transformed Orange Avenue into a car-lover’s paradise. Live music played over the speakers, raffle numbers were called out, conversation flowed, vendors handed out refreshments, and many left educated and inspired by the 35th annual car show’s display.
