Fasten your safety belts and rev your engines as hoards of hot rods will converge on South Bay for National City’s 23rd annual Auotomobile Heritage Day Saturday, Aug. 9, at Kimball Park.
The free community event brings together car enthusiasts and families alike to see some of the coolest cars in San Diego and celebrate the automotive heritage of National City. Gear heads from all over the county will compete in 75 different categories for prizes and bragging rights.
“I think cars, like music, unify people,” said Jacqueline Reynoso of National City Chamber of Commerce, which organizes the event. “So for us it’s a great bridge-building event and it brings people from all over the county to National City.”
The car show and festival will feature classic cars from several car clubs and private owners and live music from the band Rockola, a six-time San Diego Music award winner. There will also be food, vendor booths and family activities, and this year’s event will feature more activities for children than previous shows.
“We want to make sure families are comfortable and there’s entertainment for all ages,” Reynoso said. “And, of course, great food, which I look forward to for any festival.”
New to the event this year will be the 25 brand new cars available to test drive from the dealers from the Mile of Cars, a local auto dealers association.
Car culture has long been a valuable part of the National City economy and community with the Mile of Cars representing one of the main revenue generators in the city for 60 years.
Reynoso said it is important to celebrate that heritage both culturally and as an economic development opportunity to bring tourism to National City.
“We want to invite new faces to National City to come and stay in our hotels and eat at our restaurants and shop at our local businesses,” Reynoso said. “I think anyone can appreciate the beauty of a pristine automobile.”
The cars will be lined up from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and the band will play at noon.
