We like to think of it as a “homecoming for wood-bodied classic cars.” With a distinctively California flavor, it is called the Wavecrest Woodie Show, the biggest all-woodie collector car show in the country. It’s all about the restoration of wood-bodied classic cars, and, of course, surfing. That’s why the event is held on a Pacific Ocean beach where the historic Hwy 101 meets the ocean community of Encinitas. It is part of California’s cultural history, and there is probably no other event in the world quite like it.
This weekend Cars On Line will be covering a little known event that has been held for decades on the third weekend in September. According to one of the founders, the show started out as a surf contest on the beach in back of the Wavecrest Hotel in Encinitas. A few woodie wagons began showing up and it turned into a surfing and woodie show, sort of a California cultural phenomenon. A few years later the Wavecrest Hotel burned down and for a short time the woodie show was held at Oceanside just north of Encinitas. Now the Wavecrest Woodie Show is back in Encinitas where it has become the largest event in the world for wood-bodied classics, in essence a woodie reunion. We call it the Woodie Homecoming because wood bodied cars and surfing at Moonlight Beach have become synonymous. The event is sponsored by the San Diego Woodie Club.
On Thursday evening the early arrivals were in downtown Encinitas to join local woodie owners to begin the Wavecrest experience in an old fashioned cruise night atmosphere, complete with a live band and lots of hospitality from downtown merchants.
On Saturday, beginning at 8 AM, the big show begins with hundreds of woodies expected to come home to Moonlight Beach. This is the largest gathering of woodies in the world. It is one car show that should be on every collector’s bucket list.
On Sunday there is a cruise to Oceanside, California with a photo shoot at the pier. The 25-mile cruise is a great opportunity to see these cars in action.
With Cars On Line covering this event for the first time, we’ll be bringing our readers a first hand look at a very unique and historic event. Watch for our updates on Facebook and Twitter.
Here are some of the early arrivals:
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