A parade featuring more than 100 antique automobiles will take place in Point Loma on Sunday, January 11th, retracing a historic six-mile road race that occurred in 1915. The free event, organized by the Horseless Carriage Club, will begin in Balboa Park and conclude with a car show at Liberty Station.
“We will have over 100 antique cars. I think the oldest signed up right now is 1906,” said Dave Ness, San Diego Excursion organizer.
“In 1915 they used a route that you can drive today. They went down Rosecrans, up Chatsworth, all the way along Catalina, a short jot on Talbot, down Cannon Street back to Rosecrans,” said Hess.
The vintage car collection will include a diverse range of vehicles. “We’re going to have a spread of cars. We’ve got Rolls Royces, Packards, Pierces, a lot of Model T’s and Model A’s,” said Ness.
Organizers plan to drive two laps around the route to give spectators multiple opportunities to view the vehicles. “We’ll drive two laps of the race route, so people can see the cars twice as we go around,” said Hess.
Last year’s inaugural event was so successful that organizers decided to expand this year’s festivities with an added car show component. “We had people with horns and little kids doing the trucker horn thing, and the cars honking back. It was just a fun, fun day, and that’s the only reason we do it is for the public to be able to see these cars in motion,” said Hess.
“We end with a car show at Liberty station. We’ll be at liberty station from noon to 2pm so people can come down and see the cars and talk to the drivers,” said Hess.
The event is free for both drivers and spectators. Route maps and additional information are available at CBS 8’s website.
“It’s free for you to come. Look, bring some friends, have some fun. Ask us to honk our horns. It’s all supposed to be a day to just have fun enjoying these old cars,” said Hess.
Thanks OBRag for covering this. Just wanted to say people can get all the details at hcfi.org/sdexcursion – Dave Ness