Cars cruise for Newport Beach centennial

To promote the upcoming Newport Beach Centennial kickoff party, a

caravan of classic cars cruised the Coast Highway Sunday, attracting

attention from pedestrians and motorists throughout the city.

“Let’s Do Launch,” the beach party that will commence the city’s

year-long 100th birthday celebration, will feature music from the

Beach Boys as well as games, food and all kinds of family fun. The

party is scheduled from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 2 at the Newport Dunes

Waterfront Resort.

Sunday’s mini-parade included 10 classic cars and woodies,

book-ended by a newer Suburban displaying the centennial logo and a

Saab convertible with two banners promoting the launch festivities.

“I just thought it was kind of a fun way to get the community

involved and be a part of history,” said Garnet Thompson, a volunteer

for the centennial’s marketing committee.

The small parade was Thompson’s brainchild, and she said it was

one of many ideas the marketing committee came up with to promote the

launch event. “The city only turns 100 once,” she said.

Newport Beach’s Kevin Donahue, owner of a light blue 1960

Corvette, helped Thompson rally local classic car owners and plan the

parade route.

Donahue, who bought the Corvette when he was 16 and has been

driving it ever since, said the parade was a nice change from the car

shows he often attends.

“This is kind of fun because you get to get out and drive,” he

said.

The centennial cruise detoured off the Coast Highway for a drive

through Fashion Island, where Taste of Newport was taking place.

Of the 8,000 tickets being sold for the kickoff party, about 2,000

remain available, Thompson said. She’s hoping the car parade will

help the event sell out.

Cynthia Best of Costa Mesa, who rode with her husband in their

1950 Ford convertible, said old cars always seem to catch people’s

attention.

“It’s always fun to see people smile when they see old cars,” Best

said. She and her husband, John Mearns, are the proud owners of seven

classic cars. They also loaned their 1938 Chevy coupe for the parade.

“It’s a great way to lead into our historical celebration by

parading these great cars from the past,” said Marie Knight, director

of recreation and senior services for the City of Newport Beach.

“This event would be nowhere without the volunteers.... It’s nice to

see people in Newport -- they’re excited about it, and they want to

be a part of it. They want to help.”

Knight said there are hundreds of community volunteers working on

the various centennial committees, organizing all the year’s events.

Thompson said that since Sunday’s parade was successful, the

marketing committee will consider doing a similar cruise every

quarter, for all the major centennial events.

* LINDSAY SANDHAM is the news assistant. She can be reached at

(714) 966-4625 or [email protected].