Classics rev up car lovers at show

COSTA MESA — Chris and Stephanie Sage of Costa Mesa love taking their two 1930s hot rods out to car shows.

Chris Sage comes from a hot rod family. His mom, Jeanette Sage of Huntington Beach, has been “hot rodding” for over 40 years, partly because of the family business — they own the Wheelsmith in Santa Ana, which makes custom wheels — but partly because of the family fun. A byproduct of packing up the kids for a car show was the friends they made.

The Sage family will show off their cars from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today at the second day of Goodguys Rod and Custom Assn. and Napa Auto Parts’ first Orange County Get Together at the Orange County Fairgrounds.

“We have a great deal of good friends around here, and it was just good family fun for the kids when they were little, and now the grandkids,” Jeanette Sage said, sitting on a lawn chair next to her son’s 1930 Ford Roadster.

The Costa Mesa event is the first event of the association’s tour across the country. About 1,000 hot rod, classic and muscle cars took up a large area of the fairgrounds as some owners paraded their pieces of car history around the event.

“This is like the mecca for cruisers…. There are a lot of hot rod associations based here in Orange County and the area is known for its car lovers,” NAPA Los Angeles distribution sales manager Jim Sanchez said.

The majority of cars at the show are pre-1972. Some were just there for show, and others were for sale.

Newport Beach resident George Leeper brought his 1950 burgundy Buick Woody to the show to advertise that it’s for sale. Although he doesn’t usually show his Woody or two other classics he owns, he does enjoy coming out to car shows. The Woody is completely original and in pristine condition.

“I’ve always owned Woodys. I’m just an old beach guy,” Leeper said. “This is my fifth. You’ll find most car guys are like that — they’ve owned several cars.”

IF YOU GO

WHAT: Goodguys Rod and Custom Assn. Orange County Get-Together

WHERE: Orange County Fair and Exposition Center, 88 Fair Drive

WHEN: 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. today

COST: $13 for adults, $6 for children 7 to 12, kids under 6 free

INFO: www.good-guys.com or www.ocfair.com