An aerial view of last year’s Benicia Classic Car Show, captured by drone. (Photo courtesy of Brian Haywood)

This Sunday, downtown Benicia will feel like the lyrics to a Beach Boys song as vintage automobiles line the First Street Green for the Classic Car Show. This annual event, now in its 25th year, brings families and classic car enthusiasts together for a good cause as money is raised for Benicia High School’s Panther Band program.

According to event Chairman Brian Haywood, the classic car show got into gear in 1993 when then-Band Director Dalt Williams founded the event as a means to raise money for Benicia High’s band. That first year, the show was held on Benicia High’s field and had only 50 or 60 classic cars on display. According to Haywood, Williams was told the show would not last. A mere 25 years later, the show has remained an annual event and has only gotten larger to the point where the event had to move to the First Street Green to host hundreds of cars.

“He’s so proud and happy that it’s still going on,” Haywood said.

More than 20 years after retiring, Williams still attends the event every year. In fact, a special Founder’s Award has been set up for Williams to select his pick for best in show.

But he won’t be the only one.

The Classic Car Show is open to all American cars made before 1976. Haywood said a lot of the entries tend to be muscle cars, such as Chevelles and GTOs, although some entries have dated all the way back to 1915. Entrants will get to choose their favorites, and show plaques will be awarded for numerous categories, such as Best Pre-1927 Car, Best Pre-1949 Truck and more. This year, there will be a section for high schoolers, which is not limited to just pre-’76 cars and will provide the opportunity for them to be eligible for their own separate award. There is also a Kid’s Choice Award, where children ages 12 and under will be given ballots to select their favorite vehicles.

“It’s kind of exciting to see, through the eyes of the younger people what they think of the cars as opposed to the older guys that come every year,” Haywood said.

Throughout the event, the beneficiary— Benicia High’s award-winning Marching Band— will be performing, and there will be a live DJ to spin tunes. There will also be vendor booths selling hamburgers, coffee, ice cream, crafts and car-related merchandise. A beer and wine garden will also be set up, and shops along First Street will be open for people to patronize during or after the event.

Haywood said the event is put on by volunteers, largely parents and students, and believes it is a great resource to fund the band program.

“This is our biggest fundraiser of the year,” he said. “It immensely helps the band. We repair instruments, we buy instruments for the band here and there. I hope people realize the band program really benefits from this car show. Without it, there might not be a band program.”

The Benicia Classic Car Show will be held from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sunday, April 29 at the First Street Green. Tickets are free to spectators. Cars can still be registered online at BeniciaClassicCarShow.com. Vehicle check-in begins at 7 a.m. on the day of the event. For more information, go to BeniciaClassicCarShow.com.

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