Re “Car Show Only a Fortnight Away”
[img]1845|right|Jeff Cooper||no_popup[/img]On Saturday morning for the 10th straight year, on the eve of Mother’s Day, George Barris’s spectacular car show – 400 cars with as many different shapes – rolls into Downtown for a six-hour run, starting at 9 o’clock.
As the City Councilman most closely identified with the Car Show, Jeff Cooper, longtime member of the sponsoring Exchange Club, talked about its origins during his tenure as president.
“It was 12 years ago,” Mr. Cooper was saying, “and several members of the Exchange Club and I were looking for new ways to raise funds.
“We are active in numerous charitable causes in Culver City and the idea of a car show was hatched.”
More specifically, Mr. Cooper said that club member Mike Snell had the original idea, “and I ran with it. I thought about the potential such a promotion could have. I thought about our city’s history with the auto industry and just how it would fit in downtown Culver City.
“I brought the idea to Jay Handal, whose restaurant was in Downtown. Jay was the head of the Downtown Business Assn. at the time. Glen Laiken, a member of the DBA who owned Alandale’s, had an affiliation with George Barris. This was through a line of licensed Barris shirts he was carrying.
“Both men thought a car show was a great idea that would not only enrich our city, but help many of the retail businesses Downtown that were still struggling.
“Glen arranged a meeting with George Barris.
“Mr. Barris and I hit it off, and we have forged a solid relationship, merging the Heart of Screenland and the King of Kustomizers. His cars have been seen in numerous motion pictures and television productions.”
Mr. Cooper said that the Car Show this coming weekend show today “is the same as the first one, albeit we have more cars and more participation from the public. Now the Car Show is an established event.”
As president of the Exchange Club, Mr. Cooper served as the show's producer for the first several years.
“The Car Show truly has been a collaborative effort by many members of the club,” he said. “That really is what has led the Car Show to be so successful, and now it is being chaired by Dr. Jay Shery.”
