Rods and Reels car show draws record entries

The fairgrounds in Skamokawa were filled with people and cars as attendance hit an all time high at the ninth annual Rods n Reels event last Saturday.

With 333 cars registered, and a few more showing up throughout the day, there was a lot to see. People signed up for raffles and kids were able to take part in the event by catching a fish in a trout pond.

“It’s crazy,” Lee Tischer, the event organizer, said. “We had at least 100 more cars registered than last year. It’s a record for us.

“We took the event over from the Skamokawa Fire Department a few years ago,” Tischer said. “My wife and I had been going to car shows for years and we decided to take the best of what we’d seen and make it our own.

“Long Beach is a destination and a good place for car shows,” he added. “But look at us! We’re becoming a destination.”

Part of Tischer’s dream was to make money for scholarships and to benefit the community. The money will go towards Dollars for Scholars, a scholarship fund and local hotels and restaurants saw more business.

The kitchen crew was headed by Janet Bryan and the barbecued salmon was prepared by Scott Kehrli. They served 580 lunches to people who waited patiently in a long line.

Tischer is grateful for the help of his wife, Diane, Scott and Pat Kehrli, Kay Chamberlain and his daughter, Darcy Tischer.

Award winners this year were:

2014 John Luthi Memorial Trophy ~ Ralph Novarra / 1956 / Studebaker / Flight Hawk,

2014 Rods & Reels Favorite ~ Keith Delaney / 1985 / Lamborghini / Countach,

2014 Dollars For Scholars Choice ~ Vern Rohn / 1957 / Oldsmobile/ Station Wagon,

2014 Best Of Show ~ Chris & Denise Kivela / 1937 / Ford / Sedan Delivery.