2021 Vista Rod Run

The 31st Annual Vista Rod Run features 350+ classic and specialty cars. Car owners compete for the best of the best to win one of 30 trophies.

Also featured is music throughout the event, specialty auto vendors and great downtown shopping, restaurants and breweries.

This was the first car show I had entered a car in over 10 years. I just bought a 1938 Cadillac 60 Special and I was excited to get it displayed at the local car show. I had a friend Randy come down to Vista and join me. I needed the mental support since it had been such a long time. The day before I was very concerned that I would not make the show. I could not get the car started and I was stumped on what the problem was. The last thing that I did check was the battery charge since a new gel battery had been installed. After getting it charged to 85% the car started right up and ran perfectly.

To make sure we were OK Randy and I took a drive to the show site and back. No problems. So now the plan was to get there at 7am when the gates opened. We thought that we would be early…we thought wrong. The line was a mile long. When we got to the end of the line I thought that the car would not be able to make the hour long entry without overheating. And as we crept up to the entrance the temp needle was just below the red line. But she held in there.

The show was nice, we had beautiful weather and I had a great time hanging out with Randy and talking with people about the car. It was interesting to hear the stories of how some people remembered the car just like the one dad used to drive.