Classic obsessions

Greg Risling

FAIRGROUNDS -- Call it a labor of love -- a passion unfettered by

money or time.

For Costa Mesa resident Andy Seidner, it was a fascination he’s had

since childhood: the glare from the shiny, metallic chrome, the roar of a

clean engine, the head-turning attention.

He wanted a hot rod oh-so badly growing up. It was dream he couldn’t

afford until now.

Seidner, the president of a carpet business, has 15 classic cars that

are his pride and joy. Some are restored, others were flat out purchased.

He enjoys spending time with them, like having a family member visiting

for the holidays.

“To me, collecting cars is an art form,” he said. “Just putting a coat

of wax on one of these cars is enjoyable. It’s a better hobby than

drinking a beer at a bar.”

Seidner was one of about 1,500 exhibitors who displayed their

automotive treasures at the Orange County Fairgrounds this weekend.

Thousands of people poured through the gates to walk through aisles lined

with Woodys, Corvettes and an assortment of brightly colored hot rods.

With the anthems of the 1950s and 1960s blaring over the loudspeakers,

exhibitors formed a classic car parade as they drove around the lot.

The exhibitors come from all walks of life -- police officers,

construction workers, high-priced attorneys. Yet the common thread is the

automobile of days gone by. They respect the amount of work it takes to

get their vehicles looking flawless for days like these.

“I don’t know how much elbow grease I’ve put into this car,” said Jack

Gentry, a Huntington Beach resident marveling at his Corvette Stingray.

“It really pays off because you put your car next to another and people

come to appreciate your work.”

Yes, there typically is a contest at classic car shows. Yes, winning a

category is on the minds of the participants. But there is a sense of

admiration among those who devote much of their free time to restoring

cars.

Seidner had two hot rods -- a 1953 Chevy pickup and a 1934 Ford --

sitting by his side at the show. The Chevy is fire red and, like other

vehicles, is spotless. The Ford is a convertible painted with gray

stripes on the side that rips through the metallic purple body. A pair of

fuzzy dice hang from the rearview mirror.

Most car collectors enjoy working toward perfection. The apex of

enjoyment, though, is driving the finished product.

“When I drive these cars, it relieves stress for me,” Seidner said.

“It puts my mind at ease and I can just cruise.”

Some of the show participants aspire to run in the classic car

circles. Mindy and Brad Rawlinson of Anaheim said they are interested in

starting a collection. They have saved some money and are looking to buy.

At most car shows, collectors post telephone numbers or prices in the

front window. Nothing struck the couple’s fancy Sunday but they weren’t

discouraged.

“To be honest, we are more about the looks than anything else,” Brad

Rawlinson said. “I like Ford Mustangs and my wife enjoys the old trucks.

So, I guess first we need to agree before we buy. We both want to be

happy.” Seidner remembers those days and considers himself fortunate to

live out a dream of his. Purchasing a classic car and attending shows is

like jumping back into time, he said.

“These are cars we couldn’t afford when we were younger,” he said.

“Now, I feel like I’m going back to my high school days, except this time

I got the car.”