Show hits road this morning

This morning marks the last day of a long-standing tradition for car enthusiasts who drive to Crystal Cove Promenade to meet for a cup of coffee and a doughnut.

But it isn’t the end of the road for the self-proclaimed “car guys” who began meeting at the shopping center three years ago.

Next Saturday, Marc Greeley will drive one of his classic 1960s vehicles to the Ford Premiere Automotive Group in Irvine to start a new chapter in the life of the loosely organized car show.

“We’re car people ourselves,” said John Clinard, regional manager of Ford public affairs. “A great many of us have been going to the Crystal Cove event off and on for years.”

The parking lot was offered to the car owners when the Ford representatives found out they weren’t going to meet at Crystal Cove anymore. The property is owned by Ford and is not near any residential areas, which was one of the problems at the Crystal Cove Promenade. The site has a cafe that will open during the time the cars show up and will serve Starbucks coffee and baked goods, Clinard said. They’re calling it “Cars and Coffee.”

But that’s not the end of the story for those who live in the area. They’re still looking at other options closer to home and in a similar setting as the shopping center, which has sprawling ocean views.

Greeley and others involved have been talking with the cities of Newport Beach and Dana Point about possible locations closer to the water.

“What made Crystal Cove work was a combination of many things,” including its closeness to the ocean and being in a new, “well-kept shopping center,” Greeley said.

That being said, Greeley plans to go to the Ford property until they find a better spot.

“What it’ll turn into is more of a hard-core car-guy event rather than something else,” he said. “We’re not going to see the ladies with their Chihuahuas in their arms walking through like we do at Crystal Cove.”

Greeley will be sad to see the cars drive off the Crystal Cove Promenade parking lot one last time, but some Crystal Cove residents couldn’t be happier.

After filing complaints with the Irvine Co. about noise created by the revving engines of the cars every Saturday, Al Landolph feels vindicated by their departure. His problem, he said, is not with the drivers, but with the noise their cars make.

“It’s like living above the speedway — it has not been fun for the past two-plus years,” he said. “While we appreciate their enthusiasm for cars … there’s no reason to rev your engine at 5,000 RPM in the middle of a shopping center.”

Even the idling of some of the cars was too noisy for neighbors, he said.

“When we all moved here, we signed on to live above the shopping center, and it’s been a very harmonious relationship … but Saturdays have gotten out of control,” he said.

Although Greeley said he’s not happy about the decision, he’s thankful the company hosted them as long as they did.

“I believe they’re putting the brakes on a great community event, but … they did host us for 3 1/2years,” Greeley said.

Irvine Co. spokesman Bill Rams said the show has outgrown the center’s parking lot but wishes the car enthusiasts well in their quest for another location.

Congressman John Campbell said he’s been trying to connect Irvine Co. representatives with the “car guys” to see if another property can be used for the weekly event. Rams said he didn’t know that any talks had happened.

Crystal Cove “is a great location, but I understand the residents’ issues there and the Irvine Co.’s sensitivity to that,” Campbell said.

If the group is to use a city parking lot, they’ll have to fill out a special-events permit so the city can determine whether their desired location would be appropriate.

For more information or to suggest a new location, e-mail Greeley at mgreeley@newport custom.com.