"Show & Shine" for Earlybird car buffs in La Canada

Every Saturday morning, beginning at 6:30 a.m. scores of cars and drivers assemble in the La Cañada UA Theater 8 parking lot on Verdugo Blvd to show off (and perhaps sell, if the price is right) their lovely motor vehicle ´babies´.

On any given Saturday, you might find ... a restored 1936 Ford Roadster, a sleek Shelby 427 Cobra, a flashy gold Plymouth Prowler, a 1934 Ford Hi-boy "dry-lakes" racing car, a 1960-70s vintage "Bug-eyed" Spite, or a variety of other hot rods, classics, exotics, muscle cars, monster trucks, motorcycles and such high-enders as Pantera, Ferrari and Rolls Royce … even an occasional tiny Smart Car.

It´s a great show, and it´s FREE!

The "group" has been meeting "rain or shine" every Saturday since 2001, and has grown steadily from six to over 100 vehicles.

Any of the regulars you talk to will credit Rick Chew as the man behind the meet. According to Don Tubbs, Rick used to drive down to Huntington Beach to the "Donut Derelicts" meet on Saturdays, but eventually the drive got too long. (Who wants to get up at 4:30 am to drive the I-5 or the 405...on the weekend?) Rick wanted a place nearby where guys could have coffee and talk cars.

He got together with three other guys – Gail Frey, Ron Lee, and Brent Unger – and decided on the La Canada location. The parking lot, which wraps around the theater, seemed big enough for plenty of cars. It was visible and accessible from the 2 and 210 freeways. (Truckers often honk as they drive by on Saturdays.) And there were a couple adjacent food places for early morning munching.

Rick met with the UA Theatre 8 managers, promised to "police" the action (no "burnouts" or "doing donuts" allowed), pick up after themselves, and have the lot cleared by 9:00 am, (an important point in the summer when the theatre offers early matinees). The managers agreed.

The guys printed flyers advertising the meets and handed them out at local car shows and rallies. Before long more and more cars and spectators were showing up.

Eventually the group reached a steady 30 cars and they decided to give themselves a name. After tossing around options for a couple months, they came up with "EARLY RODDERS." One Saturday in 2003, the group got together for a car and driver photo. Check it out next time you´re in the Starbucks there.

They began a roster of names/cars for anyone interested, with Don Tubbs as the informal "secretary" and started selling T-shirts and caps with the group logo. (They don´t call themselves a club.) The proceeds went into a "slush" fund, and they hope to sponsor a barbecue soon.

For a couple years now the EARLY RODDERS have held a Christmas toy drive and taken the donations to the #82 Fire Station for distribution. "We want to give back to the community," said Tubbs.

Many of the guys will volunteer at the Memorial Breakfast in La Canada-Flintridge next Saturday and drive their cars (with a few dignitaries) in the Memorial Day Parade.

It´s been a sweet deal for everyone. Visitors see what's playing in the theaters, Starbucks Coffee has record crowds on Saturday mornings, and Goldstein´s Bagel Bakery sells dozens of their breakfast specialties. The friendly Goldstein's employees love the car enthusiasts, and according to store manager, Josie Hernandez, they know what the regulars order and start preparing it when they walk in.

Car buffs get to show off their "pride & joys," talk with fellow enthusiasts, and meet new friends. Spectators get a glitzy, constantly changing, FREE car show … and if they´re willing to listen they´ll hear some cool "stories" from veteran car owners, collectors, builders, and racers.

And although most of the cars are driven by guys, a few wives and girlfriends are beginning to join the fun. Bob Weber brought his red 1928 Porsche for the first time last Saturday. His wife Suzanne liked the informal gathering and the friendly people "But there´s way too much testosterone here" she teased.

Their friends, Bill and Robin Swanson, have a glossy black, Classic 1957 Chevrolet with factory fuel injection. Robin loves the event, and says, "It´s close, and when it's over you can get on with your day." She likes seeing the same people every week, and "Afterwards, we caravan down to the Bakery in Montrose for breakfast."

Donna Snyder comes with her boyfriend in their 1964 Chevelle muscle car. "It´s great. We´ve been coming since September."

Retired Air Force Colonel Bob Hines is a regular too. He brought his gorgeous, black 2006 CLK-AFG Mercedes - a small-class racing Cabriolet made of carbon fiber and weighing in at just 2,400 pounds. Powered by a 5.5 V8 engine, it generates 600 hp and is capable 225 mph.

After the prototype won the German road race in 2006 (similar to NASCAR), an additional 100 models were built. Bob´s is the only one of its kind in the US, and he´s turned down $2.2 million for it.

Asked if he´s ever driven it 225 mph, Bob said he hadn´t. For insurance purposes he´s only allowed to drive it 1,000 miles per year. He did admit with a grin to taking another Mercedes to 185 mph. "I was an Air Force pilot and flew everything they ever built," he said. "I´ve flown at Mach 2.5." (I guess 200 mph wouldn't seem like much to Bob!)

If you want to go to go ... show up early, grab a bagel and a coffee and stroll the parking lot. Admire the cars and talk to the guys (they love it), but don´t linger too long in any one spot. By 8:30-9:00 everyone´s gone. They´re off to work, or to cruise … or perhaps to attack that list of "honey-do" chores for the wife.

Location: 1919 Verdugo Blvd., La Canada, California.