After a couple of years considering how a car show might benefit the Morro Bay business community, car enthusiasts Ron McIntosh and Steve Carnes shared the idea with business owner Dave Tope. They agreed the unique coastal location would be a draw, and as Rotary members, looked to the Rotary Club for guidance in launching the first Cruisin’ Morro Car Show in 1997 with 125 registrants and becoming a designated 501c3 organization.

Fast forward 22 years, the Cruisin’ Morro Bay Car Show is a well-oiled machine with a Board supported by numerous volunteers, business owners, and sponsors.  As with any endeavor there are expenses such as insurance, City permits, and logistics from porta-potties to garbage pickup.

During the first weekend in May of each year, the focus continues to be on the cars Owners line up to register at the Ocean View Garage on Thursday night; cruise the Boulevard on Friday night; park to be admired by visitors from throughout SLO County Saturday & Sunday; and topped of with car owners honored at an awards presentation ceremony.

The result is a family-fun three-day event that draws over 500 registrants from California and beyond, benefits local business owners, and has enabled the organization to make donations to various community service organizations. Truly a collaboration with, and for, the Morro Bay community.

OUR FOUNDERS

OUR BOARD

Left to right: Jody Cox, President Chris Parker, Scott Mace, Steve Carnes, and

Ken Vesterfelt

Cruisin' Morro Bay Car Show Benefits the Community

From the beginning in 1997, it was the objective of the Cruisin' Morro Bay Car Show to support the community by attracting car show entrants and car enthusiasts. Twenty-two years later they are still coming making the show a premier Morro Bay event. Important elements to the show's success are the many volunteers, business owners, and the growing number of sponsors who help offset the expenses of the show from insurance, permits, art design, printing, and advertising  to garbage removal and more. In keeping with the original objective, in 2017 the following organizations serving the Morro Bay community received donations from the Cruisin' Morro Bay Car Show.

CAROLYN McINTOSH

(in her 1940 Ford convertible)

carries on the

Cruisin' Morro Bay Car Show registration tradition at her

Ocean View Garage.