Hot wheels at West Sound Tech

It was a hot day with hot cars at West Sound Technical Skills Center (WSTSC) April 28, where the school hosted its first annual Classic Car Show.

“I just thought it up, I figured, y’know, we oughtta have an annual classic car show and let the students have a barbecue,” said Mark Franklin, lead instructor in the school’s automotive technology department and a member of the Olympic Vintage Auto Club (OVAC). “We’ll make it even bigger next year.”

The inaugural event featured about two dozen cars, mostly those of club members with a handful of vehicles belonging to students and their parents tossed in.

Curious visitors could peek inside at custom leather seats, stylish antique gauges and of course, what’s under the hood.

Franklin brought his 1962 Ford Falcon and 1965 Mercury Marauder down to the show. The oldest car on display was a 1931 Plymouth PA owned by Joe and Is Leaf.

Ken McManus, an accounting student at WSTSC, got his 1973 Chevy Nova polished up for the show.

“I was always fascinated with older muscle cars growing up. I wanted this car since I was a little kid, man,” McManus said. “I spent two years lifeguarding and saving money but I finally made the $4,000 I needed to get it.”

Franklin was pleased to have cooperation from the sun in order to get people to come down.

“We got the shop all cleaned up just in case (of rain), and of course, when you do that, you don’t need it,” he said. “We got quite a turnout today. I didn’t know what to expect but the weather’s just been perfect. With the nice weather, the cars start coming out of the garages again.”

Franklin said OVAC has been involved with the school’s automotive program for several years. The club annually donates a $1,000 scholarship to one of Franklin’s top students, he said. Part of the inspiration for this year’s show was his memory of the curiosity surrounding the cars club members drove down to the school to present the first scholarship award.

Curiosity drew in Robin Price of Kitsap Tenant Support Services as she gathered with some clients.

“I think this is great,” Price said. “We were just going to the park and saw this going on. So we came and checked it out and it’s really neat.”

Besides the usual car show fare, there was also a much smaller exhibit, about a dozen model cars belonging to Steven Blevins.

“This is just a small part of a much bigger collection,” said Blevins, who estimated he has about 375 models in all, after collecting for 17 years.

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