Will the West Seattle Car Show continue? New organizers start planning & ask for your help

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(WSB file photo of West Seattle Car Show in The Junction)
Though its founder is gone, the West Seattle Car Show is likely to go on. Its future was uncertain after the sudden, early death this past March of Michael Hoffman, who launched the show in 2008 and made it happen each year since, but after reaching out to seek your opinion last month, two local car-care businesses (both WSB sponsors) are moving forward with plans to keep it going – and asking for your help:

Following up on the West Seattle Blog poll regarding the West Seattle Car Show, published April 30, 2014, thank you for the overwhelmingly positive response. It is clear that the car show is an enormously popular community event.

Swedish Automotive, Inc. and West Seattle Autoworks are pleased to announce that we are moving forward with preparations for the West Seattle Car Show, scheduled for September 14th, 2014, to be located in the West Seattle Junction!

There are many details and pieces to put in place between now and then, and this is where we need your help … If you volunteered for the West Seattle Car Show in previous years (or would like to volunteer this year) or have key pieces of information regarding preparation for this event, and you are willing to share yourself as a resource, please email wscarshow@gmail.com with your contact information and a brief description of how you can help. Thank you in advance for your participation!

Watch for updates as the planning continues!

miws May 22, 2014 (5:54 pm)

Thank you Swedish Automotive, West Seattle Autoworks, and WSB!

Mike

Mike May 22, 2014 (6:13 pm)

I’m not a car hobbyist, and I probably won’t go to this show. But I hope it’s successful. We need programs for everyone in West Seattle. That’s how we will keep our community interesting, and a great place to live. Good Luck!

West Seattle Hipster May 22, 2014 (6:21 pm)

THANK YOU Swedish Automotive, Inc. and West Seattle Autoworks

Bree May 22, 2014 (6:28 pm)

Thank you for keeping Michael’s dream continuing on.

Rick May 22, 2014 (6:37 pm)

Bravo!

Teri Ensley May 22, 2014 (7:15 pm)

Thank you. This is a great community event and one of Michael’s favorites!

JunctionDad May 22, 2014 (8:05 pm)

Never been to either of these businesses, but I will now!!!!

My 2cents: love the cars, but a few food trucks, or pinewood derby car race for kids, or a stage for some rocknroll, would really bring this event up a notch…

BigRed May 22, 2014 (8:21 pm)

Agreed junctiondad! We love this event. Soooo happy it will return!

Kravitz May 23, 2014 (6:05 am)

Great news that it will continue! I would suggest trying to reach out to local car clubs – perhaps canvas the Greenwood Car Show in June with information on the West Seattle Car Show. Fliers with W.S. information and perhaps a discount to local businesses or discounted entry to the show for vehicle participants would be a great idea. For example, who wouldn’t want 50 cents off a Husky cone during the show? Or a buck off an app at Elliott Bay Brew Pub?

Ventana Construction May 23, 2014 (7:12 am)

Thanks to both businesses for making sure this great community gathering continues! As long-time sponsors of this free event, we know that putting on the car show required not just untold hours of Michael’s time and expertise but also dozens of business sponsors to help cover the many and varied costs, which include substantial fees for the street closure. It would be great to find a printer to donate printed posters and a graphic designer to help with the artwork. I’m pretty sure these are things Michael did himself unreimbursed. Looking forward to the event and to sponsoring this year!

Jane May 23, 2014 (10:15 am)

This is too bad. I don’t feel like the auto show should continue as it’s more representative of the west seattle of days gone by than the direction that is being headed today. It feels like a lie.

Skinny James May 23, 2014 (10:19 am)

Swedish Automotive – Classy, honest and they do very quality work in my personal experience. We take our Subaru there.

miws May 23, 2014 (12:37 pm)

So Jane, should the Seafair Pirates Landing at Alki, the West Seattle Grand Parade, Summerfest, which are among the longest running, yearly West Seattle Traditions be cancelled too, as well as the other “younger” traditions like the Car Show?

Not only do I think that would be a defeatist attitude in general, but cancelling the Car Show, especially if it the only one cancelled, is an incredible insult to the memory of Michael Hoffman.

Mike

WSince86 May 23, 2014 (1:09 pm)

Wow, Jane. Just wow!

wscarshowhost May 23, 2014 (1:10 pm)

We have not specified the West Seattle Car Show as a “classic car show.” As much as some of us still enjoy seeing the classic hot rods for nostalgia’s sake, we hope that we get registrants who want to show off their cool electric, hybrid, and conversion vehicles too.