Looking down Atlantic Avenue last Saturday at the hundreds of pristine, classic automobiles lined up and down the street, it would have been easy to get the impression that – once upon a time – Long Beach is a Southern California hotspot of car culture and passion. The 2009 Bixby Knolls Auto Show had variety to spare, with a slew of hot rods, funny cars, classic lowriders, woody-style PT Cruisers and good ‘ol fashioned American muscle. It was a summation of car culture with all passions represented, just like Long Beach was back in the day. And, then as now, Bixby Knolls was at the heart of it all.

Atlantic Avenue was packed through the entire show on Saturday, as it has been since it was first held in 2006.  If you expected a low turnout, you underestimate (#1) the dedication of gearheads and (#2) the current age of free, outdoor events.  Old-timers reminisced, looking longingly into the classic deep blue of a Chevelle SS. Youngsters fell in love, right before your eyes, with the aggressive lines of a ’71 ‘Cuda or the hunnid-spoke Cadillacs on switches.  Hairs stood at attention as a four-barrel 440 engine rumbled to life, and as the crowds looked on, visions of the old Long Beach Lions Drag Strip danced in their heads.

Remnants from that car-crazy era in Long Beach history - when the Lions Drag Strip drew spectators from all around from 1959 to 1972 - were everywhere, from the classic cars of yore to the car club members who proudly wore their group's jacket or displayed their logo.  Long Beach has produced some of the most famous trends and drivers in history thanks to the car culture that thrived while Lions was in operation. Among them was Gary Gabelich, a San Pedro native who broke several land speed records and became a household name in drag racing lore. When he passed away in 1984, he left behind a widow, Rae, who would become a Long Beach City Councilmember and honor the memory of Gary and others like him with the Bixby Knolls Auto Show.

Rae Gabelich was all over the place on Saturday, chatting with visitors and speaking with organizers to make sure that everything was running smoothly.  This is one of her district's annual moments to shine - Bixby Knolls residents have claimed (often rightfully so) that they do not receive the media attention of other districts, but for at least one day out of the year, they are on full display.  And not just for the cars - it's just as much about the history of the close-knit community businesses that line Atlantic Avenue, the warm residents who gather to socialize, laugh and share stories.

They covered their ears to protect themselves from the splitting roar of a 1,000-horsepower hot rod, but couldn't hide the ear-to-ear smiles.  They gazed in wonder at the Beach City Chevrolet Corvette dragster that Gary Gabelich once piloted to victory at record speed, and listened to memories of crusing and dragging down Atlantic in its heydey.  The auto show was as much about community as it was about cars.

Photo by William Thompson