Starting sometime in the 1980s, a car cruise/show was held every Saturday at the Vons Shopping Center in Palmdale, CA. During the pandemic, the event was cancelled, but now it’s back---thanks to Telesis Collision Center and its owner, Geoff Dozier.
Instead of every Saturday, the cruise now happens only on the fourth Saturday of every month, from 4 to 8 p.m. at the same Vons Shopping Center. Presented by Telesis Collision Center, it's sponsored by Chevron in Rancho Vista and the Campano Law Group. Radio station Bob FM broadcasts from the event from 5 to 7 p.m.
Dozier was particularly interested in bringing back the event because he owns a 1969 Pontiac GTO Judge painted in Carousel Red. Classic cars are on display in the parking lot at the shopping center and at the conclusion of the evening, they all cruise a route to show the neighborhood these classic, primarily American-made cars.
When the cruise didn’t come back after the pandemic, Dozier began looking for a way to bring it back, he said.
“The most popular and well-attended Saturday in the past was the fourth Saturday, so we decided to re-start it one time a month to see if people would come back, and they have," Dozier said. "The cruise had become a regular thing for many years and we thought we need to bring it back. The public has embraced it and we recently had our first one, with 70 cars on-site. In the old days, as many as 200 classic cars participated, and we are confident that it will get back to that number eventually.”
Dozier sees definite value in community events like the 4th Saturday Car Cruise.
“These types of events can really help us to tell our customers we care about the city and its people,” he said. “We spend a lot of money on advertising and this event is a great marketing tool. The original radio station that was sponsoring the cruise (The Quake 93.5) is no longer in existence, so we approached Bob FM and they agreed. The feedback we’ve been receiving has been great!”
Car owners in the area are anxious to get involved and Dozier hopes it will continue to grow.
“People tell me that their fathers used to bring them to the cruise and now they are brining their children and grandchildren as well,” he said. “There was definitely a void after the pandemic and the cruise we believe is much-needed to get us back to normal again. People like to display their beautiful vehicles and everyone loves seeing them, so we are delighted to be sponsoring the 4th Saturday Car Cruise here in Palmdale.”
For more information to display your cars at the cruise, contact Raul Lopez at (661) 433-7975 or Greg Wood at (661) 209-7727.
The Vons Shopping Center is located at 30th St. West and Rancho Vista Boulevard.
Ed Attanasio