Car-crazies in I.B.

About 50 cars and some motorcycles — from lowriders and hotrods to Harley-Davidsons — showed up for an informal car show on Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach on June 3.

Derek Spencer, who sports a cowboy hat and tends bar at the Ye Olde Plank Inn on the corner of Palm Avenue and Seacoast, set up the monthly car show along with Imperial Beach resident Daniel Goycochea. The gathering is held in the parking lot across from the bar.

A previous incarnation of the show didn't satisfy Spencer. He said other organizers became too serious when he was doing the monthly car meet in the parking lot connected to a car-parts store at 13th and Palm.

"They wanted to try to be a car club," Spencer said. "We wanted it to be where everybody was welcome…. It’s just a bunch of locals” who are coming out on the first Tuesday of the month, Spencer said.

“They don’t want to win trophies,” Spencer said, “they want to come out and show the cars they spend time working on.

Goycochea said they are working on getting the necessary permits and expanding the show steadily until the summer, perhaps to re-create something similar to the Surf and Turf car show that took place in Imperial Beach for several years until 2012. Goycochea said it is a good time to organize a car show in the South Bay because a Chula Vista show that was going for a while is no longer happening.

“It’s done,” Goycochea said. “Now we’re here.”

"Car Lovers Unite" is the Facebook event page title —“If it has wheels we WANT TO SEE IT."

About 150 people strolled around the parking lot, next to a yoga studio, posing for photos by the cars. Spencer had his yellow 1997 Porsche Carrera at the show; Goycochea said he left his 1967 Chevy Nova at home that day.

Spencer promotes the car show while Goycochea does the logistics. Though the car show is currently operating without a permit, Goycochea said the Imperial Beach city government has shown its support, noting that both city manager Andy Hall and public safety director/fire chief Tom Clark came to check out the show.

Goycochea said the goal is to make a benefit event that involves all the nearby businesses so the proceeds would go to a local organization such as the Boys and Girls Club.

“We want to make it something fun where local groups are benefitting,” Goycochea said.