PORT ANGELES — About 400 hot rods and classic cars are expected to be on display during the Ruddell Cruise-In from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. today.
Music, food and a dunk tank also are planned at the annual show at Ruddell Auto Mall, 110 Golf Course Road in Port Angeles.
This year marks the 16th year the dealership has hosted the event.
No admission is charged to the show, and no registration fee is charged to those exhibiting vehicles.
“We expect this year’s show to be another terrific event with hundreds of cars,” said Howie Ruddell, owner of Ruddell Auto Mall and Ruddell Hyundai, which is hosting the event and sponsoring the Old Timers Northwest Car Club from Bremerton.
“We are usually full within an hour of opening the gate and expect the same again this year,” Ruddell added.
Members of nearly a dozen different car clubs are expected, and individuals are welcome as well.
Parking of cars will start at 3:30 p.m. Since space is limited, registrations will be taken on a first-come, first-served basis, and no project cars or cars built after 1982 will be accepted.
Live music will set the tone for the afternoon and evening activities.
The Port Angeles firefighters will operate a benefit dunk tank, with three balls costing $5.
Proceeds are earmarked for Clallam County volunteer firefighters.
The Knights of Columbus will serve barbecue, with meals priced at $4.
Trophies will be awarded for a variety of categories, including Best of Show, People’s Choice and Farthest Distance Traveled.
Jerry Scott, the Old Timers car club’s chairman of the event, said cars are expected from across Western Washington, “from Bremerton, Tacoma, Puyallup, up to Bellingham, as well as some folks coming down from Canada.”
Today’s car show is just the start of the weekend for the car club, Scott said.
Cars downtown
At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, car club members will participate in a poker run to Sequim and back before they park about 150 cars on Front Street in Port Angeles for a show from about 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
During the show, they will compete in a walk-around poker run in downtown Port Angeles.
After 5 p.m. Saturday, the car club members will go to the Clallam County Fairgrounds for a private dance and an auction the next morning, Scott said.
The Cruise-In was started 16 years ago by the late H. “Mac” Ruddell with the help of Scott.
Ruddell Auto Mall and Ruddell Hyundai are open from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
For more information, phone 800-284-6822.