City officials estimate that about 20,000 people ventured out to Fillmore on the 4th of July to attend the Sespe Creek Car Show & Festival, observe the horseshoe tournament, purchase safe and sane fireworks and stay for the annual spectacular fireworks display in the sky.

The car show attracted approximately 220 car entries this year, down about 30% from previous years, but still substantial enough to satisfy the car enthusiast. The following entrants took home a beautifully crafted blue glass-engraved trophy for winning in their selected category.

T Buckets—Tom Sheehan; Street Rods 1900-1932—Gary Larkins; Street Rods 1933-1936—Mark Pierce; Street Rods 1937-1941—Greg Chavez; Street Rods 1942-1948—Roy Tapia; Street Rods 1949-1963—Ralph Casallittas; Mustangs—Tony Rivas; 1955-1957 Chevy’s—Mike Wiener; Rat Rod—John Lynch; Rancheros—William Taylor; Corvettes—Kevin Warring; Thunderbirds—Gerald Lybolt; Sports Cars—Richard Faidley; Camaros—Gran Classics; El Camino—Jerry Jenkins; Truck-Pickyp—Kevin Warring; Stock Original 1900-1940—Pepe Gonzales; Stock Original 1941-1951—Ernie Trujillo Stock original 1952-1974—Joe Avila; Street Rod Open—Bob Boudreau; Street Rod Closed—Deuces Wild; Mild Modification—Albert Papu; Major Modification—Jerry Kransler; Muscle Cars—Eddie Arano; Most Likely to be Stopped—Nick Donwen; Under Construction—Manny Figuerea; Drag Cars—John O’Hare; Under 21—Roy Nava; Best Flames—Joe Freas.

Fillmore & Western Railway, sponsor and event coordinator would like to thank the following businesses for donating goods and services as door prizes to the car owners: Vaquero Sports Wear, La Fondita, El Pescador, Snap on Tools, Deuces Wild Hot Rods, Dewey Thompson Auto Parts, Loose Caboose Garden Center and Gift Emporium. We would also like to thank the volunteers of the Fillmore Noontimers Rotary Club, Jesus & Sammy Hernandez and the VC Sheriff Explorer Cadets, who so generously gave of their time working the event.

After coordinating the five car shows, Fillmore & Western Railway will be handing the event over to Carnales Motorcycle Club in 2011. Fillmore & Western has been seeking a non-profit organization for the last two years to take over the event and the motorcycle club stepped up this year, helped with the event and are ready and willing to take on the responsibilities to coordinate all of the activities next year, much to the appreciation of the railroad. Several non-profit entities have managed the event over the past 20 years, and in an effort to keep the event local, Fillmore & Western took over from the local Rotary in 2006.

Many car and fireworks enthusiasts find their way to Fillmore each 4th of July, benefiting all of the non-profit fireworks booths and the for profit businesses in the downtown business district and along Highway 126. Thank you again to the prize sponsors and to the volunteers for another successful Independence Day event.