Museum Artifact Was the Star Attraction at the Belmont Shore Classic Car Show

Thousands attended the 17th Annual Belmont Shore Classic Car Show on Sunday, September 10th on Second Street. The Long Beach Heritage Museum had a display space in front of Panama Joe's restaurant and bar at the corner of Second Street and Granada. The Museum artifact was the Long Beach Pike's famous Cyclone Racer Car and was on display as part of the car show. Spectators were invited to have their picture taken while seated in the roller coaster car for a ten dollar donation to the Heritage Museum's building fund. Three minutes after their picture was taken they were presented with that picture in a nice custom photo holder. The roller coaster car exhibit and museum display raised a considerable sum of money for the museum's building fund.

Museum members volunteering their time in helping out at the car and museum exhibit were CAROL JACOBY, DOUG & MARGE TALLY, MARSHALL PUMPHREY, CHRISTINA ZANIS, CASEY CARVER, MORGAN HUMPHREY and KEN LARKEY. The Museum's volunteers greeted the crowds visiting the roller coaster car display and the Museum photo display by answering questions about the Museum and the reason we are raising funds for a Museum building. The volunteers also handed out the Museum's information brochures and membership applications.

Some of the people stopping by the roller coaster car display reminisced about the Pike and the great times had riding the roller coaster and all the other Pike attractions. One young lad wanted to know where the engine and steering wheel were for the roller coaster car, not knowing it was an amusement ride. Elvis Presley impersonator Stephen Pittman, the owner of the Second Street "Party Props" costume store, stopped by dressed like Elvis and had his picture taken in front of the roller coaster car. Museum member CASEY CARVER did a great job acting as a carnival barker as he got the crowds to stop at the roller coaster car and asked them if they would like to have their picture taken seated in the car.

PAMELA BISHOFF, the Museum's Fund Raising Committee president, spent a considerable amount of time planning and arranging for the success of this fund raising event. Our thanks go to PAMELA for her untiring effort on behalf of the Museum. To all of the volunteers, thank you; because of your efforts the Museum's roller coaster car and the building fund raising event was a huge success.

To join our team, contact Ken Larkey (562) 433-4156 or LKenlar@aol.com.