Retirement Inn residents enjoy vintage car show

Residents of the La Conner Retirement Inn celebrated life in the fast lane Friday, July 22.

The seniors were treated to a three-hour classic car show that featured a dozen vintage vehicles.

The event’s People’s Choice Award winner was a 1930 Ford Model A entered by Shelter Bay resident Colin Banks. Balloting was by Retirement Inn residents, said show coordinator Bob Ferari, also of Shelter Bay, who entered “Bella,” his 1957 Chevy Bel-Air.

“Since it was the residents who voted,” Ferari told the Weekly News, “it was truly a people’s choice award.

“There was a vast array of cars from the ‘20s, ‘30s, ‘40s, ‘50s, and ‘60s,” he added, “plus a brand-new Corvette.”

The ’22 ‘vette was entered by Dave Christianson. Another show favorite was planning commissioner John Leaver’s 1940 Ford Deluxe Coupe.

Banks was thrilled to have received top honors.

“This,” he said, “was the first car show I’ve entered in America.”

This was the fourth annual summer show Ferari and Retirement Inn staff have organized.

“The whole idea,” he said, “has been to do something fun for the residents. For me, it’s a giving back thing that’s specifically for the residents. Putting on a car show is a way for friends to gather and get together.”

In addition to the show, that fun featured music, dancing, a food truck and lemonade stand.

“There were people dancing in the street,” said Ferari. “The band was phenomenal. They were great. They played a lot of tunes from the ‘50s and ‘60s.”

The aptly named Ferari, whose brother is a Retirement Inn resident, has long been an auto aficionado.

“I’ve been a gear head since back in high school,” he said. “I’ve always liked working on and restoring cars.”

Next year he hopes the event expands further.

“We want to grow it,” he said. “We’d like to get a permit to shut down the street. We’ll have to figure out how to work it out with the town.”