PORT ANGELES — A sudden rainstorm put a damper on the Shane Park car show and family fun day, but not before thousands were raised Sunday for new playground equipment at the west Port Angeles park.
The Peninsula Dream Machines car show drew 128 classic cars, including 18 from Vancouver Island.
Although the precise amount raised was not available late Sunday, the $15 registration fee alone netted close to $2,000 for the playground.
“We’re coming back next year,” said Victor Camire, a member of the Parksville, B.C.-based Seaside Cruisers and VI Cruises car clubs.
A cloudburst ended the car show and the inaugural Old-Fashioned Family Fun Day at about 1:30 p.m. The car show and fun day were scheduled to go until about 4 p.m.
Nevertheless, Shane Park Committee President Janet Young said the donations and raffles in the Old-Fashioned Family Fun Day raised $1,192.
“That was pretty good for just our side,” Young said.
The fun day featured a dunk tank and several games like tug-of-war.
Car show ballots were being tabulated as the wind and rain arrived. Ed Upton of the Peninsula Dream Machines said the trophies will likely be sent out on Tuesday.
Upton and others said the car show was a success despite the unpredictable weather.
“We had a very, very successful raffle, and definitely good food,” Upton said.
Members of the Dream Machine cooked hamburgers and hot dogs for the attendees.
“Everybody enjoyed that,” Upton said.
“And we had some very nice donations from the members, and even non-member,s for the playground. It was definitely a success.”
All proceeds from the raffle, bake sale and registration fees went to the Shane Park Playground Equipment Fund.
The Shane Park committee is trying to raise $130,000 to install a state-of-the-art play area on the Sixth Street side of the Eighth Street park.
So far, the committee has raised some $85,000, which includes a $60,000 commitment from the city of Port Angeles.
City Parks Superintendent Corey Delikat will find out on Wednesday where the city’s $60,000 to $80,000 grant proposal to the state Recreation and Conservation Office ranks.
Meanwhile, the playground committee continues to seek donations.
Among the notable vehicles at the car show was a wooded body truck that was built by Port Angeles saddle-maker Russell Johnson.
The classic automobile contains 28 types of wood from all over the world, with elaborate leather artwork on the inside door panels.
“He [Johnson] did all the leather work inside,” Upton said.
Upton and Peninsula Dream Machines founder Bob Fowler said the Canadian car enthusiasts bonded with members of the Port Angeles car club. The Dream Machines plans to attend a car show on Vancouver Island next year, Upton said.
Fowler said the Canadians joined the Peninsula car club members on a poker run.
“Those Canadians, they were just such a pleasure,” Fowler said.
Upton added: “Some of my favorite cars were from Canada.”
“They really have some very pretty cars. “
The Peninsula Dream Machines has been holding fundraisers for various groups and causes on the North Olympic Peninsula for 20 years.
Shane Park was named after Shane Fowler, who was 9 when he died after a construction mishap that occurred when the park was being built in 1973.
Bob Fowler was Shane’s father.
The new playground will be 111 feet by 57 feet with several slides, climbing areas, swings and a safety surface.
Donations for the playground equipment, with checks made out to the Kiwanis Foundation, can be mailed to Shane Park Playground, P.O. Box 1064, Port Angeles, WA 98362.
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Reporter Rob Ollikainen can be reached at 360-417-3537 or at rob.ollikainen@peninsuladailynews.com.
