PORT ANGELES — The 13th annual Ruddell Cruise-In topped itself with a record number of attendees, money raised for charity and classic cars on display.
The combination car show and community party, held at Ruddell Auto Mall and Ruddell Hyundai on Friday, raised $907 with its dunk tank that dropped 19 “local celebrities” into a pool of chilly water every time a baseball hit the target.
The money will be used to buy medic bags for Port Angeles and Clallam County Fire District 2 volunteer firefighters and to support the Boy Scouts’ Explorer program.
Fire District 2 firefighter Patty Reifensteahl said the amount raised is close to double of what was collected at last year’s car show.
“Well, people like to dunk people,” she explained.
Everyone who took shots paid $5 for three balls.
Howie Ruddell, owner of the two car dealerships, said he will match the fire fighters’ 50 percent share of the proceeds — about $450.
Reifensteahl said the Explorer program allows teens to job-shadow local firefighters.
Everyone was dunked, whether they wore a swimsuit, or in the case of Port Angeles School Board President Steve Baxter, a necktie and business suit.
“Anyone can do it in a swimsuit,” he joked, while dripping wet after several dunks. “I thought it would be fun.”
It took Port Angeles volunteer fire fighter Trevor Warren several tries to dunk Bob Schilling.
“Finally, I thought I would have to do that myself,” joked Schilling, executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Olympic Peninsula.
Schilling added that he was happy to help the local firefighters.
“They get a lot wetter more often than I do,” he said.
Reifensteahl said Jim Pharmacy’s owner Joe Cammack raised the most out of all the dunkees by donating $100 himself when he was dunked three consecutive times without a miss.
Although there wasn’t an official count this year, Ruddell said the crowd appeared to have been larger than last year, when about 4,000 people attended.
Two of the attendees were traveling to Port Townsend from Victoria and didn’t intend to make a stop in Port Angeles until they saw the many rows of well-polished classic cars sparkling in the sun.
“We’ve always liked old cars,” said Mike Peinaar, 60. “We just had to stop.”
The number of cars at the Cruise-In also inched past last year’s total by about two cars — 410 “dream machines” were on display.
“At the very end we were putting them in the aisle,” Ruddell said.
“We really didn’t have that much room for that many cars.”
Ruddell added:
“It was a huge success just because everyone came together and does their part.
“I would like to thank all the celebrities who were just being great sportsmen and sportswomen to go along with it.
“The water was a little chilly.”
The Ruddell Cruise-In preceded the Old Timers car club’s 28th Rod Run in Port Angeles and their own car show downtown. Both took place Saturday.
The 50-mile run started at the Clallam County Fairgrounds and consisted of a loop on state Highway 112, then to Lake Crescent and back.
It had about 150 cars, said club chairman Jerry Scott.
The Bremerton-based car club co-hosted the Ruddell Cruise-In on Friday, as it has since the event started in 1996.
When asked how long the club will continue to come to Port Angeles, Scott answered simply: “Forever.”
“We like windy, two-lane roads, no freeways, beautiful views and new scenery,” he said.
“It’s just a good area.”
There were several awards given at the Cruise-In:
Ike Reisenkuer for farthest distance traveled to get to the Cruise-In. He came from North Dakota.
Peoples’ Choice Award went to Jennifer Hanson for her 1947 Plymouth Club Coup.
Best of Show went to Steve Fink for his 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Runner-up was Gary Little for his 1972 Chevrolet Stepside.
From first to third, best car club attendance, excluding the Old Timers, went to the
Sequim Valley Car Club, Olympic Peninsula Dream Machines and Port Townsend Rakers.
In a raffle, Frank Coppinger of Port Orchard won $100 in gasoline.
“He can use it to get him back,” Ruddell said, “depending what kind of car he has.”
Perhaps the oldest car at the Cruise-In was Richard Ward’s 1915 Ford Model T.
“I always thought they were interesting,” said Ward, 76, of Sequim.
“I wanted one for many years.”
And the old Ford still runs like a dream after a turn of its hand crank.
“Nothing to it!” said Ward, giving a quick demonstration.
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Reporter Tom Callis can be reached at 360-417-3532 or at tom.callis@peninsuladailynews.com.
