Article from the December 1997 edition of the Woodie Times written by Diane Doherty 

Anyone who has been to Wavecrest knows it is a unique event. Not so much because of its size (over 200 wooden cars is an amazing sight!). Not because of the spectacular site overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Not because of the posters, T-shirts & coffee cups featuring woodies that are available throughout the event (which most of us couldn't do without adding to our collection). What really make it unique is the feeling you get talking with people you just met, because of the common ground of the woodie experience -- finding, buying or restoring a woodie -- you feel you've know them for ages. At times, visiting with a woodie owner you've known for years through the event, you discover you both had woodies in high school, which you sold, alas, for $125 in the early sixties! 

Wavecrest, 1997 Edition, was held at Moonlight Beach in Encinitas, California on September 20th. Twenty volunteers worked countless hours to make sure the event was enjoyable, carefree and memorable for all who attended. 

Bill & Cindi Halliday's 1939 Chevrolet Deluxe

The event starts Friday evening and runs through Sunday, and it is still too short! We don't get enough time to talk with our woodie friends, to find out how to make the cowl vent open and close smoothly, or button-hole Ron or Doug or George about fitting that dogleg piece on the back door inset. 

The committee took time off from folding T-shirts and stuffing packets to watch the progress of Hurricane Linda. Rain fell the weekend just prior to the event, and, although a second, more severe hurricane caused rain to fall the week after Wavecrest, the Wednesday before dawned bright and clear, and we had spectacular weather through the weekend. The first woodies began to arrive at the Radisson on Wednesday. By Friday afternoon the underground parking lot had over 80 woodies and counting. The cabana opened at 5:30 p.m., and the woodie enthusiasts began to gather to renew old friendships and create new ones. Wood was practically the only topic of conversation. The party went on until 10 o'clock, and the main event was only nine hours away! 

As committee people arrived, they began speculating about which woodie would arrive first as they set up booths for Wavecrest and for the National Woodie Club. NWC President Lee Kidwell and President-elect John Blachowski, with Directors Craig Johnson and Sunnie Cursio, helped answer questions and recruit new members

.

From Arizona, Wes Aplanalp brought his 1941 Pontiac.

The parking lot filled by about 11:00 a.m., with additional parking on the lower ellipse next to the beach. Our final count for Wavecrest '97 was 225 woodies. 

At 2:30 p.m. the awards ceremony began. Trophies were hand-crafted by George Benson, plus Ron Heiden and Doug Carr made special awards. The awards, as voted on by participants, had Best Hot Rod going to Daryl Whitfield's 1947 Ford; Best '60s Surfer Woodie to Pam & Jim Cocores' 1950 Ford; Best Town & Country to Lloyd Mayes for his flawless 1948 convertible; Best License Plate to John Siragusa, whose 1947 Ford wears NLESSMR. The longest distance driven was take by Jeff Johnson, who drove his 1951 Ford 2,150 miles from St. Paul, Minnesota. 

The Hard Luck Award is given to the person whose tale of woe is told to the audience during the award presentation, then decided by applause. Terry English won the trophy, with a second given to Jeff Johnson. We hope Jeff will write an article for the Woodie Times the let everyone know of his harrowing drive! 

The Wood'n Carr Award was given by Doug and Suzy Carr to Mike DeVriendt's 1947 Sportsman from Colorado Springs. The Heiden Woodworking Award was given by Ron and Denise Heiden to Brad Anderson for his Campbell-bodied Dodge, formerly owned by surfing legend Dewey Weber. Under Construction Award by George Benson went to Bill Hedberg's 1940 Plymouth. 

The breakdown of woodies according to make is as follows: 3 Pontiacs, 5 Buicks, 3 Morris Minors, 1 GMC, 3 Packards, 2 Dodges, 7 Chryslers, 1 Willys, 1 International, 9 Plymouths, 10 Chevrolets, 18 Mercurys (1 Canadian), 1 VW Phantom, & 161 Fords. 

Nick Anderson's Ford Sportsman

Saturday's event officially ended at 4:00 p.m., but diehards remained at the parking lot until dusk, and many returned for the Sunday morning breakfast tour of Encinitas restaurants. Sunday's activities ended after the raffle with a tour of Old Coast Highway 101 to dedicate the renaming of this historic section of highway through Encinitas. Members of the Encinitas City Council rode in woodies to officially inaugurate the change back to Coast Highway 101. 

Throughout the weekend, beginning on Thursday as a few woodies started to appear, you could see the locals smile and point as they spotted each new woodie. By Saturday woodies were parked at every restaurant, surf shop, storefront and gas station in town. Saturday at sunset many of the woodies began heading home. Locals were able to spot several at the breakfast restaurants in the morning, but by evening, as the sun set over the Pacific, the last of the woodies had disappeared for another year.