Randy Lovelock’s customized 1951 Cadillac took home Best in Show honors at the second annual Cruisin’ Plumas Car & Bike Show in downtown Yuba City on Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of Natalie Syverson Photography

YUBA CITY, CA (MPG) - A last taste of summer rolled into downtown Yuba City on Saturday, Oct. 3, as the second annual Cruisin’ Plumas Car & Bike Show filled Plumas Street with classic cars, custom rides and plenty of horsepower.

With temperatures climbing into the 90s, the smell of street food and fresh pizza drifted through downtown as families strolled the sidewalks, children enjoyed ice cream cones in the shade and car enthusiasts admired rows of polished chrome, colorful paint jobs and carefully restored engines. From vintage Cadillacs and Corvettes to muscle cars, motorcycles and Volkswagen campers, the event drew 130 registered vehicles, surpassing last year's inaugural show of 117.

Organized with the help of downtown photographer Natalie Syverson, the event welcomed returning participants and newcomers alike, with approximately 40 vehicles returning from the previous year.

Visitors stroll along Plumas Street, admiring sports cars and custom vehicles at the second annual Cruisin’ Plumas Car & Bike Show on Oct. 3. Photo courtesy of Natalie Syverson Photography

“Ever since I had my studio down here on Plumas Street, I really wanted a car show here and I’ve been working really hard on this event,” Syverson told attendees during the awards ceremony.

Syverson, who spent approximately three months organizing the event, thanked the community for its support and said she hopes to continue building on its success.

“We broke last year's record,” she said. “I so appreciate the love and support from everybody.”

The afternoon concluded with an awards ceremony recognizing standout vehicles across a variety of categories, from Best Restoration and Best Engine Bay to the more playful “Best Ride to Make Out In.” Yuba City Mayor Marc Boomgaarden joined organizers for the presentations, sharing his own enthusiasm for classic cars.

“So many good cars here. I'm a car enthusiast myself, and hopefully we'll have an entry here next year,” Boomgaarden said. “It's an awesome day.”

Taking home the coveted Best in Show award was Randy Lovelock, a former Yuba City fire chief, whose customized 1951 Cadillac caught the judges' attention. The Mayor's Award went to a 1967 Volkswagen bus, while Sonny Greenal earned Best Truck honors with a 1955 Chevrolet 3100 Second Series pickup. Josh Duggan received Best Bike for his 2002 Suzuki GSX-R 1000.

Among the afternoon's repeat winners was Chris Stockton, whose 1969 Plymouth Road Runner earned Best Mopar for the second consecutive year. Stockton described the vehicle's modified Hemi engine and told the crowd that a recent video featuring his car had attracted approximately 2.5 million views in just a day and a half.

A bright green classic Chevrolet with its hood raised shows off its engine and custom finish during the Cruisin’ Plumas Car & Bike Show on Oct. 3. The event featured 130 registered vehicles lining downtown Yuba City streets. Photo courtesy of Natalie Syverson Photography

Other winners represented years, and sometimes decades, of dedication. Kenn Vess, who received Best Restoration for his 1939 Chrysler DeSoto, told the crowd that the project had taken 20 years to complete. Thad Wilt, representing the San Francisco-based car club Money, Horsepower and Respect, received Outstanding Paint & Finish for his 1970 Pontiac GTO. Wilt said the paintwork alone took approximately eight months. Meanwhile, Mark Hylen took home Best Engine Bay for his 1969 Pontiac Firebird, an especially memorable achievement as organizers said it was his first time entering a car show.

The awards ceremony also offered plenty of laughs, particularly when Yuba City Downtown representative Sandee Drown introduced her favorite category, Best Ride to Make Out In. Drown joked about the days of waterbeds before presenting the newly introduced award to former downtown board member Angela Butler and her 1964 Volkswagen camper. Another category celebrating the area's local character, Best Ride to Cruise Around the Buttes, went to Dwayne Taylor for his 1965 Chevrolet Chevelle.

The People's Choice Award went to John Lester, a retired Yosemite firefighter attending the event for the first time, with his gray 1958 Chevrolet Corvette. Lester described the car as a father-and-son project, while Syverson encouraged attendees to stop by Center Street to admire the vehicle and learn its history.

Additional winners included Gary Storeide for Best Ford with a 1955 Ford Victoria, Gene Barber for Best Chevy with a 1964 Corvette and Ed Clavel for Best Import with a 1987 Porsche 924S.

Beyond the vehicles, visitors enjoyed downtown dining, shopping and refreshments, including beer and cider served by the Happy Viking truck. Live music followed the awards ceremony, keeping the festivities going into the afternoon. Organizers thanked presenting sponsor Clark Pest Control, the city of Yuba City, downtown merchants and the many volunteers who contributed to the event.

Drown also announced that Cruisin’ Plumas will return on the first Saturday of October in 2027, encouraging vehicle owners to register in advance.

For Syverson, the day represented more than another successful car show. It was an opportunity to bring people together and showcase the downtown district she has long envisioned as a gathering place.

“I just hope you guys have fun,” she told the crowd. “Tell your friends, post on social media, come back next year.”