Several Ford Car Clubs in San Diego, including the Early Ford V-8 Club and the Classic Thunderbirds of San Diego, banded together to create a picnic and fundraiser in the park at Santee Lakes on May 7, 2023.

As the story goes, the All Ford Picnic started back in the 1970s, but life got complicated and it stopped a few years back. Ambitious Ford club members were determined to bring it back, and its return was a wild success, with more than 75 classic Fords, 100+ attendees, grilled-to-perfection hot dogs and hamburgers, a raffle with more than 40 donated prizes, a 50/50 drawing for the Ollie Smith Foundation, and a People’s Choice Award, complete with trophies!

The volunteers worked hard to make this come together, including renting out the large, lake-side gazebo well in advance, inviting just the right number of clubs so there was plenty of parking, organizing the donations and volunteers, buying the food, setting up the tables, ordering All Ford Picnic magnets, and more I’m sure I don’t know about. It was a lot of work, but they made it seem like … a picnic in the park. Ha.

The Ollie Smith Foundation, which was created in honor of the founder of the Early Ford V-8 Club, provides support to students in the Automotive Program at Cuyamaca College.

Not a Car Show

The Model A, Model T, Prowlers, and Ford F100 Clubs, and the San Diego Police Museum, also joined in on the fun, making it one of the best not-a-car-shows that I’ve been to in a long time.

Good to see CTSD members John, Bill, Geoff, Alan, David and Lori, Bob and Celia, Dan and Linda, Mitch and Elaine, Craig and Max, Gene and Irwin, Alex and Janet, Sam, and Shelly and Gary. (Who did I miss?)

To all our volunteers, donors, car attendees, and sponsors, we appreciate your generous and friendly support of our community! A special call out to organizers Team Joe and Team John (including Jon, Travis, and Kristi!), and our teen volunteers, Max and Miles and their Tbird dads. Many people not mentioned here were behind the scenes making this event a fun one.

It was a gorgeous sunny day after some brisk morning clouds, and I know many new friendships were made that day. We look forward to the next one.

Did you miss this picnic?

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