The annual Hometown Country Fair is slated for April 25 at CV Park. Festivities kick off with a hot rod forum.

By Jason KUROSU

The Hometown Country Fair will be coming once again to Crescenta Valley Park on Saturday, April 25, the Crescenta Valley Chamber of Commerce’s yearly event for all ages. The fair will bring back many of the event’s staples such as carnival rides, climbing wall, car show, dog parade and pie eating contest.

The fair offers a full day of events for both kids and adults.

The “Legends of Hot Rods” forum will take place in the park’s community room from 9 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. The forum will feature Pat Ganahl, former editor of Hot Rod Magazine, automotive customizer Gene Winfield, world record drag racer Bob Muravez and this year’s emcee, the voice of the National Hot Rod Association, Dave McClelland.

Dwight Sityar organized last year’s forum around the theme of innovation and design in racing. This year, he invited the robotics clubs from Crescenta Valley High School and Clark Magnet High School to learn and gain insight from this year’s speakers.

“It’s about how to get into the business, how to avoid pitfalls and how to get into the mechanical side of things, when so much today is focused on computers,” said Sityar.

Carnival rides and games, provided by Kemsley Shows, will be set up in the parking lot. Fairgoers are sure to find their favorite ride.

At 12:45 p.m., the pie-eating contest (pies courtesy of Ralph’s supermarket) will get underway for contestants under the age of 20.

At 2 p.m., the dog parade will begin. Dogs can be entered into the parade at the fair for a $5 entry fee and all proceeds will be donated to the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA.)

Exhibits throughout the day will feature over 50 vendors including a number of nonprofits, the Lions Club Eyemobile which will offer free glaucoma testing and there will be booths featuring crafters, jewelers, face painting, balloon artists and wildlife.

Live music and performances will be provided by a number of local school groups, including the Crescenta Valley High School jazz band, Rosemont Middle School jazz band and cheer, and the St. Francis High School drumline.

A new feature for this year’s fair is a free shuttle service, which will operate throughout the day and be available to pick up passengers every 15 minutes.

According to Lisa Dupuy, executive director of the CV Chamber of Commerce, the shuttle will be available at two pickup spots, Bob Smith Toyota/Scion on in the 3300 block of Foothill Boulevard and the Park & Ride lot on Lowell Avenue near the entrance to the Foothill (210) freeway.

A raffle drawing towards the end of the day will award one winner an iPad.

The Hometown County Fair will be open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. It is being held at Crescenta Valley Park at 3901 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta. Admission is free.

Hot Rod Forum Highlight of Fair

The Crescenta Valley Hometown Country Fair is hosting for the second year an open forum titled “Legends of Hot Rods.” Dwight Sityar, coordinator for the fair’s popular car show, is overseeing the forum which hosts speakers who have influenced what hot rod building, customizing and racing is today.

Among the speakers is Gene “Windy” Winfield who has been established as a premiere customizer and car builder. He has been working on cars for more than 60 years and his ideas and painting techniques have permanently influenced the way custom cars are built today and will be in the future. Winfield’s creations were regular features in car and custom magazines. A few of his works could be found on popular TV shows including “Get Smart,” “Star Trek” and “Bewitched.”

Also on the forum line-up is Bob Muravez, a world-class drag racer who has been described as gutsy and high-spirited since he started racing in 1961. Driving the famous twin-engine dragster called the “Freight Train” and another called “The Pulsator,” Muravez won multiple first-place finishes setting speed records and earning the title of the number one top dragster in the nation. Muravez’s career in the drag strip circuit has always been very colorful ever since his beginning when he ran under the name Floyd Lippencott Jr. (Why? Let Muravez tell you.) He has recently been inducted into the International Drag Racing Hall of Fame.

Pat Ganahl will also take a seat at the forum. Ganahl is the former editor of Hot Rod Magazine, Rod and Custom Magazine, Street Rodder Magazine and the Rodders Journal Magazine. He not only “talks the talk” but he “walks the walk.” He has done nearly everything he writes about – from building a hot rod and race car to customizing and painting to engine overhaul performance. Ganahl has been considered “the” artist in journalism and the photographic world. His contributions to the automotive industry from the articles written and his knowledge of the industry have been noted as the greatest by renowned designers and builders. Aside from being an Automotive Hall of Fame recipient, Ganahl has written at least 20 books on the subject.

La Crescenta’s own Dave McClelland, also know as the “Voice of the NHRA,” will be doing the honors as emcee of the “Legends of Hot Rods” forum. As last year’s speaker, McClelland offered insights into the world of automotive racing. His views come from a wealth of knowledge and authority. He has been awarded hundreds of plaques and testimonials as the announcer for the National Hot Rod Association but remains humble and approachable despite his extensive knowledge on the sport. He is also a member of the board of directors for the Wally Parks NHRA Motorsport Museum and a member of the local Early Rodders car group.

Admission to the forum is free and the public is invited for the question and answer session that will begin at 9 a.m. at the Crescenta Valley Park community building at 3901 Dunsmore Ave. in La Crescenta on the day of the fair, April 25.

  Jason Kurosu