FYI
The 20th annual Wheels ’n’ Windmills car show, a benefit for local charities and auto shop programs, will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24, in downtown Solvang.
By Raiza Giorgi
The Vixens for Victory will be promoting their veterans outreach program by displaying their classic cars at the Wheels ’n’ Windmills Car Show on Aug. 24 in Solvang.
The 20th anniversary of the car show will take place from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. along Copenhagen Drive and several downtown side streets.
“We want any locally deployed soldier to know that we care about them and want to help them make it through their tour with some necessities or fun items from home,” said Breann Hollon — also known as “Vixie Von Pawz” — of the Vixens for Victory.
Hollon and her fellow Vixens help local organizations such as We Support the Troops in the packing of supplies at Bethania Lutheran Church in Solvang, and the Lompoc group Fallen Warrior Memorial. They are also starting a chapter in Ventura to help those deployed at Port Hueneme and the Ventura Veterans of Foreign Wars.
“We like to dress up in pin-up style, and that really gets people to come to our cars and talk about our passion to help veterans. We want to give back to those who have served our country and sacrificed to keep us safe,” Hollon added.
The main purpose of Wheels ’n’ Windmills is to support high school automotive programs and local charities. The 2018 show raised more than $21,000, which was distributed to the SYV Aquatics Foundation, Alpha Pi sorority to support seniors, Zaca Center Preschool, and the National Progeria Research Foundation.
Money from the 2018 raffle of a V8 Crate engine and transmission was donated to Santa Ynez Valley Union High School to help its auto shop programs continue to thrive and to encourage students to get involved in working with cars.
Organizer Bob Stokes said the show attracts upwards of 15,000 people and 300 cars — for which registration sold out in 10 days — as well as close to 40 car clubs that come to display some of their vehicles. The cutoff year for cars displayed is 1980, so nothing newer than that will be displayed.
The main purpose of the Wheels ’n’ Windmills Car Show is to support high school automotive programs and local charities.
The car show has a yearly “best of the best” competition, where cars that have won in years past are all displayed next to each other. There is also a competition for each of the 34 car classes in the show, such as muscle, sport, and truck. Judges are not affiliated with the event or with any club.
The show will also include booths from local vendors and merchants, raffle prizes, the V-8 engine raffle, music and more.
For more information on Wheels ’n’ Windmills, go to www.wheelsnwindmills.com.
