By Dr. John Baeke
For the fan who wants to get up close to the actors and players, the place to be is backstage at the theater, in the locker room at the big game — or in the Mission Santa Ines parking lot at the Solvang Independence Day parade.
During the pre-parade staging in the parking lot is the time for the car lover to have the best chance to see some pretty cool old cars and meet their owners.
Thank you again, Solvang Rotary Club. It was a great parade.
Camene, Cooper and Ainsley Haws used their 1970 Chevy K/5 Blazer to pull the SYHS water polo team.
Charlie Webb and the Vander Stahl Farm 1947 Dodge truck.
John and Suzanne Baeke with Randy Rosness rode in Olivia Baeke’s 1936 Pontiac cabriolet.
Even the 4-H Club, acting as pooper-scoopers, had fun with their miniature Model-T.
Valley Christian Fellowship’s Pastor Jonathan and Allison Firey, with girls Gracie and Millie, pose with their World War II Jeep.
Ford Model A’s from Santa Ynez and Santa Maria clubs were everywhere.
Dan Hoagland had the honor of driving grand marshals Jim and Phyllis Axtell in his festive 1958 Ford Skyliner.
The Sheriff family entered Herbie, their Love Bug.
Ken Hall’s beautiful 1936 and 1950 Ford pickups.
The Star-Spangled Corvettes of the Bibby, Albrecht and Civerola families.
Several thousand folks, young and old, cheered as the parade wound through town.
