When the “Crusin’ Back to the 50s Car Show” began, George Barris reportedly was pleased to allow the use of his name because he had fond memories of Piccadilly’s--“where drag racing began.” This popular drive-in restaurant was located at 3992 Sepulveda Blvd., between Piggot Drive and Washington Place.

The annual car show brings many folks back to downtown Culver City to enjoy a day of classic cars on display, an opportunity to talk to fellow enthusiasts, and family time centered around lunch in our restaurant-rich downtown.

Tales will be told….. When I asked “Cuz” Fred Machado about Piccadilly’s, his immediate response was “Piccadilly’s made great burgers!” The guys used to gather there, eat, and enjoy seeing all the “hot rods.” To enrich my cultural education, he clarified “hot rods” were built by people with imagination from ground up or they could be restored old cars, but were not the “muscle cars” which I learned were like Dodge Dart, or Plymouth production cars. Sprint cars—that raced on oval tracks, also spent time at Piccadilly’s, and some race cars arrived on trailers.

If a picture is worth a thousand words, I am going to save my breath and give you two this week to enjoy in preparation for the car show.