The 28th Annual Wavecrest Woodie Meet in Encinitas teaches respectful driving and history, one woodie at a time.

They are coming to Encinitas again for the 28th Annual Wavecrest Woodie Meet. Hundreds of wood-sided station wagons, affectionately called “woodies.” Just like the population of the United States, they too, are getting old. Woodie production was beginning to increase in numbers around 1926, which makes many around 80-years- old. That’s 15 years ahead of the baby-boomers, who when they were in their teens, could buy a woodie for a song, and sing and surf to their heart’s delight.

Those memories are real. So are the memories of comradeship and safe driving. “We learned in Driver’s Education to drive at speed limit speeds on the right side of the road, and pass on the left,” says Steve Sheets from Lee’s Summit, Missouri, who is planning to caravan with fellow woodie owners from the Midwest to Encinitas. “In California schools, they must not teach that anymore,” he notes.

The days are gone when a high school student could earn enough money from an after school job to purchase a used woodie. Ken Berger, who has driven to Encinitas each year from Scottsdale, Arizona, places a value on the 1941 Plymouth he showed last year at $100,000. Pre-war Fords, he notes, are considerably more valuable and one in the shape of his Plymouth will fetch in the range of $150,000-200,000. “In Arizona, when I drive my woodie it attracts more attention than a Ferrari,” claims Berger.

No matter the cost, woodie people seem different than most other car clubbers. Woodie ownership is more of a lifestyle, and unlike members of some other car groups who speak with disdain about models made by other auto manufacturers, the woodie people love them all - Fords, Chevys, Plymouths, Pontiacs, Studebakers, Buicks, even Bentleys, and an occasional Rolls Royce woodie, one of which may make its appearance again at this year’s Wavecrest Woodie Fest September 13-16 in downtown Encinitas.

The schedule of public events, partly sponsored by the Downtown Encinitas MainStreet Association, and spearheaded by the San Diego Woodie Club, begins Thursday night with the car show along the 101 in old Encinitas. There will be bands, food and lots of fun. Friday, the woodie owners meet and eat together in preparation for Saturday’s big Wavecrest event and the gathering of woodies in the parking lot and elsewhere at Moonlight Beach. In previous years, woodies were everywhere, even on the sand.

Saturday at Moonlight Beach is the golden time for the public to meet woodie owners and sample their value system. “We love everyone who loves cars, no matter what the make or model,” says Craig Johnson, President of the National Woodie Club, who drives either his 1930 Model A Ford wagon or his 1940 standard Ford Wagon to Encinitas from his home in Peoria, Arizona. “There is a butt for every seat,” says Johnson. “We appreciate anyone who takes a car and tries to make it better. I have no problem with the kids with their ‘fast and furious’ cars as long as their love for their car translates into increasing the driving pleasure for us all.”

Sunday morning is set aside for “cruising” the 101, from Encinitas up to Oceanside, down to Del Mar, then back to Encinitas. The pace is slow and the breeze is cool. “When I get into an old wood-sided van and put my arm out the window, I just feel better,” says Maggie Houlihan, former mayor of Encinitas and a huge Wavecrest event supporter. Growing up in the 1960s, the woodie meet brings back her memories of driving a friend’s Pontiac woodie from her home in Long Beach to Encinitas just to hang out at the beach. “Life was wonderful then, and with continued effort on our part, it still is,” says the politically active city council member who is currently working to keep the spirit of community alive throughout Encinitas. “Definitely including Leucadia which prides itself on being funky.”

Sunday concludes with a noon public auction of woodie memorabilia and surfboards held poolside at the Best Western Inn and Suites on Encinitas Boulevard. Everyone is welcome to all the public events. For more information on Wavecrest 2007 visit their website at sandiegowoodies.com. •

Story by Helen and Richard Nielsen-Eckfield, Savvy Seniors, Frugal and Active.