Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association (PSCA) hosts a monthly Cruise-In at Westfield Mall to help raise funding for Desert Cancer Foundation 1st Saturday of each month October through May. The Cruise-In allows PSCA Members (free entry) and Non Members ($5.00 entry) to have their Customs, Rods, Classics, Muscle Cars, Trucks and Motorcycles on display. Trophies, Raffles, 50-50, Vendors and Games are all part of the Free event for spectators.
The monthly Cruise-Ins are in addition to the big annual Car Show in February which will be held Saturday February 14, 9 AM – 3 PM, at Indian Well Tennis Garden. The show is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Sebastian George co-founder of Desert Cancer Foundation, who was a nationally-prominent cancer researcher and locally-beloved oncologist who often worked for free to help patients who could not afford medical care. The first show was in 2003 and attracted 400 cars. Now there are between 800 and 1,000 stunning cars, trucks, and motorcycles that are shown on the grassy field at the beautiful Indian Wells Tennis garden and the show draws upwards of 8,000 people.
It is hosted and executed by the all-volunteer efforts of special members of the non-profit Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association. This car club has been in existence since 1987 and has over 400 members. Its primary accomplishments are staging charitable car shows and promoting camaraderie among car enthusiasts not only in the Coachella Valley, but throughout Southern California. The idea for the Dr. George grew from one Palm Springs Cruisin’ Association member’s Yvonne McKenzie gratitude to the doctor for helping her beat cancer. Shortly after the doctor's death, she encouraged her fellow members that it would be a fitting tribute to his memory to organize an annual charity car show, with the proceeds donated to the Desert Cancer Foundation.
At every Dr. George, more celebrity guests donate their time — as judges — than to any other car show in the country. The show boasts such luminaries as: Larry Fisher (President of the NHRA Museum), Sam Foose (Legendary custom car designer/builder and Chip's Dad), Dick Guldstrand ("Mr. Corvette" and winning race car driver at Daytona in 1966), Dick Messer (Director Emeritus, Petersen Automotive Museum in L.A.), and Gary Meadors (Founder of Goodguys Rod & Custom Association – the largest car show producer in the U.S.).
Each dollar donated to show provides $7 in medical services for DCF clients. This is the result of greatly discounted medical costs provided to the DCF by its wonderful supporters in the local medical community. As of 2014, the show’s proceeds have raised over $500,000.00 which equates to approximately $3.5 million in medical services. The conventional wisdom is that this makes the Dr. George Car Show the largest contributor of end-benefit dollars than any other charity car show in the country!
Next dates for the monthly Cruise-In:
February 7, March 7, April 4, May 2, 2015 from 1:00 pm-5:00 pm at Westfield Palm Desert (North side of Mall behind Macy’s).
More information: Ross at 760-835-5564
Westfield Palm Desert
72-840 California 111, Palm Desert, CA 92260
760-346-2121
www.westfield.com/palmdesert
Photography by Gregg Felsen