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CRUISE-IN 2023: NEW car award honours So-Cal legend

Son of well-known late car builder Pete Chapouris will join 91原创鈥檚 Scott Booth in picking a winner
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A new Cruise-In award honours the memory of the late Pete Chapouris, also known as PC3, and his best-known creation, the 鈥楥alifornia Kid鈥 hot rod. (Special to 91原创 Advance Times)

This is one in a series of special 91原创 Advance Times stories about what to expect at this year鈥檚 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In, happen Saturday, Sept. 9 in Aldergrove. You can also check out this series in our special keepsake edition hitting the streets on Thursday and available in limited quantity at the car show.

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Anyone who knows anything about custom cars knows who the late Pete Chapouris is.

He was a legendary California car builder, who resurrected the famous , and creator of the 鈥淐alifornia Kid鈥 hot rod, one of the most-copied hot rods ever.

Chapouris, the third boy in his family to be named Pete, was informally know as PC3.

PC4, his son, will be making his first-ever trip to the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In.

A celebrated car builder in his own right, PC4 has taken over his dad鈥檚 speed shop and will be presenting a trophy 鈥 the PC3 Pete Chapouris III Memorial Award of Excellence 鈥 to the car builder who best reflects his father鈥檚 exacting standards.

鈥淚t is kind of indicative of what we think that he would have liked in a car,鈥 Peter told the 91原创 Advance Times.

鈥淎nd it doesn鈥檛 necessarily have to be a hot rod. We鈥檝e picked all different kinds of cars [for similar awards at other car show].鈥

Pressed for details, Chapouris said his choice is based on a car鈥檚 overall look, and its 鈥渟tance鈥 鈥 the way it sits on its wheels.

There is, by the way, a PC5 鈥 who, at 15, is more into late-model cars, according to his dad.

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Pete Chapouris, also known as PC4, will be picking a car that his late father would have liked for the new PC3 trophy at the 91原创 Good Times Cruise-In. (Special to 91原创 Advance Times)

Pete Chapouris III is best known for a retro chopped 1934 Ford three-window coupe that was featured in a made-for-TV movie called , starring a young Martin Sheen.

Plus, the well-known customizer created many memorable custom designs, including a pair of Harley-Davidson 鈥淗ogZZillas鈥 for Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top.

In 1997, his company, The Pete Chapouris Group, PC3g, revived the legendary So-Cal hot rod shop that had opened in 1946 and closed in 1961.

So-Cal Speed Shop Canada, based in Surrey and operated by Wicked Customs 91原创 owner Scott Booth, a rodder/builder, is why PC4 is making the trip.

Booth and Chapouris have become friends, and the Canadian convinced PC3 to make his first-ever trip to Canada to present the award.

They will be walking through Cruise-In on the day of the event to choose a winner.

鈥淭he award isn鈥檛 for a car with the most points, or anything like that. It鈥檚 simply a pick for a car that PC3 would love to drive himself. He had a certain style and, and a certain quality level,鈥 Booth explained.

Cruise-In president Riccardo Sestito thinks the laid-back nature of the show is a positive for big names like Chapouris, and Jimmy Shine, who has been handing out his namesake award at Cruise-In for years.

鈥淎ny of these builders who come from California, they like it because they have a totally different atmosphere,鈥 Sestito believes.

鈥淭hey get to be free and relaxed.鈥

Sestito hopes to make the PC3 trophy an annual award, much like the Shine award.

READ ALSO: Aldergrove car show flooded with requests for non-existent In-N-Out Burger tickets

READ ALSO: Cruise-In contest to win a Jeep for a year requires determination


Have a story tip? Email: dan.ferguson@langleyadvancetimes.com
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Dan Ferguson

About the Author: Dan Ferguson

Best recognized for my resemblance to St. Nick, I鈥檓 the guy you鈥檒l often see out at community events and happenings around town.
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