Classic cars line K Street for annual event

From Visalia Times-Delta: Classic cars line K Street for annual event
When Frank Furtaw retired from his job as a police officer in Campbell, he knew what he wanted to do with his spare time.

"I said 'I'm going to find myself a car to restore like the one that I drove [as a rookie police officer] and restore it,'" he said.

And he has been entering the car he restored with his son, a 1962 Dodge Dart Seneca, in shows for the past decade — including the big "Cars on K" event this Saturday in Tulare.

Alongside Furtaw's automobile were classic cars of all makes and models. People by the hundreds from all over Tulare County perused the collection of vintage and restored cars that lined downtown K Street, from San Joaquin to Inyo avenues.

"It's really going strong, even for Easter weekend," said Sherry Carson, office manager at Tulare Chamber of Commerce.

More than 150 cars registered for the event.

While Furtaw's Dodge didn't win any of the blue ribbon categories, he still proudly showed off his restoration effort. His son, who works for the Tulare Police Department, helped him restore the car.

He was also offered a door seal to place on the car from the Tulare Police Department by then-police chief Roger Hill.

"It was one of those deals where I would buy a set of tires, then wait and save up to buy something else," he said, adding that he was able to collect equipment and parts from the police department he started at in 1961.

"It was a lot of fun," Furtaw said. He said that people think that its a police car that is currently in service

"People will see me driving and I look in the [rearview] mirror and I'll see people putting seat belts on and I'll see the cellphones go on the floor," he said. "It's 50-years old and they still think it's active."

Cars on K also included food vendors and music. Businesses benefited from the increased traffic, many of which offered discounts or displayed iitems outside store fronts.

Janice Cuto and her sister-in-law decided to attend the event after enjoying lunch downtown. Cuto said she planned to stop inside several stores while she checked out the cars.

"We just thought we would do something fun," said Cuto, who recently moved from Hanford. "We're trying to check out Tulare."

She said her husband owns an older car that he plans to eventually restore.

"This is his retirement dream to one day be out here," she said