Hot Summer Daze offers fun in summer sun in Porterville

The second annual "Hot Summer Daze" lived up to its name Saturday in downtown Porterville as hundreds of people did not let the summer heat interfere with summer fun.

"I've worked so hard up until now. This is really it now," said Rachelle Rupert, co-chairwoman of the event. "We're not even open yet and there's already a ton of people out here."

Part of Main Street was closed for the festival that included a car and bike show, a children's activities area, food and merchant vendors, and three entertainment stages.

By 11:30 a.m., plenty of people wandered about, looking at the vintage and classic cars and motorcycles.

Jim and Arlene Murrell of Porterville walked leisurely down the street, pausing at each vehicle to take a closer look.

"It's a dream of mine to restore a car like this," Jim Murrell said. "I have a car I'd like to rebuild — a 1970s sports car. It's an Opal GT."

While they looked at cars, brothers Esteban and Arthur Galindo looked at motorcycles.

"This bright green one caught my attention," Esteban Galindo said as he looked over a Big Bear Chopper painted a bright lime green.

Nearby, Tom McQuary sat near his entry — a 1969 Pontiac GTO.

"I've had it since 1998. I bought it for $600," McQuary said. "Now it has a rebuilt 455 Pontiac motor. It took me two to three years to get it looking like this."

McQuary said he and his wife, June, plan to walk around and see all of the other entries.

"We're here to have a good time," McQuary said. "And to let the younger generation see what the older generations do."

Proceeds from the event were donated to Teen Sert — School of Emergency Response Training -— a class at Granite Hills High School, part of Porterville Unified School District's Tulare County Office of Vocational Education program.

-- Contact Esther Avila at 784-5000, Ext. 1047 or eavila@portervillerecorder.com.