Pine Valley car show continues drive for student scholarships

Classic cars roll in, pine trees frame the roadsides, and for one day each spring, a small moun­tain town becomes a gathering place for a long-running tradi­tion.

The Life is a Highway Car Club and will host the 23rd An­nual Run to the Hills Car Show on May 16 along Historic High­way 80 and Pine Valley Road from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., drawing car enthusiasts, families, and visitors across the region.

For Cindy D’Ambrosia, Life is a Highway Car Club Show chair, the event carries deep personal meaning.

“The Life is a Highway Car Club, and The Run to the Hills Car Show are my heart’s work. My late husband, David Hud­son, put a lot of love into this show. I was just the sweep­stakes chairman for many years. After Dave went to heav­en, I wanted to help keep the show going. There is a scholar­ship given every year in Dave Hudson’s name. I am so proud of the Mountain Empire Mem­bers Club giving that honor to my husband,” she said.

The partnership with the Mountain Empire Members Club supports scholarships for Mountain Empire High School graduates.

“Everyone is so happy to be there and excited to see each other. The friendly smiles and camaraderie are so refreshing. That one day of the year in Pine Valley is just magical for me,” she said.

The show traces its roots to early community scholar­ship efforts.

“One of our original mem­bers, Pat Griffin, lived and worked in Pine Valley be­fore marrying her husband, George Griffin, and moving to El Cajon. She expressed the need for assistance with the high school scholarship program. I was not involved back then, so this is a bit of club history passed down. Our show has just grown from there to the amazing show it is today.”

“Every year, we hire a photographer for the par­ticipants and spectators be­cause Pine Valley makes ev­ery picture special. No mat­ter where you park, there is a magnificent pine tree or a beautiful country building as the backdrop. Historic Highway 80 was the original route from the mountains to get to Pine Valley, then Al­pine, and on to El Cajon,” she said.

On event day, Pine Valley fills with music, food, and displays.

“We have grown and cen­tralized the hub of the show right in front of The Moun­tain Market. We have added live music in the past couple of years. Once you have ex­perienced the show, you will come back year after year,” she said. “It’s a family envi­ronment, kids, dogs, joy, and friendship.”