Five Familiar Faces Took a Splash at Simi Valley’s Biggest Car Show
(CLAIR | Simi Valley, CA) — Bill Klepper sat perched high on the seat. His signature cackle rang out, loudly across the crowd. The contestants lined up with balls in hand, some grinning, others serious, taking aim at the target. When one throw from a 12 year old smacked it square. Klepper plunged into the tank with a splash that sent water spilling over the sides. The crowd cheered and phones shot up immediately. After a moment or two, Klepper resurfaced, still cackling, dripping wet and pointing at the next kid in line.
The dunk tank was the busiest corner of Sunday’s Cops N’ Cruisers Car Show outside Simi Valley City Hall. Each time a ball hit the target and another familiar face went under, the laughter and applause rolled across the lot. Along with Klepper, Elaine Litster, Joseph Ayala, Justin Honsinger, and Anthony Angelini all climbed onto the seat and took their turn. It was lighthearted, a little ridiculous, and pure Simi Valley.
Sixteen Years Running
The car show started in 2009, when the Simi Valley Police Explorers needed to raise money for a trip to Washington, D.C. That first show did the job, and it has since grown into the Explorers’ main fundraiser. Now, sixteen years later, Cops N’ Cruisers is a city tradition.
The Explorers program gives teenagers and young adults hands-on experience in law enforcement. Members volunteer at city events, ride along with officers, and take part in training. The money raised at the show helps cover uniforms, activities, and trips that broaden their experience.
Rows of Cars and Shiny Chrome
The dunk tank may have stolen the show, but the cars were still the heart of the event. Rows of classics, hot rods, muscle cars, and trucks filled the lots at City Hall and the Library. Owners leaned against fenders or sat in folding chairs, ready to swap stories with anyone who stopped to look. Families walked slowly, pointing out favorites and taking pictures.
Food, Music, and Raffles
Food trucks lined the edge of the lot, serving tacos, burgers, and ice cream. A steady crowd drifted toward the booths, where raffle tickets and silent auction items helped raise more money for the Explorers. Local musicians, including Honsinger when he wasn’t in the dunk tank, kept a soundtrack running through the day.
More Than a Fundraiser
What lingered wasn’t the dollar amount or the shine of the cars. It was the sight of neighbors standing shoulder to shoulder, kids laughing near the dunk tank, neighbors eating together by the food trucks, and Explorers moving through the crowd in uniform.
As the afternoon wound down and cars began to roll out, the feeling that remained was familiar. Cops N’ Cruisers has grown into more than a fundraiser. It’s part car show, part block party, and part tradition that belongs to Simi Valley.
