Classic Car Hits the Streets

By Dawn Thiery, Special to the Independent

If you’ve ever dreamed of driving a car owned by Miss America, your wish could come true this summer. From now until August, KX 93.5, Laguna Beach’s only FM station, is raffling off a rare, cherry red 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass SX convertible. This hot rod was previously owned by Vonda Vandyke, the 1965 Miss America pageant winner and Laguna Beach resident. All proceeds will fund the member-supported radio station, which is already shaking up the local music scene with its eclectic format.

Founder, program director and morning show host Tyler Russell will be visiting locations around town and throughout Orange County this summer, including appearances at Laguna Beach Classic Cars, Rudy’s in Newport Beach, and Blondie’s Long Beach Car Show. The raffle extends until Aug. 10, when the winner will be announced on the air. This piece of automotive history drives like new and has only 56,000 miles. Laguna Beach Classic Cars has lovingly maintained and housed this classic beauty since the early 1970s. The classic car raffle is sponsored by Laguna Classic Cars.

Listeners will have the chance to win this vehicle for the price of a raffle ticket: $45 for members of the station, $50 for non-members. A bundle of 12 tickets costs $500. All ticket purchases are tax-deductible. “As a non-profit radio station, we’re always looking for creative ways to fundraise. We hope the prospect of winning this sexy car will help us support local music and arts,” said Russell.

Due to Laguna’s hilly topography, KX 93.5 is the only radio station in town. Most other stations can’t be tuned in. Russell launched the station last year after spending a few years working as an on-air personality at Los Angeles stations K-EARTH 101, KIIS FM, and Palm Springs’ 93.7 KCLB. Frustrated by the constraints of working in commercial radio, Russell found a niche in Laguna, and it has already generated a buzz within a city with a history of supporting the arts.

The station’s “generational alt-rock” format, selected by KX 93.5’s music director and afternoon show host, Marc “Mookie” Kaczor, provides listeners of all age groups with an aural snapshot of alternative tunes from the 1960s until today. The station also showcases live local talent every week at the Wine Gallery, benefit gigs at the Cliff Restaurant, and plans a larger concert in November at the Irvine Bowl.

For more details about the chance to win the 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass SX convertible, visit http://www.kx935.com/raffle.