Lowrider car show with classic custom vehicles lined up outside Chief Sealth International High School in Seattle, with attendees walking past.
Members of car club Eazy Duz It admire their vehicles on display at Chief Sealth International High School's Automotive Association's first-ever car show on June 14, 2025.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)

Cars, Food, Music, and Culture Come Together in West Seattle for a Student-Organized Car Show

Chief Sealth International High School's Automotive Association rolls into summer break in style.
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3 min read

To celebrate the end of the school year and the start of summer break, Chief Sealth International High School's Automotive Association held its first-ever car show on June 14. From 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., students, alumni, community members, and local car clubs like Eazy Duz It and Team SRT from Washington and Alaska admired the array of tuned-up cars inside the parking lot of the high school.

The car clubs brought their decked-out vehicles like Chevy Impalas from the 1960s and 1970s to Dodge SRT Hellcats that rumbled the ground when their engines fired up.

"I know a lot of people at my school that are into cars, but there wasn't a place for us to come together. So, that was my opportunity to create a space where people who love cars can all collectively talk about our automotives. It builds culture and community," said Richie Nguyen, the student president of the Automotive Association.

Students celebrate at a school car show registration table, proudly holding car-themed trophies.
Chief Sealth Automotive Association Vice President Jonah Klump (left), member Jonathan Nguyen (center), and President Richie Nguyen (right) hold up 3D-printed trophies that they made to give away during the club's first-ever car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Custom Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS lowrider with red and black paint, gold detailing, and red-accented rims on display at an outdoor Seattle-area car show.
A 1985 Monte Carlo SS at the car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Lineup of custom vehicles including Dodge Chargers and Jeep Grand Cherokees at a Seattle-area car show, with an attendee photographing the display.
A car lover stops to admire the Hellcats. Dodge's SRT Hellcat series is a muscle car like the Challenger or Charger.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Community car show at a high school parking lot with rows of classic lowriders, muscle cars, and custom vehicles.
The parking lot of Chief Sealth International High School during the Chief Sealth Automotive Association's first-ever car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)

In addition to cars, students had invited vendors and organizations to table, like Mari Matcha, Port of Seattle, Asian Pacific Islander Coalition Advocating Together for Health (APICAT), and Sap Sap Lao Deli & Cafe. The school's very own Movimiento Estudiantil Chicano/Latino de Azlan club (MechLA) served up spicy and sweet chamoy gushers, different flavors of agua de fresca like jamaica (hibiscus), and chicharron to the crowd. There were also musical performances from the Chief Sealth marching band, jazz trio, rock band Opus, and Star dance group.

"My goal is to connect communities together," Nguyen said. "So this isn't just focusing on the cars, but it's a place for people of different backgrounds to come together and geek out over car culture, food, good music, and just vibing."

Jonah Klump, vice president of the Automotive Association, felt the same way. "I've always loved cars since I was really young. I was really excited to see the community that would come to support us. Our community is being brought closer together. I see so many people here that wouldn't normally interact with each other, all hanging out."

Eight students pose at an outdoor school event behind a table of snacks, drinks, and condiments.
Club members from Chief Sealth International High School's Moviemiento Estudiantil Chicano/Latino de Azlan club (MechLA) serving snacks and beverages during the car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Students perform a choreographed dance with raised arms outside Chief Sealth International High School.
Chief Sealth International High School's dance group Star performing at the car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Student rock band plays a high-energy set with guitar, bass, and drums during a live outdoor performance at Chief Sealth International High School.
The Chief Sealth International High School rock band Opus.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Two individuals wearing matching light-blue CSAA shirts stand together smiling on a sunny school campus.
The faculty advisor for Chief Sealth International High School's Automotive Association, Sophath Keith (left), with the club president, Richie Nguyen (right), during the car show.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)

Madeleine Woodard, a Chief Sealth alum and current multilingual coteacher there, attended to support her students and was just as impressed by the reach of the car show. "Events like this show that we can come together. We can do amazing things that are exciting, fun, and beautiful."

In the face of uncertainty for immigrant communities, the show brought together Khmer, Vietnamese, Lao, Latinx, and Black community members of all ages to share a celebrated love of car culture, connection, and a moment of respite.

Custom-painted vintage Chevrolet Impalas and lowriders with hydraulic suspensions displayed at a Seattle-area car show.
A lineup of cars from members of car club Eazy Duz It.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
Custom lowrider engine with chrome and purple components showcased at a Seattle car show, featuring detailed airbrushing and polished parts under an open hood.
The engine of a 1970s Chevy Impala, courtesy of Eazy Duz It member Jeff.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)
An art table displays a hand-painted sign reading “Stop Separating Families.”
A protest message left behind by an attendee at one of the show's art tables.(Photo: Jenn Ngeth)

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