CENTER – One of the biggest car shows of the year will be cruising into Chapman Park on Saturday, Aug. 17.
This year’s car show, the 13th annual, is being organized by the Poor Boy Car Club. It will be part of the fourth annual SoCo Suds and Sounds in Monte Vista and will feature an exciting demonstration from Ms. KAIS Academy of Performing Arts, a live deejay, and live music from Absolution beginning at 4 p.m. Absolution will play until the show ends at 6 p.m.
“We’re pleased to be hosting the 4th annual SoCo Suds and Sounds event in conjunction with the Poor Boy Car Clubs 13th annual car show,” said OptiMystics Citizen Action Network President Adam Lock. “Additionally, we brought Valley Veterans Recreation on board this year as co-hosts. DJ Salazar and crew have been great to work with and we expect this event to continue to draw large crowds into Chapman Park.”
The OptiMystics have announced that this will be their final year hosting the event, and they will be passing the reins for the event exclusively to Valley Veterans Recreation.
“We really didn’t intend to be event organizers,” Lock said. “However, that’s what happened, and the Suds and Sounds event just took off, pulling an estimated 4,000 people last year. We don’t want to see the event just die off, so handing it off to VVR is a great thing. That way the OptiMystics can refocus more on the downtown revitalization side of our mission.”
The Monte Vista Parks and Recreation Department will also be holding a Cornhole Tournament. There will also be various vendors onsite and many food trucks.
Registration for the car show is from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and show and shine is from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., with awards being given at 4 p.m. Early registration before the show is $25, gate entry fee is $30, additional car entry fee is $5, motorcycles are $15, and bicycles are $10.
Richard Garcia, of Center, who is president of the Poor Boy Car Club, is looking forward to the event.
“This all started when we met the OptiMystics, and we realized that all of us had something in common. This year we are also collaborating with Valley Veterans Recreation to bring an even bigger and better event. We love hosting these events. We love to see the community engagement and involvement," Garcia said.
The Poor Boy Car Club has hosted many car shows and attends many car events to show off their spectacular cars. Garcia said that they try not to miss a chance to enter a car show.
"It's always something amazing to be a part of these car shows, and I love these events,” he said.
The Poor Boy Car Club also raises money to help people who are sick or fighting illness. Garcia said that the idea for raising money began when his nephew was diagnosed with cancer at a young age. The club raised some money to help his sister and nephew.
“We ended up having a car show in Sargent that year and raised quite a bit of money to give to my sister and to St. Jude. We did lose my nephew to cancer which left a big hole in our hearts. That is what made us realize we wanted to do raise money and give it to people in need. So, after that we just have always tried to do that. We have raised money and given it to people who have had illness due to cancer, or other sickness," he said.
This year, Garcia would like to break his record and have more than 100 entries for the car show. Garcia said they have been close to the century mark but have yet to reach it.
"I would really like to bring in 100 entries, cars, bicycles, trucks, all types of vehicles. We will be giving away more awards this year too. We want to make sure we come close to sending everyone who enters something to go home with,” Garcia said with a smile.
DJ Salazar of Valley Veterans Recreation is excited to collaborate with So Co Suds and Sounds and Garcia on the car show.
"When I was asked, I answered by saying I definitely want to do this. This is a great opportunity to bring people together. I want to make sure as many cars, trucks, bicycles, and all types of vehicles, come to the park and join in,” Salazar said.
Salazar said he is hoping to bring gearheads from everywhere to enjoy and participate in the show.
“I want to help make this show bigger and better than ever before,” he said.
For car show information or to register, contact Garcia at 719-580-2673.
There are still spaces open for vendors. Vendor registration deadline is Aug. 9. Visit optimystics.org, for a vendor application, or call 719-239-1811, for more information.
