Hot rods, vintage vehicles and other fancy cars will cruise Moab’s Main Street Saturday night after the April Action Car Show at Swanny City Park, which goes from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Car aficionados in Moab and from around the region will bring their valuable vehicles to town to raise money for a good cause, and in some cases will drive their cars in a “controlled environment” on Sunday, from Moab to Dead Horse Point State Park.
Support vehicles will be present during the Sunday drive to lend assistance if needed. That’s because some of these cars are old, said Joe Kingsley, who will be exhibiting his Excalibur Studebaker. Built in 1975, Kingsley’s car was patterned after a 1923 Mercedes like the one featured in the 1968 film “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang,” he said.
Purchasing the car on eBay was “one of the best investments I’ve ever made,” Kingsley said. “It goes up in value every year.”
Some vehicles entered in the car show may be worth $250,000, Kingsley said.
Sign-ups to enter the Saturday car show will take place Friday at the park. Most of the owners will be at the show hanging out with their cars, said John Fogg, a member of the Moab Rotary Club, the event’s sponsor.
“They love to talk about their cars,” he said.
On Friday there is a “Rod Run” where those who wish to participate will leave Moab at 10 a.m. to drive to Green River for a “mini-car show” on Main Street, with lunch at Ray’s Tavern.
While it’s free to come view the cars, the owners pay $25 online in advance, or $40 the weekend of the show, for the opportunity to show off their vehicles, compete for trophies and raise money for a good cause. It is the Rotary Club’s major fundraiser of the year and proceeds benefit the Moab Free Health Clinic.
“We gave the clinic $21,000 last year,” Fogg said.
The car show also raises money for scholarships for Grand County High School students, with preference given to those who choose to study at Utah State University-Moab, Kingsley said. The event raises significant sales taxes for the city, he added.
“One hundred percent of the revenue is given back to the community,” Kingsley said. “It’s a big event and an honor to be a part of it. It’s a fun day.”
While most of the 400 or so cars come from the Salt Lake City area, as well as a few from Colorado, there was one year in which every state in the union was represented, Kingsley said.
“We had a guy from Canada last year,” Fogg said. “A whole car club from California comes out every year.”
Winners of the Moab April Action Car Show will line up their cars Sunday at Swanny Park, where they will be presented with trophy awards for various categories, ranging from cars built in the 1900s to 2018.
Food vendors will be present Saturday, as well as vendors selling merchandise, including cleaning products for cars.
Organizers will begin setup at the park later than last year – 8 a.m. instead of 6 a.m. – in response to noise complaints from neighbors.
“The park was donated for these very reasons — to hold special activities for the enrichment of its citizens,” Fogg said.
“One hundred percent of the revenue is given back to the community.”
When: April 27, 28 and 29
Where: Swanny City Park, 400 N. 100 West
Cost: Free for spectators; $25 to enter a car; $40 weekend of show
Information: 435-260-1311; moabcarshow.org/contact/
