Moab’s historic April Action Car Show is returning for its 28th show this year, after two years of postponing due to the pandemic. On April 30, car enthusiasts will gather in Swanny City Park to show their cars and maybe win a trophy.
The idea for the show started in 1991 when a group of local car enthusiasts started a car club called the “Moab Rod Benders.” The group held its first car show in 1992, which was meant to bring more tourism to Moab. In 2012, the show was adopted by the Moab Rotary Club. Since its inception, the show has only grown in popularity, according to Dave Bierschied, the president of the club.
“When it started 30 years ago, there wasn’t a lot going on,” he said. “It started just to bring more people into town.”
Moab doesn’t need the tourism boost now, Bierschied said, but the car show’s popularity extends beyond that. He’s expecting between 250 to 500 people to register their cars, he said, with a decent percentage of new participants. Most participants travel from around Utah, but in the past, there have been participants from Colorado, New Mexico, and Nevada. This year will look a little different due to COVID challenges—there won’t be any food vendors—but the purpose of the event, to show cars and to fundraise, remains the same.
“What I find the most satisfying about the event is the reaction we’re getting from the car owners,” he said. “They’re just happy we’re putting on an event.”
Moab’s car show has a much cheaper price tag than many in the region, Bierschied said—it’s $35 per car, and participants can register the day of. After expenses, the majority of the proceeds, and any donations gathered, support Moab nonprofits such as the Moab Free Health Clinic, Seekhaven Family Crisis and Resource Center, and the Moab Valley Multicultural Center; and go towards several Utah State University scholarships. The Rotary Club is aiming to raise $25,000 during the event, Bierschied said.
The event runs from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.; all cars are expected to be in the park by 11 a.m. and awards will be presented starting at 3 p.m. There are 13 award classes for the cars, including best muscle car, best truck, best hot rod/street rod, and best import. Attendees can expect to see modified and stock cars and motorcycles dating back to 1900; as well as car show classics like Camaros, Corvettes, and Mustangs. At the last show in 2019, “best of show” went to a 1934 Chevrolet Cabriolet, owned by Buzz Dopkin from Basalt, Colorado.
Spectator admission to the event is free.
