By Mike Donahue
Moapa Valley Progress
In what one patron described as a “wonderful example of community unity,” Moapa Valley residents turned out in force last Saturday to enjoy the 12th Annual Fall Festival Car and Motorcycle show in Overton Park put on by the Moapa Valley Chamber of Commerce.
The crowd ranged in age from tots to grandparents, most of whom oohed and aahed next to one another over the many examples of automotive finery at the show including a new Shelby GT, a 30-year-old Volkswagen van, an 80-year-old roadster and more. In what is expected to be one of the last pleasant end-of-summer weekends this year, the crowd seemed to enjoy every car, every truck, every entry, no matter how old or how young.
There were 125 car show entrants competing in 31 categories including top stocks, T Bucket, Young Rods, street rods and custom cars among others, according to Russ Babb, one of the organizers for the local show. More than 50 were awarded, most of them picked by judges Ken Schmitt and Carl Striegel who drove up from Las Vegas.
“In these economic conditions it was really great that we had 10 more entrants this year than last,” Babb said. “We really didn’t expect that kind of turnout.”
Those who won best of show for the entries were Tina White for her Yamaha motorcycle; Larry and Sandy Taylor for their 1957 Chevy Truck, and Bruce Bourgoin for his 1955 Chevy Bel Air, Babb said. All were presented trophies by LV Roadsters.
Maggie Nicllglop won for best teen entry with her 2007 Mustang and Metro Sgt. Bret Empey won the trophy in the best open header contest for his race car, Babb said.
Babb and Robin Twelker, both of Logandale, and Jerry Mathews from Overton, coordinated this year’s event which attracted participants and spectators from states all over the west including Nevada, Utah, Arizona, California and more.
“This is the type of event we love to see in Moapa Valley and we’d like to see more of them,” Twelker said.
Jimmy Babb of Reno was a new announcer this year and did an excellent job keeping the program moving.
Jimmy was also part of the entertainment when he joined his brother Tommy Babb, also of Reno, Jason Hamm, of Overton, Benny Lienhard of Logandale and Molly Wineland of California, to perform music for the show.
A variety of booths catered to spectators who could purchase everything from barbeque at the Great Basin Cooking Company, to coffee from Pony Expresso, to hats and t-shirts from “2-2 Wear,” a motorcycle apparel shop. There were also Tupperware goods, bath and soap products and arts and crafts goods available.
Car show sponsors included Lin’s Market; Napa Auto Parts; Tru-Value Home Hardware; two Farmer’s Insurance offices including Karen Alsum’s and Michael Qualheim’s; Graph X office supplies, signs and banners; Po Boy Creations, a local car repair and restoration shop; LV Roadsters; Sugar’s Restaurant; Valley Leavitt Insurance; Virgin Valley Home Care and Hospice, and La Belle Maison.
