By Vernon Robison
Moapa Valley Progress
Valley of Fire State Park held its third annual Spring Classic Car Show on Saturday, April 21. About 14 classic car entries lined up at the lower parking lot of the Park Visitors Center starting at around 10:00 a.m.
“We started the event a couple of years ago as part of the Park’s 75th anniversary celebration,” said Park Ranger Amber Heman who coordinates the event. “It went so well, we decided to do it every year.”
Car owners came from around the region to exhibit their classics in the show. This included cars from Las Vegas, Mesquite and St. George.
About half of the cars were brought by members of the local chapter of Cactus Cruisers club which covers both Moapa Valley and Virgin Valley.
Cactus Cruisers Norman and Sharon Swartz of Mesquite brought a blue 1953 Plymouth which had an interesting story. The car had belonged to their now-50 year-old son when he was in high school. At the time the family lived in Thousand Oaks, California.
“When my son had it, that car was usually travelling through the canyon, with surfboards on the top, on its way to the beach,” said Norman Swartz.
A couple of years ago, Norman decided to restore the old car. He gave it a complete overhaul including chassis, suspension, engine, interior and body work.
“I’m about finished with it and I think I’m going to give it back to my son for old time’s sake,” he said.
With record high temperatures in the area, car exhibitors sought the comfort of the shade under awnings. Boy Scout troop 17 from Las Vegas were on hand to grill up burgers and serve drinks to attendees. They also provided shuttle service to the additional parking areas established for the event.
Nine trophies were awarded in various categories. Under the Viewer’s Choice category the winners were: 1st-Doug Rainmaker 57 Chevy 150; 2nd-Ray Nelson 55 Chevy; 3rd-Dennis and Diane West 56 Ford F250. In the Participant’s Choice category the winners were: 1st-James Dixon 32 Ford; 2nd-Leroy Sekinger 51 Chevy Coupe; 3rd- Eddie Freitas 32 Ford 3 Window Coupe. The final category was left to the Boy Scouts of Troop 17 to decide. In that category the winners were: 1st-Maggie Nickoles 78 Volkswagen Convertible; 2nd-Larry Plumhof 56 Chevy Bel-air; 3rd-John Teas 74 Plymouth Roadrunner.
Awards and raffle prizes were donated by Pink Jeep, Adventure Glide, Vegas Strip Weddings, Graceland Wedding Chapel, Vegas Weddings and Maverick Aviation Group.
