Group of Old Friends Plan Dan Bailey Car Show

By NICK YAMASHITA

The Progress

A group of Moapa Valley residents are planning an event to remember an old friend who is now departed. The Dan Bailey Memorial Car Show will be held on Saturday, June 12 from 7:30 am to 1:00 pm at the Old Logandale School, 3011 N Moapa Valley Blvd.

“This is just something we can do back to say ‘thank you’ to Dan for his constant service to us and to others,” said Tom Galbreath, who has been busy planning out the first Dan Bailey Memorial Car Show with approval and support from the Bailey family.

Dan Bailey passed away on December 2, 2020, after a battle with several illnesses, including cancer and COVID-19. But he had many friends in and outside of the Moapa Valley. And they all remember him fondly.

Galbreath is one those friends who was part of a group of classic car lovers. Dan Bailey was one of the most influential community members in Moapa Valley, having been part of the classic car scene. Bailey was also an active participant in the local community theater as an actor who entertained the community at every community theater performance.

“This is very kind of them!” said Lorraine Bailey, Dan’s widow. “It is amazing that they care so much of Dan. They are raising money from the show to pay for a headstone for Dan. I am a big crier and this definitely made me cry.”

The car show will be mainly a ‘for fun’ event, as Dan would have loved it that way. There won’t be a lot of big prizes so that more of the funds can go to the stated purpose, said Galbreath.

“There is only going to be one winner of a $200 Gift Certificate,” he said. “This is more of a charitable event than a competition.”

But the event will offer lots of raffle prizes for multiple donated items. These will include the grand prize of an AR-22 rifle. The grand raffle prize will only go to someone who can pass a background gun check.

The cost to enter this grand prize rifle will be $10 a ticket. All other raffle prize entries will be $1 per ticket.

“There are some really nice prizes and it will be well worth it to enter the raffles,” said Galbreath.

There will also be food vendors and other vendors present at the event. The entry fee for each car is only $5.00. The same price will be available for plate lunches with a drink. All proceeds will go to purchasing the headstone for Dan Bailey’s gravesite.

“This is a perfect way to keep the memory of Dan alive,” stated Galbreath. “Dan loved people, people loved him, and boy did he ever love cars!”

The plans are if everything goes well this year, Dan’s friends will continue the tradition of the Dan Bailey Memorial Car Show every year to benefit a family in need.
“Dan loved to help people,” said Lorraine Bailey. “No one was a stranger to him.”

Dan was born and raised in Southern California, mainly Pomona. He was a lover of cars since he was a little kid.

In 1974, he took a job as a draftsman for Reynolds Electric at the Nevada Test Site and he and Lorraine moved their growing family to Las Vegas.

That move led to a 30-year career in the Las Vegas construction industry, rising from project manager to Vice President at SteelWood Construction and Carson Construction, and President at Hardy Construction.

Dan Bailey moved to Moapa Valley in 2009, where he became “Captain Valiant” for the kids at church. Later on he was widely known as “Buffalo Bill” from a beloved community theater production Annie, Get Your Gun.

He was an intrepid and prominent member of the community. “He donated his time and effort to the theater,” said Lorraine Bailey. “He loved it! I am so overwhelmed that people care so much about him.”

The loves of his life will be present at the car show. Both his family and his cars will be present. The show’s highlights will include his 1956 purple Buick and his 1947 silver and maroon Pontiac.

For more information contact Tom Galbreath at (818) 429-9332.