Photos by Marie Mccolm Phinel Garcia’s black and white Oldsmobile 442-W30 earned Best of Show at the Poor Boys Car Club Car Show on Aug. 19 in Chapman Park. The show was part of the third annual SoCo Suds and Sounds. Nearly 100 entries were spread out on the lawn of Chapman Park at the Poor Boy Car Club Car Show on Saturday. More than 4,000 people took in the sights and sounds of the third annual SoCo Suds and Sounds and Poor Boy Car Club Car Show on Saturday in Monte Vista.

Over 4,000 attend SoCo Suds and Sounds and car show

MONTE VISTA — More than 4,000 people took in the sights and sounds of the SoCo Suds and Sounds and Poor Boy Car Club Car Show on Saturday, Aug. 19, at Chapman Park in Monte Vista.

Ninety-two classic vehicles, custom bicycles, and motorcycles were entered into the car show.  

The OptiMystics Citizens Action Network and the Poor Boy Car Club hosted the third annual SoCo Suds and Sounds and the Poor Boy Car Club Show.

People walked all over Chapman Park enjoying everything that the event had to offer. Forty-three vendors were set up selling lowrider clothing, jewelry, homemade crafts, tasty treats, perfume, lotion, soap, and much more. This being an election year, people were set up requesting signatures for the upcoming elections.

Swordfighters were in the middle of the park, doing various demonstrations throughout the day. There were two bouncy houses for the kids and children were seen laughing and screaming and enjoying them.

Gabe Duran was the DJ for the day. The Monte Vista Mini Cheerleaders performed. Academy of Performing Arts students also performed at the show and wowed the crowd with their dancing.

The Tacos Martinez Food Truck was set up along with the Suavecito Grill and there were big lines of people in front of both trucks.

Three live bands performed at the event, including Ruben Dominguez of the Sol Boys, the group Absolution, and Ol’ Scratch. They kept the crowd rocking and cheering right after the car show awards were given out. Patrick Ortiz of SLVGO won the Air Guitar Contest.

Richard Garcia, founder and manager of the Poor Boy Car Club, spoke at the event and handed out the awards. The first trophy was given to Luciano Fernandez and his bicycle entry.

Best of Show went to Phinel Garcia.

“The Poor Boys Car Show was amazing, and Monte Vista is a beautiful place to have this event,” Phinel Garcia said. “I have been blessed and I was very excited to win Best of Show with the Oldsmobile 442-W30 car. It brings me great joy to show my vehicles and visit with all the great people at the event. Thanks to the Poor Boys and all the wonderful people who put this event on, and thanks for picking the Oldsmobile 442-W30 car as the Best of Show.”

First place in the Motorcycle category went to James Sanchez. In the Rat Rod Category, Tobias Archuleta took first. The Lowrider category was won by Abraham Romero. In Progress went to Don Sisneros. The top in the Truck category was Lori Sharp.  A full list of awards will be available on the Poor Boy Facebook Page and Optimystics website.  

Richard Garcia also gave out a beautiful picture to Emilio Lujan’s daughter, Shannon. He always won the Early Bird award. The picture was signed in his memory. This year it was decided that in years to come the Early Bird Trophy would be renamed the Emilio Lujan Early Bird Trophy.

Richard Garcia said he was proud of the car show and even though he did not reach 100 cars this year he was so proud of the community and all the people who attended the show.

“To see everyone come together for this event was so inspiring,” Richard Garcia said. “We enjoy doing this to see the sense of community every year. The OptiMystics are a great group, and we enjoy collaborating with them. We also love giving back to the community to people who are in need. We received a good amount of money this year, and we are looking forward to giving it out this year.”

Richard Garcia thanked his family and the OptiMystics.

“We would love to keep doing this, we hope we can. Through God, he makes all things possible. Thank you to everyone who comes out to the event, and to everyone who supports this, and drives from everywhere to be here. The community does this together and as long as people keep coming, we will keep doing this,” he said.

OptiMysitcs president Adam Lock said, “At every event we host, something truly special about the day catches your attention. This year it was the sense of creating community. Watching hundreds of beaming faces, cameras on while the locals performed, and cheering crowds was inspiring. You will definitely see more of this positive engagement in the future. Our non-profit is thankful to everyone involved, the Poor Boy Car Club, Richard Garcia, all his crew, the sponsors, the vendors, performers, volunteers, attendees. Together we bring community-minded endeavors to life.”