MONTE VISTA – Monte Vista has seen its share of rain over the past few weeks, but on Saturday, Aug. 17, SoCo Suds and Sounds featuring the Poor Boy Car Club Car Show, and Valley Veterans ReCreation are the ones who brought the Thunder to Chapman Park, with over 3,000 attendees at the event this year, and 130 car show entries.
Since the event’s inception four years ago, it continues to outdo itself each year with larger attendance numbers and more and more classic cars.
People from all over the Valley, the state, and from New Mexico, all came to support the various festivities, live demonstrations, and the beautiful collection of cars, bikes, and motorcycles.
OptiMystics Citizens Action Network President Adam Lock was excited about the continued growth of the event, but also announced this would be the last year the OptiMystics would participate in the event.
“Another exciting and fun-filled event in the books,” said Lock. “This was our biggest event so far, drawing an estimated 3000 people to Chapman Park. Yet, for me it was also bittersweet, as this is the last time our group will be co-hosting SoCo Suds and Sounds.”
Lock said that Valley Veterans ReCreation and the Poor Boy Car Club would be taking it over.
“This event should only get even bigger and better though,” said Lock with a smile, adding that his favorite part of the festivities was seeing the community involvement. “Watching the performances of the groups such as MS. Kais and the different youth Cheerleaders, is not only heartwarming, but it aligns directly with our slogan of ‘Connecting people, Creating Community.’”
The festivities also drew the crowds in, with a multitude of vendors, multiple food and drink trucks, a cornhole tournament, and live demonstrations, including performances from Monte Vista’s mini-cheerleading squad, the Del Norte mini–Spirit Squad, and MS. Kais academy of performing arts club. Gabe Duran was the DJ for the day, and live bands also performed at the event.
Poor Boy Car Club President Richard Garcia was excited about the entries for the car show. For the past few years, Garcia has been wanting to break their record for the show and have more than 100 participants. This year they went way beyond that drawing 130 entries.
“I couldn’t believe it, I have really wanted to break this one hundred, and what a blessing to break it by so much more this year,” Garcia said. “We are truly blessed by all the entries, and participants, by the people, who have traveled near and far, that came together to bring about this car show. The reason we do this is for the people.”
Garcia, whose four daughters help him with the car show, said that his daughter Denise said it best when she said, “We are on such a high, from our car show with over 130 entries. Our car club wishes to thank all the drivers for coming out for such a good cause. We love to give back to our SLV community, a place we all love.”
The Poor Boy Car Club donates the proceeds from their car shows to people who are sick or terminally ill and need help with expenses. This year’s donations will take place after the final tallies are in from the car show.
DJ Salazar of Valley Veterans ReCreation spoke about his group’s involvement in the event and how excited he is about making it even bigger next year.
“Talk about a great weekend. Next year, we want to make this a two-day event, if we can. It was amazing to see the community out and enjoying such an event. We look forward to working with the Poor Boy Car Club and continuing to make this the premier car show and festival of the San Luis Valley,” he said.
Valley Veterans ReCreation is all about engaging Veterans and first-responders in outdoor recreation. The group has been hosting events in Monte Vista and the San Luis Valley for Veterans. The group had a big booth at the car show and spoke to many people about their group and wants to incorporate as many Veterans and first-responders as possible in next year’s car show.
This year the car show also gave out more awards than ever with the top 15 entries being recognized. The following individuals were chosen for top 15 in this order, Lori Sharp, Phyllis Pacheco, Art Garcia, Jasmine Vigil, James Randall, Michael Rue, the duo Monica and Luciano, Tommy Vigil, Kathi Wright, Keith Pepper, Kent Pepper, Larry Hoover, Emilio and Shannon Lujan, Floyd Vigil, and Ron and Bee Marx.
Best of Show went to Monte Vista’s Phinel Garcia. People and Kids Choice was Brad Atencio, and Ladies Choice was Joe Lopez.
Phinel Garcia was appreciative of the Best of Show award and said, “A special thanks to the Poor Boys Car Show and to all those who make this event possible. I am truly blessed and so honored to have won Best of Show with my Olds 442-W30, with more than 130 cars at this year’s show, the judges had some incredibly tough decisions. Again, I am truly honored and blessed and want to send my upmost gratitude to the Poor Boys Car Club and their continued success.”
