The sound of revving engines in the morning is a clear sign that the 39th annual Mountain Mania car show is back in town. From 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. today, July 8, Main Street will be lined with all manner of classic, unique, and eye-catching vehicles for visitors to admire. A small stage is set up for live music and various booths dot the street.
The cars began checking in at 7:00 a.m. The show itself began at 9:00 a.m. with a sizeable crowd already filling the sidewalks to admire the cars. From 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. the Maynard Mills Blues Band will perform live music.
At 1:00 p.m. there will be a car wrapping demonstration, leading up to the awards presentation for the winners of the show at 2:00 p.m. The show itself will come to an end at 3:00 p.m. so be sure to head over before then if you want to check out the various entries this year.
In 1983, the Arkansas Valley Car Club started this car show on East Main Street. The annual tradition continues today thanks to the Buena Vista Optimist Club. The show is sponsored by a variety of local businesses and organizations, including Souled Out T-Shirts, Wash Lab, Ridgeline Signs, Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, Miller Welding & Fab, Timberline Motorsports, McNeil Motor Cars, Chaffee County Search and Rescue, Riverside Trophies, and Arrowhead Water.
This is one of two re-creations of the 1959 BoCar XP-5 race care that were built by Dough Karon. Photo by Carly Winchell
One entry is the 1959 BoCar re-creation. Bocar Manufacturing of Lakewood, Colorado was founded by Bob Carnes. Carnes offered fiberglass roadsters from 1958 to 1962. Around 15 to 18 of these BoCars were produced until a mysterious fire destroyed the shop. The BoCar in today’s show is one of only two re-creations of the 1959 BoCar XP-5 using molds from the original’s body.
Buena Vista Optimist Club
According to Mountain Mania Car Show website, the Optimist Club seeks to encourage young people with a positive outlook on life, promote interest in good government and civic affairs, inspire a respect for law, advocate good health and a drug-free environment, reward youth who are successful in school, believe in young people and empower them to be the best they can be, and live out the Optimist Creed. The Mountain Mania Car Show is a program of the Club that benefits Buena Vista kids.
Featured image: A classic car makes its way down Main Street to claim its spot for the Mountain Mania Car Show. Photo by Carly Winchell
Thanks to AVV and reporter Carly Winchell for the great Coverage of Buena Vista’s Mountain Mania Car Show!
Speaking as an original member of the Arkansas Valley Car Club and a long-time attendee and commercial sponsor. the original show was held behind K’s Dairy Delight located at 223 South Highway 24.
The originator of the show was Marjorie Miller, whose family operated Miller Auto Parts, which was the local Napa store at the time.
The original show attracted about 25 local entries. My business, Buena Vista Auto Clinic, provided photography services for those wanting to take home full-sized pictures of their vehicles.
I’m guessing that this year’s Mountain Mania set an all-time attendance record for the show.
Gary E. Goms, Former member, Arkansas Valley Car Club