Organizers hope to follow up successful inaugural show with bigger crowd, more cars
The goal of the inaugural Triple Crown Charity Car Show — held in September last year at the Dennis A. Wicker Civic Center — was simple: Build on Sanford’s growing car culture by offering an annual event that both celebrates that community and gives back to it.
Despite the day being partly marred by severe thunderstorms, organizers of the show — who modeled the concept after the highly popular Cars & Coffee events in Morrisville — called the first event a huge success. In addition to the dozens of rarities and exotics on display, Triple Crown drew more than 150 vehicles for judging and raised more than $13,000 split between the Christian United Outreach Center in Lee County, Central Carolina Community College’s Automotive Restoration program and the Lee County Education Foundation.
According to co-organizer Jonathon Nowell, this year’s show — slated for 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 (again at the Civic Center). Admission to see the hundreds of outdoor vehicles on display is free, and it’s $5 to visit inside auditorium area to see the 31 “selects” on display, which this year will include a 1971 Camaro with a procharger, a twin turbo-charged 1971 Ford F100 (winner of a SEMA award), Lamborghinis, a Cobra, rare Porches and more.
“We did the math again, and of the 31 cars in the building, the total worth is roughly $15 million,” Nowell said. “And the selects we’ll have just outside of the building are some of the nicest builds in our area. It’s going to be a great display.”
If the weather is improved this year — and much-too-early forecasts that weekend call for sunny and 75 degrees — Nowell said organizers are hoping for as many as 400 cars on the lot, with owners having the opportunity to opt in for judging. New this year, he said, will be more games and prizes for kids in attendance — CCCC will bring its 80-foot-long CO2 cartridge derby racing track, and small model car kits will be available. More intricate model cars and Lego models will be on display inside the lobby of the Civic Center, outside of the “selects” auditorium.
Another new feature — an outdoor tractor show with roughly 15 to 20 entries.
Nowell said the goal this year is to build on last year’s success and continue to build the community and event and make it a destination for car-lovers.
“We’re always amazed at how far people will drive to come to Sanford and talk about cars,” he said, referring to the monthly Cruise’N events at Camelback Brewing and the now annual Triple Crown show. “It’s definitely a tight community, and it’s growing.”
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The second annual Triple Crown Charity Car Show — presented by B&R Hauling of Sanford — will run from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Oct. 12 at the Civic Center and will feature 31 “select” models indoors (admission is $5), 30 outdoor select models, an open judged car show featuring hundreds of entries, events for children and adults, door prizes, food trucks, a live DJ, a tractor show and more. Learn more by visiting the event’s page on Facebook.
Yeah, with the Democrats doing a fine job with OUR money, who can afford one of these cars? And we have better things to do, right now, like help Western North Carolina, since the government doesn’t seem to want to help true Americans.
Were you always this ignorant, or is it a recent development?
I’m a fan..Got a ride when I was younger in a true Shelby Cobra with a high torque, high horsepower 289 cubic inch in it..Outstanding performnace with incredibly low gas mileage at 2 miles per gallon..Always wish I had purchased one when they were affordable..(never happen now at todays prices) –
On the other hand, when the gas crisis had more than doubled gas prices, I did have the common sense to buy a 1970 GTX with a 426 Hemi and double 4 barrel carbs, with automatic transmission on the floor (it was a special order dark green with dark brown interior)..It claimed 425 horsepower, but dyno test at 560 horsepower, after 40,000 miles on it..Then again, that monster got a horrible 1 1/2 miles per gallon if you put your foot in it even a tad bit (whew!) Gas went from 13.9 per gallon, to 33.9 for regular (car used 105 octane premium at a cost of 44.9 per gallon) ..Dealership sold me that gas hog for 45% off original asking in 1972, just to get rid of it..Kept it for 7 years and if I told anyone what I sold it for, they would call me a liar..Compared to these days value, wish I had kept it until this year….Saw one on Mecum and Barret Jackson, sell for over a million dollars…Those were common colors, not special oder ones..