The Ramona AutoFest is returning on Oct. 15 and will feature hundreds of cars on Main Street between 6th and 8th streets from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
All makes, models and years of cars are welcome. Pre-registration is $30 to display a car and the event is free for spectators.
The first Ramona AutoFest was hosted in 2019 by car enthusiast and former Ramona resident “Charger Steve” Lordigyan. Lordigyan – also known as Charger Steve, named after his Dodge Charger from the Dukes of Hazzard show – said in the past he’s had a couple hundred cars come out to the event.
To accommodate this many cars, Main Street will be closed between 6th and 8th streets for the event. Lordigyan said he got the idea from seeing a photo of the Christmas tree lighting in Ramona when Main Street was closed. He noticed a few cars parked on the closed Main Street for the lighting and realized it would be an ideal way to host a car show.
“Closing a main thoroughfare of that capacity is extremely time consuming and expensive, it takes a lot of pencil pushing with the county, with CalTrans,” Lordigyan said. “It almost seems like too much work for what it’s worth.”
“But on show day, that’s when it’s all worth it. When you see the people there, you see the smiles, you see the kids and you see the merchants who are benefiting from all our hard work,” he said.
Hundreds of cars and even more spectators flood the closed area of Main Street in the 2021 AutoFest.
(Steve Lordigyan)
In the 2021 AutoFest, the closed section of the street was completely filled with cars and people walking between them.
Lordigyan said that last year’s AutoFest was also well attended, but it all depends on the weather. If it rains, not as many people will show up, he said.
Lordigyan has been hosting car shows for 25 years and said he’s seen changes in the legislation surrounding cars over the years to attempt to eliminate classic and gas powered cars. In addition to giving back to the community with funds raised from the event and bringing in business, Lordigyan sees the AutoFest as a way to send a message.
“It’s more than just a fun day of displaying your cars, but a statement that tells the general public that there are a lot of people who like these cars and restore these cars,” Lordigyan said.
For Lordigyan, cars and car shows became a niche. The cars, people and positive environment all appealed to him.
Not all cities share the same sentiment, Lordigyan said, where not only will he be by himself in organizing, but the city refuses to endorse the event.
However, Lordigyan found Ramona to be the opposite.
“There are a number of people in Ramona who really stepped up,” Lordigyan said. “Business owners, engineers, car people who have asked or lifted a finger to help.”
More information and pre-registration can be found at www.carshowcalifornia.com/upcoming-shows.
