A good ride
Gear Heads Car Truck and Bike Show marks 10th anniversary
Ten years ago, Jerry Bunte decided to start a car show to garner funds for a local nonprofit organization that helps men overcome alcohol and drug abuse.
Now, the Gear Heads Car, Truck and Bike show is celebrating its 10th year and is scheduled to take place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at the Yuma County Fairgrounds, 2520 E. 32nd St. The cost of admission for spectators is $5.
The show features classic cars, race cars, lowriders as well as vehicles in many other categories. Every year, the show attracts hundreds of exhibitors of cars, trucks, and bikes from different areas of the United States.
“We have the most diverse categories,” Bunte said. “You will see a little bit of everything.”
The show will also feature a lowrider car hop in the “Gear Heads” pit.
“Some of them will be jumping the front part of their car up six feet,” Bunte explained.
At 2 p.m., Bunte said, a drag car event will also take place. Bunte, who is the event founder and who operates Living Free Recovery Ranch in Yuma, recalls the car show’s humble beginnings.
“It started out small of course,” he said. “I started it as a fundraiser for Living Free Recovery Ranch. We started at Paul Bensel Jewelers on 4th Avenue, believe it or not, 10 years ago and moved to First Christian Church campus. Then, we just grew to where we needed a bigger venue and we ended up at the fairgrounds, where I think we’ve been for about five years.”
Now, the event attracts thousands of spectators and is one of the largest indoor/outdoor car shows in Yuma, he noted. The majority of the proceeds from the event, he added, still go to Living Free Recovery Ranch, though Bunte said he hopes to branch out to other charities in the future.
The recovery program was founded in 2008 and is a Christian drug and alcohol recovery program, according to the organization’s Facebook page. It began in a neighborhood model halfway house setting before becoming a full recovery ranch for the men.
The program utilizes “Christ-centered teachings” as well as a 12-step program and various other teaching tools. The Gear Heads car show serves as one of the largest fundraisers for Living Free.
“I really want to thank Yuma, from the sponsors to the participants to the bands-they really are the show,” he said. “The community has really supported the show and we are looking forward to another 10 years. We are grateful for the people of Yuma because they really are the ones that have come out over the last decade and made this a staple event.”
Along with a variety of cars, the event will feature a kids zone, vendors and live performances by bands Upperroom and Chico Riffs. Food will also be available for purchase.
For information about entering a vehicle in the show or other questions, call Bunte at (928) 271-3398.
The event also has a Facebook page, www. facebook.com/GearHeads-MotorsportsFestival-689468591161960/.