SWFL Fall Nationals Car Show set for Dec. 7
It’s that time of year again when hundreds of cars gather at jetBlue Park for the annual SWFL Fall Nationals Car Show.
This year the show will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 7, at JetBlue Park in Fort Myers. General admission tickets are $10 and free for children 12 and under and active military.
RP Charities Inc. Partner Ron Maglothin said approximately 14 years ago he volunteered to help the West Coast Muscle Car Club out of Naples start a car show.
“It grew from there and it got so big that we branched off,” he said of he and his partner, Wayne Wilmoth. “We decided to go on our own and do this. We changed it to SWFL Nationals, which is the largest car show in Southwest Florida. We have been raising funds for local charities. We have given over $21,000 to Salvation Army.”
This year the proceeds from the event will benefit the United Cerebral Palsy. Maglothin said all of the money will stay local.
“If the weather is good we get 300 to 500 show cars. Depending on the weather we get at least 3,000 spectators,” he said.
The show is open to anything from Model T cars all the way to brand new cars that represents power like a Corvette or Mustang.
“We mostly get classic hot rods and muscle cars in the late ’60s to early ’70s,” Maglothin said. “There is a lot of talk out there right now with the movie coming out, Ford v Ferrari. We will have two Ford GT 40s at the show. A 2018 and an older one in the ’70s.”
The show will also feature plenty of food, a DJ and 50/50 raffles with prizes.
“It’s a whole family event. Make sure to bring cameras and the kids. Some of the car show people let kids sit in the car to take pictures,” he said, adding to make sure to ask the owner first.
Pre-registration for those who would like to enter their car in the show is $20 and ends Nov. 30. Registration can be done all the way up to the day of the event for $30. Elite parking on the asphalt is $50.
There are special trophies for the winners.
“We make our own trophies and they are geared towards automotive parts,” Maglothin said. “They are handmade.”
JetBlue Park, is at 11500 Fenway South Dr.
For more information, visit www.rpcharities.com.