Last month we visited Yuma, Arizona for the 1st Annual Old School Sand Cars Show. Promoter Josh Dawley put together this small collective of history from his passion for the sand and sand sports. Many of you probably follow his Instagram page @oldschoolsandcars. If you aren’t, you’re missing out. @oldschoolsandcars has exploded in popularity in a very short time. It now has over 50,000 followers looking for Josh’s daily postings of sand culture across the decades.
Taking that all of that hunger for the hay days, the Old School Sand Car Show was born. Limited to just 100 vehicles for year one (which easily could have been doubled with how much interest the show had), it kicked off October 17th at the Yuma Mounted Posse Grounds.
The grounds were filled with stories of old timers and newcomers alike in machines that have been often forgotten as those that ruled the dunes and the lakebed strips of yesteryear.
A walk around would net you looks of cars and bikes built by the legends of the game. Mazzone Sandcars, Frame Works, J&J, Sandrail Mfg. Co., Nicholson, Alumi Craft, Funco, Charlie Starns, and Sand Cars Unlimited were just a few of the builders who’s amazing works of art were present.
The show kicked off the only it should have: the National Anthem followed by a cackle fest led by a few of the blower cars present. After the sound of supercharged hemis and turbocharged VWs subsided, the grounds were open to admire the cars and bikes present and to of course talk shop.
An entire row of early Honda ATCs, Fourtraxs, Quadzillas, and Loko ATCs showcased what many people fondly remember as their entry into the dunes. Tons of buggies surrounded the compound showcasing the talents of all the previously listed builders as well some custom one-off machines.
The blower cars that started the cackle fest (Paul Graham’s “The Excavator”, Tristan Graham’s “Whiskey Business”, and Jim Hammond’s “April’s Dream”) had their own blower barn on the North end of the grounds.
Front and center was the crown jewel of the show as far as we’re concerned. The legendary “Cubic Bucks”, originally a Starn’s built machine gunning for the record books. Now beautifully restored by Jordan Quintal III and his father to better than new condition. Every frame rail adorned with pinstripes, every bit of chrome polished to a mirror finish, the turbocharged Nissan GTP Elctramotive V6 humming in a dangerous frenzy. This car looked every bit of fast that it is.
Cubic Bucks and many other cars ushered a feeling of revival for what sand sports used to be, a feeling that won’t quickly fade. Josh already has the sequel booked. “Next year is already in the works, and it will be held at the Yuma County Fairgrounds in Yuma, Arizona on Saturday October 16th 2021. I’m bringin’ “The Show” back to its roots and will include a large section for an off-road swap meet” he said. “[The] 1st annual @oldschoolsandcars show was a hit and shout out to everyone that made it out, car owners, vendors and spectators alike, THANK YOU. And another BIG thanks to my crew that worked their butts off, we could not do it with out you”
We can’t wait to see what the future holds for Old School Sand Cars and of course congratulate everyone that helped make year one such a success. Josh Dawley wrapped it up best stating his excitement about next year “But until then, see you in the dunes.”
