UVU Auto Expo and Scholarship Fundraiser
The UVU Automotive department will hold its twenty-third annual UVU Auto Expo and Swap Meet scholarship fundraiser May 14-15. Friday will be the pre-show cruise-in and barbeque.
The pre-show cruise-in starts at 1 p.m. at Barber Brothers Motor Company in Spanish Fork with entertainment provided by JC Hackett from Real Oldies 1060 AM KDYL. At 5:30 p.m. the cruise to the UVU Automotive Compound will begin, for the barbeque at 7 p.m. The barbeque is hosted by Rib City and entertainment will be provided by American Idol finalist Carmen Rasmusen and live music from Plan B. Governor Gary Herbert will also be a special guest.
The Swap Meet will be at Thanksgiving Point’s Electric Park and starts at noon and goes until 5 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m. until 5 p.m. on Saturday. It is the largest automotive swap meet in Utah. The Auto Expo starts at 7 a.m. Saturday and ends at 5:30 p.m.
“We had close to 700-720 cars last year,” said Don Wilson, assistant professor in the Automotive department.
Some of the cars in the show are from students but most are local cars that have been restored. The auto expo also includes vehicles from local motorcycle and car clubs as well as private collectors.
“We had ticket sales of over 5,000 and many of those were family tickets,” said Wilson. “Now ticket sales doesn’t include all the people who brought their cars, because they get in because they brought their car, plus they were able to bring in another person for free. It does not include all the people who come to the swap meet, which don’t have to pay anything. So we probably have at least 10,000 people or more.”
During the Saturday show will be an auction, kid’s coloring contest, car registration, awards selection and awards ceremony. The auction will include a Chevy small-block high-performance engine, scooters, Rat Fink collector items, celebrity signed items and more.
There are more than 70 sponsors for this year’s Auto Expo ranging from local businesses to national auto parts stores and performance part manufacturers.
All proceeds from participant fees, admission fees, auction and swap meet will be donated for scholarships for the UVU automotive, diesel, collision repair and street rod technology programs. The Auto Expo has raised enough money to help six students in the last two years.
“This whole thing is put on for scholarships,” said Wilson. “So all the people who donate and sponsor it – all the proceeds go to scholarships. That’s why we have the show.”
“Types of cars: all years, from early ‘30s stuff all the way up through the years,” said Todd Low, assistant professor in the Automotive department.
“For each sponsor, that donates money, is given a sheet to go out and pick their car of choice,” said Wilson. “Whatever criteria they have they get to choose. They [the winners] win a plaque and a jacket.”