Drag and Drop Website BuilderWe've gathered a list of questions asked and listed them here...
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Q: I've heard there will be no class parking at the show for 2024? What does that mean?
A: What that means is, the car show will have three groupings: Mustangs, Trucks/Broncos/SUV, and All Others. When you enter, you will be sent to the parking area for one of the groupings, then you will park "first-in" style. If you want to park with car club members or friends, you will be able to do so, as long as you are in the same grouping and you come in together. There are no reserved spaces.
Q: Will there be drag racing at the show?
A: Yes. DRAG RACING WILL BE A PART OF FABULOUS FORDS! We are excited to have this return as a part of our show! It was very popular last year and there was plenty of racing!
Q: When do the gates open for show cars to enter?
A: The gates will open at 7:00am for vehicles entered in the show and will close promptly at 9:30am
Q: Will there be day-of-show registration?
A: Unfortunately, no. The show usually sells out well in advance of the deadline, so please register early!
Q: How much does it cost to register for the Car Show?
A: Registration is $45 per vehicle.
Q: How much does it cost to register for Drag Racing?
A: Registration is $65 per vehicle if you are NOT bringing a trailer. If you ARE bringing a trailor, then registration will be $85. Your vehicle will also need to be inspected by the track safety team to ensure it meets the safety requirements of Irwindale Speedway. Your entry is for your vehicle and driver ONLY. Any additional members of your team will be considered Spectators and are subject to the $20 Spectator charge.
Q: Can I enter both the Car Show AND Drag Racing?
A: No. You must choose either the Car Show OR Drag Racing. You cannot do both.
Q: I have entered my vehicle for the Drag Racing. Where do I enter at?
A: Anyone who enters their vehicle for Drag Racing will enter at the East Gate, which is just east from the main entrance.
Q: Is there any charge for spectators?
A: Yes. Adults 13 and over will be $20 to enter, Children 12 and under are FREE.
Q: Why the change for spectators?
A: That's a tough one. Due to the change in venue, this was something completely unavoidable, not to mention that other shows of this size also charge for spectator entry. It was an extremely difficult choice for us to make.
Q: Do all of the cars in the Car Show Area have to stay in place until 3:00?
A: Yes. This is both for the safety of the general public and for the vehicle entered. There are NO LINEUPS to leave early. We also strongly discourage people from revving their engines during the show.
Q: Will vehicles in the Car Show be allowed to put up any pop-up tents, canopies, or umbrellas?
A: No, they may not. This is due to safety and liability issues that may arise. There have been many instances in the past where one of these items have toppled and caused damage to a display vehicle. We do, however, allow hand-held umbrellas. If the weather is sunny and hot, we advise anyone attending to plan accordingly.
Q: Can I bring my dog to the show?
A: While we love our four-legged friends, Irwindale Speedway has a very strict policy prohibiting pets on the premises, however they do allow service animals (note: service animals are not the same as "comfort" or emotional support animals). Please be mindful of the weather on the day of the show. Remember, their paws burn quickly on hot pavement. Please be considerate of your pets.
Q: Can we film the show using a drone?
A: No. Irwindale Speedway has a very strict policy regarding the use of drones on their property. You can take as many pictures and video as you like with your traditional cameras.
Q: Will I be able to park together with my car club?
A: If you wish to park with your friends or car club, we recommend that you get in line as a group and enter the show together. As long as you have the same type of vehicle, you will be able to park together. There are NO reserved spaces.
Q: Can I tow my car into the Car Show area?
A: No. We will not have any additional space available to accommodate a tow vehicle. Note: this is different than towing your car in and off-loading it, then driving (or pushing it) into the Car Show area. We will have a designated area for off-loading.
Q: Where can spectators park?
A: Spectators can park at Irwindale Speedway, in the parking lots available. The attendants will direct you to the spectator parking area.
Q: Will you have parking for vehicle tow trailers?
A: Yes. There will be plenty of parking for those participants who wish to tow their vehicles to the show. As a reminder, NO TOW VEHICLES are allowed in the Show Area.
Q: How soon can registered show vehicles get in line?
A: Many of our volunteers arrive before dawn on show day and have noticed cars beginning to line up. We recommend arriving as early as you are able to, in order to enter and be parked quickly.
Q: If I have a question regarding my entry, prior to the day of the show, who would I contact?
A: You can call our hotline at (626) 209-9138 or send an email to info@fabulousfordsforever.com. We will do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible.
Q: We plan on bringing the family and staying near the venue. Is there a hotel discount available?
A: Yes, we have secured a discount with the Courtyard by Marriott in nearby Monrovia. Details can be found on our website in the hotel discount page. This is a really great place to hang out and watch the show cars come in on Saturday!
Q: I have a really cool display sign that I want to show next to my car. Will I be able to?
A: While we think these signs are cool, we do not allow any display signs, mirrors, carpeting, or "For Sale" signs in the show area. This is to protect your vehicle from damage and prevent any accidents with spectators.
Q: Why the change for spectators?
A: That's a tough one. Due to the change in venue, this was something completely unavoidable, not to mention that other shows of this size also charge for spectator entry. It was an extremely difficult choice for us to make.
Q: Do all of the cars in the Car Show Area have to stay in place until 3:00?
A: Yes. This is both for the safety of the general public and for the vehicle entered. There are NO LINEUPS to leave early. We also strongly discourage people from revving their engines during the show.
Q: Will vehicles in the Car Show be allowed to put up any pop-up tents, canopies, or umbrellas?
A: Unfortunately, no they may not. This is due to safety and liability issues that may arise. There have been many instances in the past where one of these items have toppled and caused damage to a display vehicle. We do, however, allow hand-held umbrellas. If the weather is sunny and hot, we advise anyone attending to plan accordingly.
Q: Can I bring my dog to the show?
A: While we love our four-legged friends, Irwindale Speedway has a very strict policy prohibiting pets on the premises, however they do allow service animals (note: service animals are not the same as "comfort" or emotional support animals). Please be mindful of the weather on the day of the show. Remember, their paws burn quickly on hot pavement. Please be considerate of your pets.
Q: Can we film the show using a drone?
A: Unfortunately, no. Irwindale Speedway has a very strict policy regarding the use of drones on their property. You can take as many pictures and video as you like with your traditional cameras.
Q: Will I be able to park together with my car club?
A: If you wish to park with your friends or car club, we recommend that you get in line as a group and enter the show together. As long as you have the same type of vehicle, you will be able to park together. There are NO reserved spaces.
Q: Can I tow my car into the Car Show area?
A: No. We will not have any additional space available to accommodate a tow vehicle. Note: this is different than towing your car in and offloading it, then driving into the Car Show area.
Q: Where can spectators park?
A: Spectators can park at Irwindale Speedway, in the parking lots available. The attendants will direct you to the spectator parking area.
Q: Will you have parking for vehicle tow trailers?
A: Yes. There will be plenty of parking for those participants who wish to tow their vehicles to the show. As a reminder, NO TOW VEHICLES are allowed in the Show Area.
Q: How soon can registered show vehicles get in line?
A: Many of our volunteers arrive before dawn on show day and have noticed cars beginning to line up. We recommend arriving as early as you are able to, in order to enter and be parked quickly.
Q: If I have a question regarding my entry, prior to the day of the show, who would I contact?
A: You can call our hotline at (626) 209-9138 or send an email to info@FabulousFordsfFrever.com. We will do our best to respond to you as quickly as possible.
Q: We plan on bringing the family and staying near the venue. Is there a hotel discount available?
A: Yes, we have secured a discount with the Courtyard by Marriott in nearby Monrovia. Details can be found on our website in the hotel discount page.
Q: I have a really cool display sign that I want to show next to my car. Will I be able to?
A: While we think these signs are cool, we do not allow any display signs, mirrors, carpeting, or "For Sale" signs in the show area. This is to protect your vehicle from damage and prevent any accidents with spectators.
by Marc Brodie
Fabulous Fords Forever! debuted as the west’s premier all-Ford show in 1986, but its roots reach back two years
earlier. It was the idea of Johnna Pepper, who in 1983 had just wrapped up a 23 year career with Ford Motor Company. As a retirement job of sorts, Ford had appointed Johnna their Ford car club coordinator and his first task was to commemorate the upcoming 20th anniversary of the Mustang in 1984.
How it all started
With the backing of Ford Motor Company and the assistance from several Mustang and Ford clubs in Southern California the resulting "Mustang Jamboree" was presented at the Los Angeles Equestrian Center at Griffith Park on April 15, 1984 and was enthusiastically attended by over 500 Mustang and hundreds of other Ford-powered participants.
In fact, participation was so good it was clear an all-Ford car show should be an annual event. Backing from Ford was easy enough to gain; with the success of the Mustang Jamboree Johnna had demonstrated he could get hundreds of Mustang, Ford, Lincoln and Mercury enthusiasts to show their cars, thus paving the path to the wonderful relationship between Ford Motor Company and the Ford car clubs in the western U.S. that we enjoy today.
The first step to a permanent annual show was to organize the participating clubs into the Ford Car Club Advisory Council, then exhorting Ford clubs in Ford’s Western Region to join. Johnna also produced a monthly calendar and a monthly newsletter—“Tin Lizzie”—that was sent to all clubs on the council.
At the Meetings
Meetings for the new all-Ford show were held at Ford’s offices in a converted Spanish style ranch house on W. Sequoia in Anaheim. During the November 16, 1985 meeting, after looking at several venues, Knott's Berry Farm in Buena Park was unanimously chosen as the location and the date set for April 13, 1986.
Notes from that meeting show "judged categories" would be balloted by participants, a design theme and name for the show need to be chosen, there would be no door prizes or raffles and Johnna Pepper will serve as event Chairman. The following meeting on November 30th, the name of "Fabulous Fords Forever!" was unanimously chosen, the details for the first flyer were discussed and club assignments such as Registration (MOCC), Parking (SDMC), Ballots (CTCI) were assigned. The final decision was for 42 show classes (including 9 Thunderbird and 13 Mustang) and the entry fee set at a whopping $2.00.
Implementing the Plan
Flyers were distributed at the January 11th meeting and over the next two months word of the huge show were spread by the car clubs and Mr. Pepper working with the Ford News Bureau. In January plans for hotel accommodations were firmed up at $30 to $45 a night, show equipment, trophies, and shirts were ordered and at this first event a fashion and costume show was also planned. Participants were encouraged to dress the part to coincide with their show vehicle and a fashion show would be staged during the day with the winner chosen by the fashion editor of a local newspaper.
Entries flooded in at an unbelievable pace, the hotels were sold out by early February and the show was looking to be a huge success. Registration closed on March 15th and in three short months, with a total of 1,324 cars registered, the first Fabulous Fords Forever! show was rolling.
In 1986 Knott's had no roller coasters and no water park, in fact, the area where the water park is now was still a dirt parking lot known as the Rhubarb Patch. The available parking lot was smaller than the one used now and that first year, several classes including Cougars and Cobras were parked in the dust of Rhubarb Patch.
Tedium was added to the dust the first two years via the voting process. Show participants voted on the cars and plaques were awarded at the show’s end, but only after club volunteers in a hot tent in the middle of the show area tabulated the ballots. Even with the primitive computers of the day—this was 1986—collecting and entering the ballots took until well after 3:00 p.m.
Show Attractions
Other highlights of the first show would be more familiar to today’s participants. The goody bag included flyers provided by all supporting car clubs and a cloisonné pin commemorating the event (now an anticipated yearly tradition). The clubs had a small area near the main tent to set up canopies and hand out information. Celebrities attending the first show were Sally Struthers (All in the Family) with her early 1936 Ford V8 convertible and Richard Carpenter (The Carpenters) with a 1958 Edsel. Both entertainers and their cars were one of the highlights of the show just as today’s racing and entertainment celebrities continue the tradition. But that first year it was astounding to the organizing clubs and Johnna Pepper just how many beautiful stock and restored Thunderbirds, Mustangs and other Fords filled the lot at Knott's. And to think only the current Mustangs were fuel-injected.
Before the sunset following the successful First Annual Fabulous Fords Forever show, the wheels were already rolling for next year's display of Ford history.
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