American Graffiti car shows draw huge crowd to Modesto

Fans of classic cars and the culture that surrounds them turned out Saturday for the North Modesto Kiwanis Club’s 18th annual American Graffiti Festival and Car Show at Modesto Municipal Golf Course.

The weekend event kicked off Friday evening with the Graffiti Classic Car Parade in downtown and along McHenry Avenue.

At least 1,250 cars are expected for the car show. The event typically draws 10,000 spectators over the weekend. La Grange resident Keith Truax, 66, said he and his wife and other family members have come every year except the first one.

“One of my granddaughters took her first steps” at the event, said Truax, who brought his 1969 AMX to the show. (The sports car was built by American Motors Corp. and the “X” stands for experimental.) “The people who put on the show are great.”

Truax, who races his car, said he appreciates that a lot of the other owners who bring their cars to the event also drive them, rather than transport them by trailer. “If you don’t drive them,” he asked, “How can you enjoy them?”

The North Modesto Kiwanis Club raises money for charities with the festival and car show. It also is part of June’s Graffiti Summer celebration, a monthlong homage to life in Modesto circa 1962, captured by native son George Lucas in the film “American Graffiti.”

The festival and car show continues Sunday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the golf course, 400 Tuolumne Blvd. Admission is $10, with children 12 and younger free. This is the third year the event has been held at the course. In past years, it was held at the Modesto Junior College West Campus.

This story was originally published June 11, 2016 at 5:20 PM with the headline "American Graffiti car shows draw huge crowd to Modesto."