AutoXpo: A Success From The Beginning

By CHRISTINE SACKEY
The Humboldt Beacon

The 18th Annual Fortuna Redwood
AutoXpo
July 25-26-27, 2008!

The Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo (website) gives spectators and participants alike the chance to pause on the threshold of the future and cast a glance - and more than a glance - at the past.

This popular annual event has grown from a small car show and swap meet to a phenomenon that fills the town and includes an antiques show, a display of antique tractors and engines, and a craft show. Up to 20,000 people a day crowd into Fortuna on all three days of the event to look at all of the above plus the main attraction - cars, cars and more cars.

Frank Hizer and Greg Lovick are two of the committee members who have been involved with

"Up to 20,000 people a day crowd into Fortuna on all three days of the event to look at all of the above plus the main attraction - cars, cars and more cars."

AutoXpo since its inception. Lovick recalled that it all began in 1990, when some students at Fortuna Union High School wanted to put on a car show. They called Hizer, who called some of his friends, and in two days they got together 20-25 cars for a show at Newburg Park, Lovick said. Out of that success, AutoXpo was born.

Hizer said that he and Stan Smith spent about $250 on that first show, which drew around a hundred vehicles. No money was spent to advertise that first year - "We figured the spectators would come because it's free," Lovick said.   (Continued on page 2)

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