PGRR Hosts AMCRC 26th Annual Car Show
Select pictures from the show

Sacramento - On Saturday the 25th of June, the American Motors Corporation Rambler Club (AMCRC) held it's 26th annual National Show at the Towe Auto Museum in Sacramento, California. The host club, the Pacific Gold Rush Ramblers had been planning the event over a year. All of the hard work was evident at the event.

Friday the club conducted a four hour tour of the Sacramento Delta. The drive had a historical theme making stops en route at places like Courtland, Walnut Grove, Ryde, Isle Town, Locke Clarksburg, Grand Island, and the American River. This area was where Chinese migrant workers were used to build levies, railways, among other things. The caravan drove along a number of levies utilizing two of the last remaining ferries to cross the canals. At the end of the tour the host club entertained everyone with a great barbecue at Miller Park Park near the Show Field.

On Saturday the Show Field began to fill bright and early. There were cars representing the AMC years from a 1952 Nash-Healey to a 1987 Eagle California State Highway Patrol car. Other highlight cars were a 1961 Ambassador, a 1966 Classic Fire Chief's car, and a 1978 Hornet AMX Super Stock Race Car. There were two of the three 1967 Rebel limited production station wagons, a Mariner and a Westerner. The Briarwood developed a coolant problem and was not able to make the show. The Theme Car for the show, the 1965 to 1967 Marlin was well represented with 17 registered. Of course, there were a good number of Classics, Matadors, Rambler Americans, Gremlins, Ambassadors, Javelins, two seater AMX's, Rebels, Concords,  Eagles, and Hornets. There were well over 150 cars on the show field.

One of dealers said "This is the best AMC show that I have attended in years!" Another attendee remarked, "I haven't seen this many AMC's in one place since Kenosha." Of course, no car show is complete with out the Vendors. We had barbecue furnished by Joshua's Ribs. And for that last illusive part there were a number of AMC/Rambler dealers present. Dealers included Galvin's Rambler Parts, The Rambler Guy's from Arizona, and For Ramblers Only from Oregon, as well as a number of individuals selling various AMC used parts. They had everything one could want.

At seven that evening the host club threw a banquet at Andiamo's. The meal featured a choice of chicken or beef tips. The crowd was so large the restaurant had to open a second room for the attendees. The meal was a great time for old friends to catch up on the past year, and new friends to be made. PGRR's president Stan Kelly  presented the show awards as well as trophies for Hard Luck, Long Distance, Best of Show, and President's Award. Stan also presented awards to three of the clubs members who deserved special recognition. Stan said, "These people stepped in when the need arose to make sure that everything fell into place. Special thanks go to Glen Butlerr, Freddie Munoz, and of course, to the guy who brings his Jeep instead of a Rambler, Doug Galvin."

After the awards ceremony, Vince Geraci of the AMC design team and Patrick Foster presented the group with a delightful talk, punctuated with slides from Dick Teague and of various members of the Engineering and Design groups at AMC.

On Sunday, there was a show and shine at the California State Capital with about 30 AMC's in attendance. This was an opportunity for for photo's in front of the building and general good-bye's before everyone hit the road home.

This year's AMCRC National once again was a great time for the Rambler people to get together and celebrate the 51 years of AMC cars. There are some select pictures from the show available.