On a sunny summer day in the plains of the Utah and Colorado border, people from near and far took their cars to the Stateline Bar and Grill for the fourth annual DC Rat Rod Nationalz Car Show.
The event began as a small gathering in the town of Dove Creek and has grown into a full car show with a swap trade meeting opportunity on the land of the Stateline that drew over 100 registered vehicles.
The two event organizers, Lyle Rice and Ed Hodson, met at a car show in Dove Creek.
“The first one of these we had, I was kind of putting it together in Dove Creek, and I met Lyle at a car show in Cortez,” Hodson said. “He had his little Rat Rod there, and we got to talking, and he said he would like to help, and he has been phenomenal helper ever since. I wouldn’t have done it the past couple of years if it had not been for him.”
The event has no entrance fee and is open to any vehicle.
“We are open to anybody, car, motorcycle, trucks – anybody that wants to come,” Rice said.
The car show used to be in Dove Creek, but as it grew, it needed more space.
“That first year was a success,” Rice said. “We had 80 cars or so, and it goes up each year.”
Dave Jackson, of Cortez, was selling car parts – or as he called them, “rust” – at his third year at the DC Rat Rod Nationalz Car Show.
“I collect rust, and this is extra rust. It is a little bit of everything,” Jackson said. “There are a lot more cars, and they have moved it out of Dove Creek now, which is nice because now you don’t have to try and cross the highway. The highway used to run through the middle of the show.”
The owner of the Stateline Bar and Grill, Tim Meyer, was excited about the success of the event.
“This is great,” Meyer said. “I have never seen this many people here at one time. I am very excited.”
The event also featured vendors and live music from Bent Fender and Country Feedback.