REVVING UP FOR THE BELMONT SHORE CAR SHOW

By Monique Garcia

On September 8th, automobile enthusiasts and families are once again invited to Belmont Shore for its highly anticipated car show. Now in its 33rd year, this event is back, bigger and better than ever with Long Beach’s very own JP Zentgraf as its organizer. And he has big plans for it.

“This year, I’m trying to make it more family-friendly and a bigger variety of vendors. This will definitely be something the whole family can come enjoy,” says JP.

The Belmont Shore Car Show was originally started by the Bay City Rodders, a local car club, in partnership with the Belmont Shore Business Association. They began hosting the car show 35 years ago to showcase their vintage makes and custom-built cars. Over the years, people from Long Beach and beyond have enjoyed visiting 2nd Street to appreciate the cool cars and great vendors. The Belmont Shore Car Show slowly became one of the biggest car events in the area.

“I love the show, I love cars, and I love Long Beach. When they asked me if I wanted to do this, saying yes just made sense,” states JP.

When the previous organizers could not plan the event, it was unsure whether the car show would return this year. That is until Heather Kern, executive director of the Belmont Business Association, asked JP if he would take up the mantle. Previously a volunteer with the show and a big fan of cars and his community, JP easily said yes.

Within his first week of organizing, JP already had 100 cars agreeing to show and over 10 vendors lined up. He wants as many Long Beach businesses to be involved as possible so residents and non-residents can see just how much this city has to offer. With months to plan the event, there is no telling how big it will be. 

The car show will stretch 14 blocks from Bay Shore to Livingston, and we can expect 1,000 cars and over 100 vendors for the day. Expect to enjoy seeing pre-75 classics, pre-94 mid-moderns, and many different custom cars. A new addition to the show this year will be exotic cars, an interesting contrast to the traditional and classics you find at other car shows.

The annual Belmont Shore Car Show stands out as a timeless tradition of showcasing the work of automotive enthusiasts. Through the love and dedication in the automotive enthusiast scene, this event has been kept alive and reminds us not only of the interesting history we have in Long Beach but also of the amazing community we find here. A special thanks to the Belmont Shore Business Association, which has a large hand in organizing this event.

JP shares,“One of my biggest motivations to keep this show alive is the tradition of it and all that it brings. It’s just such a great event for everybody.”

IF YOU GO

So remember, mark your calendars for Sept. 8th from 8AM to 3PM for the Belmont Shore Car Show! To find out more information about sponsoring, participating as a vendor, or registering a car, visit belmontshorecarshow.com (or scan the QR code) for applications.