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Motorfest fills lot at Rio Rancho Events Center
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RIO RANCHO — It was a balmy but boisterous afternoon June 28 at the New Mexico Motorfest in the upper parking lot of the Rio Rancho Events Center.
Co-Organizer and New Mexico Motor Events Manager Michael Gonzales, who also owns Rio Rancho coffee shop Cafe Bella Coffee, said expectations for the event were exceeded in many ways, especially with more than 300 vehicles in attendance.
“People are really embracing this format, and they’re loving the diversity of what we’ve brought,” he said.
He was not kidding about diversity. Of those 300-plus cars, at least half were unique. A few rides caught a lot of attention, like a Ghostbusters Mobile with all the movie true attachments, a Honda Acty utility truck, a slammed and modified hummer, a Star Wars Stormtrooper-decked Hummer and more.
The Stormtrooper was a special addition to the show that demonstrated audio sound throughout the day.
“This isn’t a casual cruise-in. NM Motorfest is a curated, pre-registered lifestyle show showcasing the Southwest’s most elite builds — and the Stormtrooper remains one of the loudest, cleanest and most recognized audio setups in the scene,” Gonzales said.
The show also brought out bicycles, motorcycles and dirt bikes.
Gonzales was surprised at the variety, which is saying a lot for him because as a regular member of the car scene in New Mexico, he sees a lot of rides.
“We have stuff here that I’ve never seen before. We have stuff from out of state, different regions. We have stuff that’s never been to a show before. The range and diversity of it is just amazing,” he said.
A majority of the participants were from the Rio Rancho and Albuquerque metro area, according to Gonzales.
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Daniel Allen was at the event all day with his Genesis G70. He was also promoting his brand NM Carbon Collective, which is a car event group in the area.
“Beautiful cars. Beautiful people. Beautiful weather. I’m always here to support the different brand clothes that come out here as well as my own. Great place to network with other individuals, get your name out there, find those connections and build yourself up,” he said.
While the Genesis is not expected to be part of a car show like Motorfest, Allen said it’s a special car that deserves a little spotlight.
“Best car I’ve ever owned just because the rarity of them here. Makes people want to take a look and see,” he said.
He wasn’t the only brand promoting at the massive event. Dozens of vendors also set up shop at the event.
Delectable Baking Co. owner Xandria Molinari was not surprised people were roaming more toward the ice cream stand than her booth. However, she was happy to provide breakfast for a lot of the automotive attendees.
“We love being a part of the car community. They’re just so supportive of local businesses, so we came out here to serve them some coffee and breakfast,” she said.
She added that people who did approach the booth have been surprised that they had a location in Rio Rancho and not just a tent.
“I feel like we kind of hit a different market today that may have not known that we were over here,” she said.
Molinari was grateful to Gonzales and Garcia for putting on the event. She was also promoting the company’s own car event, a weekly Cars and Coffee from 9 a.m. to noon Sundays at their Northern Boulevard location.
Motorfest also had a cause behind it, which Gonzales consistently includes in his events. The other co-organizer of the event, Outlaw Desert Racing manager Drew Garcia, said the event raised funds for a nonprofit veteran outreach he represents.
“We are a nonprofit for veterans and first responders,” he said.
Garcia’s group provides a fun and safe atmosphere for veterans to partake in adrenaline therapy. It involves taking those veterans and first responders to the desert and letting them drive off-road or to the drag strip to release that energy.
“Because of people like you, we are able to do this,” he said to a crowd of onlookers.
Sporting a straw hat, Garcia got the crowd riled up for the awards, of which there were 30.
The show also featured a Twinkie-eating competition, a cowgirl boot contest and several prize giveaways.
