Run To The Sun Shines In Lake Havasu This Weekend

By Nicole Matheson

Relics and Rods 47th annual Run to the Sun began Thursday morning with a race to get their favorite car spot at the Bridgewater Links Golf Course.

However, for one participant in particular, it started with getting in line Wednesday night at 10:45 p.m.

Gayle Beckman is a Havasu resident and owner of a 2016 C7 Corvette and she was first in line for the race for her desired spot at the car show today, having been participating for roughly seven years.

Run to the Sun RiverScene Magazine Lake Havasu

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Joe Merola is another eager participant and part of Beckman’s group who arrived at midnight for his spot with a 1966 Corvette Stingray. Steve Wood has been a Havasu resident of 21 years and he rounds out the group.

“We worked together for 30 years in a fire department in California, we’re retired out here now.” Wood told RiverScene. He owns a 1960 Buick Invicta Bubble top and he’s been attending the show for about 27 years.

“I started coming when I was still working as a firefighter in California with an old car I had and I had friends that lived here and they told me about this show, so I started coming out and I’ve been coming ever since.”

Jillian Danielson/RiverScene

Bruce Joy is one of the two remaining original club members of Run to the Sun, the other being Todd Flesner who is one of the founding members of the club. Joy said that the first Run to the Sun was originally called Camp-o-rama and was at Crazy Horse Campground, and he has seen the location change multiple times over the years before ending up at the Bridgewater Links Golf Course.

“I’ve been into hot rods since I was probably about 13 years old, so it’s something I enjoy doing,” Joy said. He estimates about 700 cars are involved in the show this year.

Run to the Sun sports hot rods and trucks from across the country for display in this annual event. Cars from almost every era lined up on Main Street where enthusiasts could view and take photos from 5-8 p.m.