By George Spatola

By now, most of you have probably heard the news: America’s longest-running weekly car show—the Scottsdale Pavilions—has hit another bump in the road. Over its long history, the show has faced more than a few shutdowns, disagreements, and even a little chaos, but it always came back. Today, let’s take a look back at what made the Pavilions show a legend, the challenges it faced, and why some shows eventually come to an end.

How It All Started

The Pavilions show was born at a time when street cruising across the Valley was being shut down aggressively. There were plenty of “bad apples” spoiling the scene. Low-rider trucks had taken over a Mesa show, blasting music. Street racers in Tolleson were getting busted with illegal mods. Teens at Metrocenter were trashing the loop. The timing was perfect for someone to offer a safe place where enthusiasts could proudly show off their rides.

And that’s what the Pavilions show became—a community, a destination, and a tradition.

The First Shutdown:

No Control, No Rules

Like many great things, the early days had their growing pains. Just weeks after starting, the show was ordered to shut down. A truck club showed up and was told only classic cars were allowed. They relocated to an outer area, but then fired up their massive sound systems, and complaints rolled in. Tenants weren’t happy, and even a couple of classic car owners called the police. When law enforcement showed up, everyone was told to leave.

The next day, I got the call to shut it down. Instead, franchisee Mark Kramer dropped by, loved what he saw, and went to bat for the show. Thanks to him, the Pavilions survived.

Lesson learned: rules—written and unwritten—matter. Respect the organizers, respect the space, and respect the pride owners have in their cars.

When Passion Boils Over

A few years later, the show had become a big event. Families loved it, owners loved it, and it was a source of pride for the area. But bigger crowds meant more rules, and rules tend to make people mad.

One long all-day event was rolling along when an argument over saved spaces broke out. Security calmed things down, but later that night… let’s just say “scuffle” is a nice way to describe what happened next. It turned into a multi-owner brawl—Ford vs. Chevy? Hot Rods vs. Unrestored? Or maybe the Jets vs. the Sharks? Whatever it was, punches were thrown, and police shut the show down again.

On Monday, Mark and I were at Salt River PD negotiating extra police presence to keep the show going.

Respect the Neighborhood

The weekend before Christmas one year, we held our second annual toy drive. The generosity blew me away—so many toys came in we needed a second truck to haul them.

But even on a great night like that, tension crept in. Two car clubs were petitioning to ban motorcycles—even though bikes had their own section and plenty of space. Mark asked why. The answers? Things like “motorcycles are cheap” or “it says car show, not vehicle show.” Mark shot back with some humor: “Should we also make it stop raining and only allow vehicles worth over $100k?” The petition fizzled with under 25 signatures.

Then, at 9:30 pm, Scottsdale Police rolled in. They shut down Johnny B.’s music and told me if any engines revved or horns honked, I’d be arrested. Salt River PD shut the show down to keep the peace.

A few days later, I met with homeowners, a city attorney, and a tribal council member. We agreed to tone down the music and curb burnouts. The council member summed it up: “If I wanted louder music and burnouts, they’d be happening. It’s our land.”

What Kills a Car Show?

As I looked through old flyers, articles, and photos for this piece,
I realized how much this show has survived—way more than I can fit here. We didn’t even touch on the bomb threat, a cease-and-desist from a competing show, or a lawsuit from an injury!

So what usually ends a great show? A few common things:

  • Unreasonable people
  • Bad behavior
  • Lack of clear rules
  • Plain stupidity

Was I asked if I’d start it back up? Sure. But Saturdays are tough for me, and the truth is, no single person can keep a show like this alive without help.

Why This Time Feels Different

I haven’t gotten an official reason for this latest closure. The unofficial ones include:

  • No one wants to run it for free. The new sponsor brought vendors, but it didn’t pay off.
  • Salt River PD is tired of the constant battles.
  • Noise and burnout complaints are back from nearby neighborhoods.
  • A car club was bashing the show to move it somewhere with “incentives.” (Remember the free fries?)

What’s Next?

If anyone wants to lead the charge to bring this show back, I’m here to help where I can. Reach me at GSPATOLA99@gmail.com.

The Pavilions show wasn’t just an event—it was part of Arizona car culture. And if history has taught us anything, it’s that the love for these cars and this community doesn’t die easily.