Sgt. Nathan J. Wepking, company master gunner, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion, lifts his son, Joshua Parker Wepking, off of a light armored vehicle during the 18th Annual Car Show and Street Fair, which was hosted by the Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce in Twentynine Palms, Calif., March 31, 2018. The annual event is used to bring the community of Twentynine Palms and the Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center, located in Twentynine Palms, together as well as support local businesses. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Rachel K. Porter)

Photo by Lance Cpl. Rachel K. Porter

City of Twentynine Palms holds annual Car Show

31 Mar 2018 | Lance Cpl. Rachel K. Porter Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms

Twentynine Palms -- The Twentynine Palms Chamber of Commerce hosted the 18th Annual Car Show and Street Fair for the public on Twentynine Palms Highway on March 31, 2018.

The event consisted of a variation of old and new staged vehicles, a soapbox derby race, local vendors, and light armored vehicles from 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion with Marines present to answer questions about their jobs.

“I think it gives citizens peace of mind to know where their tax dollars are going,” said Matthew T. Gray, vehicle commander, 3rd Light Armored Reconnaissance Battalion. “That’s why we’re here today—we want the public to know what we do.”

Most of the vendors at the show were family-owned retailers who sell their products at farmers’ markets and events like the car show to sustain their businesses.

“We’re a family owned business and we aren’t on store shelves,” said Eloy Becerra, co-owner of Faby’s Bees. “We rely on events like this to sell our product.”

One of the vendors at the show have been in Twentynine Palms for more than 20 years, and says that the locally-owned businesses wouldn’t survive without the presence of the Marines.

“My view on the Marine Corps is 100% positive,” said Roger Thomas, co-owner of Thomas Farms in Twentynine Palms, as he boxed eggs from his farm into dozen batches. “Twentynine Palms would not exist if it weren’t for the Marines who live here.”

Attendants of the show particularly enjoyed the cars and the derby hosted by the Armed Services YMCA, which brought parents and children together to build wooden cars to race down the highway.

“It’s nice that the city is putting on events like this,” said Jessica Hamilton, mother of two and patron of the Combat Center, “My kids loved looking at the old cars and climbing into the military vehicles before participating in the soapbox derby. They’re having a lot of fun today.”