The University of New Mexico’s Institutional Support Services (ISS) teams recently hosted the 6th annual Car Show and Safety Vendor Fair on campus. More than 100 ISS employee automotive enthusiasts and safety awareness champions came together to celebrate the creativity and passion of car culture.
The event showcased a collection of UNM employees’ cars ranging from classic hot rods to modern Dodge Vipers and motorcycles. Safety vendors who offer services to UNM provided information and awarded prizes.
Gilbert Chavez, field supervisor for Parking and Transportation Services (PATS), displayed the hydraulics in his current project car, a ‘72 Monte Carlo lowrider he affectionately calls “Brown Sugar.” Chavez has had an interest in cars his entire life, but knew lowriders were his passion the moment he sat in one as a kid.
“My dad and my stepdad always had muscle cars,” Chavez said, “But when somebody put me in the lowrider, I was like, ‘Oh, I gotta have one!’”
A common thread in the car community is the familial connection shared by enthusiasts. “My son is into cars. My wife is into cars. My grandbaby is into cars. It just keeps going,” Chavez said.
Trenton Ward, senior business manager of the UNM Bookstore, was also pulled toward a love of cars through a family member.
“I grew up going to car shows,” Ward said. “My older cousin, when I was about eight, bought a ’68 Firebird that he restored in his garage. So I spent my childhood going to cruise nights and car shows with him. I was hooked ever since.”
Ward displayed his ‘69 El Camino, a gift to himself after graduating from college. Ward’s done a lot of work on the car over the 14 years he’s owned it. Replacing the transmission, redoing the suspension, and lowering it a couple of inches are just a few of his completed projects.
The hard work continues as long as passion and creativity remain. “It’s almost like a canvas or an easel for each of us to display our personalities,” Ward said. “The people I’ve talked to so far, they get a car and they change different things just to make it their own. It’s a really great way that we can express ourselves as well.”
The event featured vendors from across Albuquerque who support UNM’s safety efforts. Vendors on site to share information included Thompson Safety, Steamatic, ServiceWear Apparel, UNM Employee Wellness, UNM Police Department, UNM Counseling Assistance and Referral Services, Rowan Apparel, Staples Business, S.T.O.P. Restoration, Campus Office of Substance and Alcohol Prevention (COSAP), Work Wear Safety and Compliance, Ethics & Equal Opportunity (CEEO).
In addition to the cars and safety, employees submitted entries to a Taste of New Mexico Dips and Desserts competition. Aquilino Valdez won the dip category with his chunky salsa and Kristian Rucker won the dessert category with her hot apple pie.
Facilities Management created the Car Show and Safety Vendor Fair and hosted the first five years before it was expanded to feature all of ISS.
More photos of the event can be seen in the photo gallery.