Patrick AFB’s
Six Annual Grindin’ Gears Car
and Motorcycle Show

The sixth annual Grindin’ Gears Car and Motorcycle Show was held on Saturday, May 9 at Patrick Air Force Base in Cocoa Beach, Florida. Held in the south parking lot of the Tides Collocated Club, the event attracted more than 700 individuals from the local community and Central Florida.

“We never expected attendance like this, we were absolutely thrilled by the turnout,” said Arts and Crafts Center Director Nancy Wilberg. “The success was a direct result of everyone on base coming together to make it work. Civil Engineering, Security Forces and Marketing just made themselves available and did what needed to be done. It just overwhelms me thinking about the hard work that everyone did to make this event go off without a hitch.”



The “Grindin Gears” Car Show featured live entertainment, a DJ, product demonstrations, food and beverages.

The car show featured a wide array of vehicles that included roadsters, Corvettes and motorcycles, among others. More than 100 vehicles registered for showing. Car show participants could choose from eight entry categories including imports, trucks, roadsters/street rods, stock motorcycles and custom motorcycles. Each category featured a first, second and third trophy.

Wilberg credits the location with being a key draw for locals.

The local community came out in record numbers to support this event and embrace it as their own,” said Wilberg. “The location of the club is perfect and the only thing that separated the cars from the beach were the dunes.”

Local businesses got into the act as well, with the Cocoa Beach Hilton offering military personnel and Department of Defense civilians a chance to win a three-day, two-night stay at the hotel.

Wilberg and other key staff at Patrick Air Force Base have already begun plans for next year’s event which is currently scheduled for May 8, 2010.