Busy weekend expected for commercial car show

Nancy Medeiros strolled beneath shade trees at Fuji Park on Friday while shopping for a power-packed truck to haul her two horses. Absent are two things that most often irritate browsers and buyers: high-pressure sales and hot asphalt.

Attendance was steady the first day of Dick Campagni's Auto Show and is expected to increase over the weekend, said Tim Milligan, general manager of Capital Ford in Carson City.

"You never know with being in a park in a first-time event like this," he said Friday. "So far we've seen a very good draw with people who are looking around and taking a (test) drive."

The weekend event is Carson City's first commercial car show in a city park, which was organized with the Carson City Parks and Recreation Department. Local auto dealer Campagni paid about $1,000 for a permit to operate in the park.

Medeiros and her husband, Ron, can't purchase a truck at the car show, but they can look now and buy later at one of Campagni's four dealerships. About 20 staff members are working the event.

"We're not selling at the show," Milligan said. "It's more of a place for people to do the research and gain perspective on the products out there."

That works for the Medeiroses because they aren't exactly sure what they want to buy. She has a BMW, which doesn't work for transporting her Tennessee walkers, Rio and Sonny. They left the show with a pamphlet for a 2006 Ford F-350 Superduty. It's a $38,700 truck that they expect will be perfect for hauling two large horses.

"This is the perfect place to do it. There's no high-pressure sales and it's a beautiful park," said Nancy Medeiros, who lives in Minden.

Darlene and Scott Loff, of Carson City, said they are looking for a used pickup for their 17-year-old son, Steven.

"We like the idea that you can look at Fords, Toyotas and other cars all in one spot," she said.

The car show was about a year in the making because the city didn't have a process for allowing commercial dealers to use city space for showing their wares. One of the conditions discussed with the parks and recreation board was that all sales would be conducted at the dealerships, rather than on city property.

Milligan said he likes the idea of a car show because Fuji Park is a calm, shaded environment that's closer to a show atmosphere than a parking lot.

In addition to the Toyota, Mazda, Hyundai and Ford stores, Carson RV and Michael's Cycles are also showing vehicles at the park.

• Contact reporter Becky Bosshart at bbosshart@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1212.