2024 National Collector Car Appreciation Day, Friday July 12, 2024***SOLD OUT***

Sold out.

2024 National Collector Car Appreciation Day Event info

The Georgia Street Rod Association (GSRA), The Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Youth Homes, and Grand Marshall Sam Mahdavi invite you to the second annual National Collector Car Appreciation Day event on Friday July 12, 2024.  The event is a rain or shine event limited to the first paid 150 cars that register by the sign-up deadline of 6/2/24. The proceeds of this event will again be donated to the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Youth Homes.

The event will begin at the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Headquarters in Madison, Ga, with sign-in from 8:00 am – 9:15 am, followed by opening ceremonies. The Police escorted cruise will depart at 9:45 am enroute to The Dogwood Barn at the G5 Ranch located in Milledgeville, Ga.

At the Dogwood Barn there will be lunch, socializing, and closing ceremonies.  The event will be filmed by Powerscope Productions for airing on Sam’s Garage/Lokar TV, and covered in articles in Vettes of Atlanta Magazine and StreetTalk Magazine.

Both the GSRA and The Georgia Sheriff’s Association Youth Homes are 501 (C) (3) non-profit  organizations.

Each car that registers will receive an event decal, one event T-Shirt, and one lunch ticket.  Additional T-Shirts and lunch tickets are available for purchase when registering for the event.  Free coffee and doughnuts will be available at sign-in at the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association HQ to everyone who participates in the cruise.

The route will travel on country backroads through scenic Georgia country back roads and small historic towns and will be led by various Sheriffs’ departments to the final destination at the Dogwood Barn.

Upon arrival at the Dogwood Barn, lunch will be cooked onsite by Lonnie Smith and will consist of certified organic hamburgers/cheeseburgers (meat will be purchased from the farm) with all the fixings, chips, water/tea, and a dessert.

Closing ceremonies will include presentations by the GSRA, The Georgia  Sheriffs’ Association Youth Homes, Sam Mahdavi, and several sponsors.  In addition the 2024 Congressional Resolution declaring 7/12/24 as National Collector Car Appreciation Day will be on display.

The event will end at 3:00 pm.

About National Collector Car Appreciation Day:

National Collector Car Appreciation Day (NCCAD) is celebrated annually to raise awareness regarding the importance of automotive restoration as well as the hobby of collecting cars. Restoring and collecting cars plays an essential role in American society since it highlights the lucrative car business that the U.S. has greatly benefited from. National Collector Car Appreciation Day has been sponsored by the SEMA Action Network (SAN) since 2009 to promote a love for vintage cars that are considered collector’s items.

Intended since 2010 to celebrate the classics of the past and the future, the U.S. Congress has helped launch NCCAD by introducing resolutions each year at the SAN’s request. Each resolution was sponsored by co-chairs of the SEMA-supported Congressional Automotive Performance and Motorsports Caucus.  These Congressional leaders have been strong advocates for the automotive culture in Washington, D.C., and recognize the integral role collector cars have played in fostering our nation’s appreciation for the automobile’s unique historical place in our history.

About The Georgia Street Rod Association (GSRA):

The Georgia Street Rod Association (GSRA) is a statewide association of automobile enthusiasts, businesses and organizations dedicated to automotive related education, safety, and awareness. The GSRA was formed in 1977, and is the largest automotive association of its type in the State of Georgia.

GSRA promotes the car hobby in general, and is open to everyone.

About The Georgia Sheriff’s Youth Homes (GSYH):

Over 60 years ago, sheriffs of Georgia founded the Georgia Sheriffs’ Youth Homes, a residential care program, to help children who have been abandoned, neglected and abused. When children come to Youth Homes, they are placed in a family setting and are provided not just the basics of food, shelter, and clothing, but a safe, loving, nurturing environment in which to rebuild their lives and to prepare for a brighter future. All are given the opportunity to grow, to heal and to thrive. The children are able to learn strong moral values and spiritual awareness, how to participate positively in a community, and how to trust themselves and one another. These values help prepare the children to become mature, responsible adults who are able to participate fully and positively in their communities.

About Sam Mahdavi:

Sam is the Executive Producer and host of the nationally aired Sam’s Garage, and Lokar television shows.  He has always loved cars and in 1999, Sam opened Mahdavi Motorsports with his brother. As the import craze was raging, he was busy building and tuning cars, and turning them out as fast as they came in. Sam also competing in four seasons of NDRA import drag racing, where he won a championship and set a few world records, and created another level of learning under extreme conditions.

In 2009, Sam began co-hosting Sam’s Garage Radio Show with mentor, Sam Memmolo. For 11 years the duo diagnosed vehicle issues over the air and provided common sense repair instruction and advise. The pair started Sam’s Garage TV Show in 2016, and Sam Mahdavi became the solo host in 2017. He has enjoyed teaching and displaying proper techniques for diagnostics, repair and performance upgrades each week on Sam’s Garage. Sam also began hosting the Lokar Car Show in 2020 and loves visiting car shows across the country, highlighting vehicles and their owners.

About the Dogwood Farm at G5 Ranch:

The Dogwood Barn at G5 Ranch is a rustic barn that is situated on over 600 acres of a certified organic working cattle ranch, which is family-owned and -operated. The Dogwood Barn features more than 7,500 square feet of temperature-controlled event space that can accommodate 300 guests, as well as a beautiful outdoor gazebo overlooking the lake.

About Lonnie Smith:

Lonnie Smith Jr. is the Head Cook and Pit Master for the Championship BBQ team “BUBBA GRILLS”. To date he has competed in over 120 BBQ contest in 11 different states. Lonnie has won over 550 BBQ awards including 37 Grand Championships and 24 Reserve Championships. A large part of his success can be attributed to the Smokers that he builds (bubbagrills.net) that include some of the most efficient reverse flow smokers on the market that have been shipped all over the world.