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Napa Valley Marketplace Magazine

The Final Skip Long Memorial Auto Round-Up


Sunday, July 14th 11am | Vintner’s Golf Club | Yountville

Awards presentations 2 pm | Free admission

With great joy, yet sadness, the 35th annual and final Skip Long Memorial Auto Round-Up will be held on Sunday, July 14 at the Vintner’s Golf Club in Yountville. As customary, The Auto Round-Up will display and feature many different classes of vehicles, including antiques, street rods, customs, pick-ups, motorcycles and muscle cars. This event has gained popularity amongst car enthusiast in the area and attracts national recognition. In recent years the event has been featured in national car magazines and gained acknowledgement and recognition from national network coverage. It has not been uncommon to attract participants and visitors from across the country.

The annual event is dedicated to the memory of the late Napa native, Skip Long, who as a young man with the guidance and assistance of his late father, Charlie Long, restored a 1932 Ford Coupe from the ground up and won various prestigious awards, including “The Grand Daddy of Them All” – The Oakland Roadster Show, a month before his unfortunate death. Skip tragically lost his life at age 25 to a fishing accident in 1985 in the Sacramento River, while taking a break from showing his award-winning vehicle at a car show in nearby Redding, California. To many, Skip is remembered as a happy, adventurous individual who attended local schools and was active in local sports and activities.

While mourning the death of this fine young man, parents Charlie and Theresa Long (with help and contribution from family and friends; Max Garcia, Jim Luce, Gene Kitchens, Gil and Kinnie Gallegos and others), brainstormed and quickly organized the first Skip Long Memorial Auto Round-Up. The event was held just a few weeks later during the Napa Spring Fair in 1985 at the Town and Country Fairgrounds. It was an instant success, attracting local car lovers, long time family friends, and car legends such as Andy and Roy Brizzio.

It was early recognized that this event demanded its own date and space. In 1986, the Napa Town and Country Fair Grounds became home to the event. As the event grew in size and popularity, it also outgrew this venue. The event quickly became a community event and a gathering for friends old and new to show and talk about cars. As the years went by the event was moved to the Vintners Golf Course in Yountville, where it will host the 35th and final Skip Long Memorial Auto Round-up. As a result of the original modest tribute to Skip Long, car enthusiasts from all over have gathered every second Sunday in July to remember a great friend.

Entry setup is at 9 a.m., the public is welcome at 11 a.m., and awards presentations will conclude the show at 2 p.m. Admission is free. Along with the enjoyment of the display vehicles, there will be raffle prizes and other activities. For event and registration information contact Theresa Long at (707) 224-0238.

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