Don’t be surprised if you see some impressive cars on the road this month. Two major collector car conventions have taken over Puyallup and downtown Tacoma, bringing 1,500 car lovers to enjoy Pierce County, many for the first time.

July 22, 2014—Tacoma, Wash —
Don’t be surprised if you see some impressive cars on the road this month. Two major collector car conventions have taken over Puyallup and downtown Tacoma, bringing 1,500 car lovers to enjoy Pierce County—many for the first time.

With the opening of LeMay-America’s Car Museum in Tacoma two years ago, the team at the Tacoma Regional Convention + Visitor Bureau has been working with collector car enthusiasts to bring their annual meetings and events to the Pierce County area.

This week, Tacoma is hosting the 2014 Corvair Society of America [CORSA] International Convention, selling out the Hotel Murano and bringing 800 Corvair fans into downtown Tacoma; one fan driving in his Corvair all the way from Mexico.

Wednesday, the Corvair group will conduct their 100-mile tour around Pierce County and the south Puget Sound region. Starting from the LeMay Museum, the motorcade travels through Gig Harbor, Shelton, Olympia, Nisqually and around Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

The convention is what brought Utah resident Peter Henneberger to town. “This is my first time in Tacoma,” he said. “I’m looking forward to seeing what there is to see here.” Henneberger is looking forward to visiting LeMay, Mt. Rainier, Boeing, and hopes to check out a railroad museum while he’s in the area.

Last week, The Model A Ford Club of America brought 458 families to the Washington State Fairgrounds for a four-day national meet. More than 700 people attended this event.

“The best part about these conventions is meeting the people and showing them the region. People are in awe of what Tacoma and Pierce County have to offer,” said Bob Rezba, Co Chair of the 2014 Model A Ford Club of America.

“And with the two car museums [LeMay-America’s Car Museum and LeMay Family Collection Foundation at Marymount] they’re amazed at the number of cars there are to see here.”

The TRCVB works with association heads to find accommodations and meeting space, providing the planner with easy access to all the destination has to offer, to help make conventions a success. “Working with the TRCVB made registration so much easier,” Rezba said. “It made our lives easier and took away the hassles.”