Los Padrinos Car and Truck Club To Host Annual Car Show in San Juan Bautista

The annual car show scheduled for Saturday, June 25, raises funds for charity.
Flier announcing Los Padrinos' 9th Annual Car Show. Courtesy of Ralph Duarte.
Flier announcing Los Padrinos' 9th Annual Car Show. Courtesy of Ralph Duarte.
Pete Duarte.jpg

On Saturday, June 25, the Los Padrinos Car and Truck Club of San Juan Bautista will host its 9th annual car show in the downtown area of the mission city. Scheduled from 8am-5pm, the event will feature custom and classic cars and bicycles, as well as live music, food booths, merchandise vendors, and a raffle for cash-prizes.

Established in 2008, “Los Padrinos is a non-profit committed to maintaining the lowrider mystique, while raising funds for local charities,” according to the website, sanjuanbautistaca.com.

Its annual car show is the club’s primary fundraiser. The beneficiaries of this year’s event include, the San Juan Bautista Veterans of Foreign Wars, Post 6359 and St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

The upcoming car show is in honor of the club’s founder, Pete Duarte of Hollister, who lost his battle with cancer last month.

In an interview with BenitoLink, Duarte’s son and club president, Ralph, said that the club meant a lot to his late father, who “enjoyed getting together with friends and giving back to the community.” Duarte added that each trophy will be inscribed with the phrase, “In memory of Pete Duarte” and include an engraving of Pete’s ’47 Plymouth.

There’s still plenty of space available for owners who wish to showcase their vehicles or bicycles, while competing for trophies in 28categories. The entry fee for car owners is $35 (and includes a commemorative T-shirt and dash plaque). The cost for bicycle owners is $25 and includes a T-shirt. Registration can be paid in advanced or on the day of the event.

Duarte said that several area businesses made donations for the annual event, including Mom and Pop’s Saloon, Doña Esther Mexican Restaurant, and Daisy’s Saloon of San Juan Bautista.

Admission to the family-friendly event is free.

For more information or to make a donation, please contact club president, Ralph Duarte, at (408) 413-8373.

Frank Pérez

I’m a lifelong resident of San Benito County. I reside in Hollister with my wife, Brenda. For over two decades, I've been a faculty member at San Benito High School, where I teach world history, Mexican-American history, and Ethnic Studies. I've been reporting for BenitoLink since 2015. My passion is delving deeper into the nuances of the local, historical record, while including lesser-known stories of our past. My hope is that county residents will have a greater appreciation for the diversity and complexity of San Benito County, realizing that its uniqueness depends upon our responsibility as its stewards.