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Welcome to the 35th Annual Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo!

I’m Kenny Demello and I’d like to introduce myself as the 2026 Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo President.

I’m born and raised in Fortuna and have worked at Wendt Construction for 49 years. I, like some of you, have been enjoying the AutoXpo for the last 34 years.

As a kid growing up in Fortuna I enjoyed racing around on my bicycle and riding motorcycles. As I entered my teenage years cars became important to me…and they still are! I raced the “8 ball” at the Redwood Acres Raceway and a few years ago when I hung up my racetrack helmet I started restoration on a 1923 Model T-Bucket roadster. When that was complete I still needed the wrench in my hand so I restored my Uncles 1936 Massey Harris 4x4 tractor…both of which you will see on display July 24th, 25th and 26th !

Fortuna has been fortunate to have some Xpo team members on board since the ﬁrst one was held on Main Street 35 years ago! These valuable members have helped me transition into the position of President and quite frankly I’d be lost without them.

This is truly a city commitment and we are thankful to have an amazing group of volunteers, City of Fortuna employees and the Police Department to partner with. They are some of the most dedicated and professional folks

around and we are very lucky they call Fortuna home.

When you attend Xpo on July 24th, 25th and 26th you will see all hands-on deck to welcome you to the Friendly City! If you have an opportunity please take a moment to thank our tireless police department, city crew, volunteers and Xpo committee members for their year-long commitment and dedication to bringing you the 35th Annual Fortuna AutoXpo.

We look forward to seeing you July 24th, 25th and 26th for the 35th Fortuna AutoXpo! Enjoy!

SATURDAY O CTOBER 3RD, 2026

SCHEDULE

FREE AUTOXPO TRANSIT

AROUND TOWN

All

FOOD, REFRESHMENTS & MORE

A portion of our proceeds go to scholarships.

Artisans Faire

Rohner

Now DOING TIRES!

2026 Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo!

As Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo is celebrating its 35th year, those attending will notice a few changes in 2026. Several annual events will not be taking place this year.

The judged car show downtown on Saturday always attracts large crowds. Winners are selected by those who have entered cars in the judged car show, and the same with Saturday’s Show and Shine competition, at the Ray’s Food Place parking lot.

The ﬁrst change is there will be no Friday night dance at the Fortuna River Lodge. Other changes include the elimination of the poker run and the Saturday night movie in the park, as well as the Sunday burn-out contest.

“Fewer people were attending and participating in these events,” 2026 Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo president Kenny Demello said. He said those who attend will still experience a quality show. “We are very excited about this show,” Demello said. “It will be a little different this year,” he added, “but it’s still going to be a great show and a lot of fun.”

The always popular Friday night cruise will take place as scheduled, starting at 6 p.m. Cars will be entering Main Street from 13th and 14th Street, traveling south on Fortuna Boulevard, with the turnaround point, just south of the Redwood Village Shopping Center.

All who are entered in the judged car show and/or show and shine competition are automatically eligible to participate in the cruise. This year, there was also an opportunity for members of the public to register to participate in the cruise only.

Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo winners will receive their awards Sunday morning in Rohner Park. This year, there will only be ﬁrst place winner plaques given out, along with several special awards, and the Best of Show trophy.

Demello said, “This is truly a city commitment, and we are thankful to have an amazing group of volunteers, City of Fortuna employees and the Polic Department, to partner with. They are some of the most dedicated and professional folks around and we are very lucky they call Fortuna home,” he added.

“When you attend AutoXpo on July 24, 25, and 26, you will see all-hands on deck to welcome you to the Friendly City. If you have an opportunity,” Demello added, “please take a moment to thank our tireless police department, city crews, volunteers, and AutoXpo committee members for their year-long commitment and dedication to bringing you the 35th Annual Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo.”

Photos by Mary Bulwinkel

It’s been almost one year since the Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo Committee lost a many years, dedicated member of the group on August 8, 2025.

Ellis Cleaver was a valued member of the AutoXpo Committee and over the years created and made many of the trophies that were handed out to the winners of the car show.

Cleaver was 83 when he passed away.

The following tribute to Cleaver is from his obituary.

A veteran of the U.S. Navy, he had a lifelong love of classic cars, but none more special than the Volvo he inherited from his father. Through countless hours of painstaking care, he kept it in pristine condition, a reﬂection not only of his craftmanship, but his devotion to preserving something deeply meaningful.

He extended his passion for automobiles into the community as a proud member of the Fortuna redwood AutoXpo Committee, where he crafted countless one-of-a-kind trophies – each one a reﬂection of his creativity and dedication to celebrating classic cars and the people who loved them.

In 2015, Cleaver was honored by the Fortuna Volunteer Fire Department as the Fire Citizen of the Year.

Though he was not always able to speak his heart easily, his actions told the story of his love. He was the man who would quietly ﬁx what was broken who showed up when needed, and who carried burdens for others, even when his own load was heavy.

His love was steady, practical, and enduring – found in every day acts that, over time, spoke louder than words.

To his family he was a protector and a provider. To the community he was a quiet helper, often working in the background, but always dependable. To those who knew him well, he was a reminder that strength can be quiet, love can be unspoken, and legacy can live on in both people and passions passed down.

Though we grieve his passing, we celebrate a life lived with resilience, service, and quiet devotion. His memory will live on in every life he touched, in the lessons he taught by example, and in the pristine shine of a Volvo that will forever carry his spirit.

A celebration of life for Cleaver was held October 11, 2025 at the Fortuna ﬁre Hall.

From the Fortuna Redwood AutoXpo Committee - Rest in Peace, Ellis, we will miss you.

HumboldtFence.com 564 Hwy 36, Fortuna CA • 822-9511

russ@humboldtfence.com Lic#808339

THURSDAY, AUGUST 27

Premier Oil Change Poker Run

Line up at the Warfinger Building at 5:30pm The run starts at 6:00pm!

FRIDAY, AUGUST 28

Registration at Boys & Girls Club Teen Center, Harris & K streets, 12pm-5pm.

McCrea Motors Welcome BBQ at the Teen Center, 939 Harris, 12pm-2pm.

Kingsview Partners Show & Shine, 205 I St, with raffle prizes and music, 2pm-5pm Free Event!

Eureka Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram FIAT Cruz thru Old Town – 6pm – 7pm.

SATURDAY, AUGUST 29

Show Parking starts at 7am at 2nd & C streets in Old Town.

Street Fair Vendor Setup starts at 8am. Map located at the Registration Table at the Gazebo.

Registration is from 9am to 10:30am at the Gazebo

Car & Motorcycle Show, Street Fair, Raffle & Kid Zone – 10am to 4pm Awards begin at 3pm.

SUNDAY, AUGUST 30 Show & Shine, starts at 11am at the

2025

FORTUNA AUTOXPO

WINNERS

Best of Show

1940 Ford 2-door coupe

Tim Kerrigan, Eagle, ID

Best of Show - Show and Shine

1963 Chevy 4 door- Impala, Travis Jellis, Arcata, CA

Best Paint

1957 Chevy 3100 Pickup "Dragon Fire"

Tracy Booker and Dave Arnold

Frank Hizer Memorial Award

1963 Chevy coupe

Bill Clifton, Redding, CA

Best Engine

1941 Willys coupe

Greg & Lynn Headrick, Gold Beach, OR

1963

EEC -1939 to 1940 coupes

1940 Ford coupe

Tim Kerrigan, Eagle, ID

1968 Chevy Malibu

Kevin Denoma

1941 Willys coupe

Greg and Lynn Headrick, Gold Beach, OR

City

1970 Datsun 240Z

Robert

Pauline Evans Memorial Award

Fortuna Chamber of Commerce Choice

Best Interior

1935 Hupp

Ron Icely, Sr., Redding, CA

Mayor's Choice

Studebaker GT Hawk

Harold D. Hadley, Ferndale, CA

Manager's Choice

Moreno,Fortuna, CA

Police Chief's Choice

1966 Ford Bronco

Chris Boswell,Fortuna, CA

MG Foreign Sports, Exotic, all years 1957 BMW Isetta Stefan Fisher, Blue Lake, CA

1A Under Construction

BMW Isetta Stefan Fisher, Blue Lake, CA

Tudor Ralph Fisher, Fortuna, CA TT Rat Rods

DeSoto Airﬂow

Moore, Eureka, CA

- All Pro Street

Chevy pickup Chris Morris, Gridley, CA

AA - T Bucket

1923 Ford T Bucket Rod & Diane Lucero, Red Bluff, CA

& Loretta Kirkeby, Healdsburg,CA

RR, All El Caminos, Ranchero, Sedan, Delivery

1959 Chevy El Camino

Jack Luntey, Redding, Ca

MM - Up to 1958 Pickups and Panels

1936 Ford pickup

Richard Hansen, Santa Rosa, CA

1932

NN - 1939 to 1948 pickups

1945 Dodge pickup

Steve Larsen, Forestville, Ca

C - 1949 to 1954

1949 custom Ford

Jim Finney, Eureka, CA

1966

BBC - to 1931 coupes

1930 Ford Model A

Ed Bryan, Jacksonville, OR

MH - Motorcycles all

1976 Harley Davidson FXWG

Mark Topping, Eureka, CA

1932

George

CC - 1932 to 1934 Coupes

Ford 5 window coupe

Michael Hoffman, Harrisburg, CA

MF - Convertibles All

Chevy Malibu

Jack Hayden, Citrus Heights, CA

CCS 1932 to 1934

Studebaker 4-door sedan

Acri, Redwood City, CA

MD1 - Mustangs 1980 and Up

2008 Shelby GT

Ron Smith, Live Oak, CA

D - 1955 to 1959

1957 Chevy Bel Air

Mike & Amy Buegeleisen, Windsor, CA

MD - Mustangs up to 1979

1967 Ford Mustang

Paul & Patsy Newmaker, Scotia, CA

DD 1935 to 1938 Coupes

1938 Chevy couple

Rick Giambra, San Rafael, CA

DDS - 1935 to 1938

1937 Chevy sedan

Bob & Debra Lander, Sebastapol, CA

E - 1960 to 1968

1964 Pontiac GTO,

Bob Oller, Sonoma, CA

JJ - 1965 to 1968

1967

MC T Birds, All Years

1956 T Bird

Doug & Leellen Trayler, Windsor, CA

LL - 1955 to 1957 Chevy

1955 Chevy Bel Air

Dave & Sheila Sambad, Windsor, Ca.

KK, 1969 to present

1969 Chevrolet Chevelle SS

Ron Eldridge, Fortuna, CA

EES - 1939 to 1940

1939 Ford sedan

Steve

MB -1984 to Present

2022 Chevy Corvette

Randy Bennett, Fortuna, CA

PP - 1957 to Present

1987 Chevy K10

Michael Munson, Eureka, CA

CCR - 1932 to 1934

1932 Ford Roadster

II - 1953 to 1964

1952 Chevy Impala

Don Viggers, Fortuna,CA

Keith Christopherson, Santa Rosa, CA

Chevy Corvette

Patrick LaForge, Clovis, CA

Sedans

& Linda Ortega, Rohnert Park, CA

F - 1969 to Present

1970 Ford Boss 302 Mustang

Bert Silva, Rio Dell, CA

H - Trucks, Panels, El Caminos

1948 Dodge Power Wagon

Ron Icely Jr., Redding, CA

Show and Shine Best Vintage

1934 Ford 3-window coupe

Steve Kioukis, Fortuna, CA

HH - 1949 to 1952

1950 Oldsmobile 88 Covertible J. Knight, Chico, CA

GG 1947 to 1948

1947 Ford coupe

Jim & Patsy Haggerty, Brookings, OR

Show and Shine Best Exotic

1962 Austin Mini Cooper A Joel Wallaker, Fortuna, CA

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