Jane Thompson told the San Miguel Basin Forum that the Rimrocker Historical Society is honored the Colorado Grand tour returns to Nucla Thursday, Sept. 12, for a coffee stop and a chance to visit with the community.
“If you were able to join us to view this amazing group of cars in 2022, you will understand how excited we are to welcome them back to Nucla,” Thompson said. “This is not a race, but a tour of large and small communities in Colorado. The cars will begin arriving around 8 a.m. and will be lined up on Main Street in Nucla.”
Thompson said the cars will stay for about 20 minutes, and drivers will enjoy coffee and pastries provided by the Rimrockers. Then, they’ll leave to continue their tour. Thompson said they’ll be coming from Telluride that morning, up through Naturita and back out through Naturita, heading to Moab for their lunch stop, before going to Grand Junction next.
What is the Colorado Grand tour, though, exactly?
It’s a charity ride. Eddie O’Brien, board member of the event, told the Forum last week that it’s a world class tour, and cars are flown in from every continent. First the cars participate in vintage races in the spring, along with other car shows afterward. At the end of all of that, they make their fall Colorado tour, starting and ending in Vail.
O’Brien said the Colorado Grand tour is about giving back. It’s the 35th anniversary of the ride, and they’ll have donated approximately $10 million to the Western Slope’s nonprofits in that time. That includes scholarships for kids who are headed to college. O’Brien said the Grand has funded Search and Rescue groups, arts councils, and economic development of main streets in small towns.
Founded in 1989, by Bob Sutherland, the group also immediately donates $5,000 to the community it stops in for coffee, with an invitation for those they meet to apply for additional funding. The group donates $15,000 for the community they stop in for lunch, with another $10,000 in scholarships.
O’Brien said the town council, county sheriff or other law enforcement officer help distribute the financial gifts. All grants go to nonprofits and must be a 501c3.
“Really, it’s an experience,” O’Brien said. “When you talk to those who have done it, they can’t wait to come back.”
He added nine members of the Colorado Highway Patrol on motorcycles will escort the tour, and five technicians who are experts in pre-WWII cars will also be riding along, in case repairs are needed.
O’Brien said those on the Colorado Grand Tour look forward to having a coffee stop in Nucla.
“Nucla is one of our favorites,” he said. “We love Nucla, and they love us.”
He also agreed Thompson, of the Rimrockers, is “amazing.” He said he keeps finding “Janes” in almost every little town he visits in Colorado, ladies who love their communities and love what the Colorado Grand tour is doing, and who want to help pull the event together.
Though it’s almost never the case, Nucla will indeed have traffic the morning of Sept. 12.
“We encourage you to not park on Main Street between 4th and 5th avenues,” Thompson said. “If you have any questions, you can call the museum at 970-864-7438."
Typical makes of cars on the tour include Mercedes-Benz, Maserati, Ferrari and more. Sponsors of the event are Mercedes-Benz USA, Hagerty Insurance, WeatherTech, RM Sotheby’s, Premier Financial Services, Franck Muller and Blue Chip Fleet.
