The Zach Peterson Memorial Car Show, held on Labor Day at Nelson Ledges Race Track, exceeded all expectations as thousands of attendees filled the grounds to celebrate cars, community, and the life of Zach Peterson.
The annual event, organized by a dedicated committee and the Peterson family continues to grow each year. “We are so grateful for everyone who donated their time and energy to make this year such a success,” the family shared. Proceeds from the show directly support the Zach Peterson Memorial Scholarship Fund, which has already made a tremendous impact on local students. In 2025, ten scholarships were awarded to Garfield and Windham students entering Maplewood Career Center and college programs, and organizers are thrilled to continue the tradition in 2026.
The car show was more than a showcase of classic and custom vehicles—it was a full day of family fun. Children enjoyed toddler entertainment, inflatables, and video games, while adults took their chances to win one of over 100 Chinese auction baskets. A lively 50/50 raffle saw one lucky winner walk away with close to $2,000 in cash.
New this year was a raffle for a 1961 Chevrolet Corvair project car, which found a new home with a lucky winner from the crowd.
Of course, the event would not have been complete without the show’s famous pulled pork sandwiches and meals, which were once again a tremendous hit. The food crew begins preparations days in advance and fires up the smokers at 4 a.m. on show day to ensure meals are ready when the gates open. While many come for the cars, just as many attend for their once-a-year chance to enjoy the signature sandwiches.
Event merchandise was also in high demand, with many sizes of the official memorial T-shirts selling out during the day. For those who missed out, shirts can still be ordered online through September 15 at zpcarshow.org.
The grand finale of the day was the awards ceremony. For the first time, attendees were able to cast their votes by scanning a QR code on each vehicle’s dash plaque, allowing the crowd to take part in selecting the winners. Adding a special touch, every handcrafted trophy was made by the Peterson family and board members and featured a Hot Wheels car from Zach’s own personal collection.
Winners by category were:
GM Car 2011 Camaro Gary Woodman
GM Truck 1969 Chevy C10 Panel Van Michael Hogue
Ford Car 1934 Ford 3 Window Coupe Greg Billock
Ford Truck 1959 Ford F100 John McCarty
Mopar Car 2005 Dodge Viper Dean Smith
Mopar Truck 1994 Jeep Wrangler Mark Rohrbaugh
Motorcycle 2001 Honda Shadow ACE 750 Shaun Pfleger
Hotrod 1923 Ford T-Bucket James Nanassy
Ratrod 1971 Chevy C10 Shay Sane
Tractor 1955 Farmall 300 Dexter Dorris
Off-Road 4×4 1977 GMC 4×4 Monster Truck Rich Porter
Other 1970 Sutphen Tin Lizzy Calum Nutter
Best Car 1940 Studebaker Commander Ted David
Best Truck 1966 Chevy C10 Al Stacko
Scholarship 1964 Volkswagon Squareback Dwayne Fetterolf
Best Overall 1951 GMC 3100 Craig Strock
The overwhelming turnout and support once again demonstrated the strength of the community and the lasting impact of Zach’s memory. Plans are already underway for the 2026 show, which promises to bring even more excitement and opportunities to honor his legacy.
