The 32nd annual running of the Bell Lexus North Scottsdale Copperstate 1000 launches in Arizona in April. It's one of the premier vintage car road rallies in North America and celebrates automotive cultural legacy by featuring some of the finest working examples of vintage, sports, racing, classic and grand touring automobiles manufactured before the 1974 model year.
“The Men’s Arts Council (MAC) created this event back in 1990 as a fundraiser for Phoenix Art Museum and the event continues to set the benchmark for excellence,” says incoming Men’s Arts Council President Joel Coen. “Our members, event participants and even the public are ecstatic to have this iconic event return post-pandemic.”
Each year, a new route covers 1,000 miles of beautiful desert terrain, verdant river valleys and alpine landscapes across the state of Arizona and beyond. Approximately 90 qualifying vintage automobiles participate with drivers and co-drivers from all over the United States, Canada, Mexico and Europe. The relationships that are made during these rallies often develop into lifelong friendships and many participants return year after year.
“The collector car hobby continues to thrive as more collectors are driving and enjoying their vintage automobiles,” says Copperstate 1000 Chairman Keith McLaine. “The Copperstate 1000 is the epitome of such a lifestyle event and allows participants to enjoy four fully catered days of glorious driving with fellow enthusiasts, while having only the sheer exhilaration of the open road to contend with."
The public and fans of all ages can view the cars participating in the Copperstate 1000 during the Roadrunner event on Sunday, April 3, at Tempe Diablo Stadium from 7:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. The Copperstate 1000 cars are lined up on the outside of the field like a track and are announced as they start departing at 10 a.m.
“Local car owners are also more than welcome to display their automobiles in the west parking lot,” Coen says. “There’s truly nothing like it, whether you’re a die hard fan or if you’re just looking for something to do with the family, you won’t want to miss the Roadrunner.”
Some very notable cars will participate in the Copperstate 1000 this year, including a 1952 Cunningham C2 Lemans race car. The Cunningham C2, later referred to as the C2r, was Briggs Cunningham's first serious assault on an outright win in the Le Mans 24 hour race. Sporting aluminum bodywork in the latest style coupled with the brand new overhead valve Chrysler 331 c.i. Hemi engine with LaSalle 3 speed gear change, the C2 had power to burn. It had a tubular ladder frame, conventional front drums from Cadillac, riding on double wishbone independent front suspension, joined to a DeDion rear axle with trick inboard drums. Success was mixed. Of the three cars entered, only one finished in 1951. The car ran as high as second for much of the race, being clocked at 154 mph on the Mulsanne, yet it finished a disappointing 18th after being slowed by mechanical issues late in the race.