37th annual Colorado Grand vintage car rally to visit Carbondale on Thursday

In the 37 years the Colorado Grand vintage car rally has been held, it has never visited Carbondale. That will change Thursday when the annual charity event takes over Main Street. 

The annual car rally has raised over $11 million for Colorado charities in its nearly 40 years of running, according to its website. 

“The Colorado Grand is an annual charity tour for 1960 and earlier sports and race cars of distinction,” the website states. “Every September, at the peak of the fall color season, approximately 85 vintage cars are driven in this relaxed, non-competitive event, covering 1,000 miles through the Rockies in five days.”

More than 90 cars are expected to visit Carbondale on Thursday, according to a Colorado Grand news release. Parking along Fourth Avenue on both sides of Main Street will be reserved for participating cars from 8:30 to 10:30 a.m. 

LIFT-UP has been selected as the Carbondale nonprofit host and will provide refreshments for the tour participants Thursday morning at Chacos Park. 

The event is held in cooperation with the Colorado State Patrol, and spectators are invited to view the cars and meet their owners.

Colorado Grand generates more than $800,000 annually for small Colorado charities and Western Slope communities, according to its website. The organization also provides college scholarships to graduating high school seniors in communities along the tour route.

Current beneficiaries include the Colorado State Patrol Family Foundation, Fight for Life, Court Appointed Special Advocates for Children and small-town medical facilities. 

The public is invited to take in the unique cars and support a day of charity on Thursday. For more information, visit co1000.org. 

To volunteer on Thursday, contact Dave Reed at development@liftup.org or 970-366-8766.

Original reporting from postindependent.com