Downtown Modesto will be rocking after a year of silence. Graffiti is back and among the large car scene will be Mid Valley Chevy Club. 

The club was formed in the 1970s and has been a premier club in the 209 ever since. Sam Gotshall is a former club president and has been a current member since the mid 1980s. 

“I think people are going to be excited,” Gotshall said of the upcoming graffiti events. “It will be nice just to return to the festivities and people will be looking forward to it.” 

When the club began, there were approximately 25 members and now there are currently over 100 members as of today. 

“We are a close group of friends; honestly most of us have been friends since high school,” Gotshall said.

The purpose of the club was established for the enjoyment and restoration of classic automobiles by its memebers. The Mid Valley Chevy Club annually supports all Valley area car shows with both sponsorship and participation by its members. it also helps the community through donations and supporting local service organizations.

A Park n’ Shine event will be held at the Century Center shopping center at 2401 E. Orangeburg Ave., in Modesto on Aug. 16, with cars on display. The club’s busy week continues on Aug. 17 at Vintage Fair Mall at 3401 Dale Road in Modesto for another car show. On Aug. 18 they head to Riverbank at Cool Hand Luke’s at 2505 Patterson Road and on Aug. 19 they will be at the 10th Street Plaza in Modesto and the corner of 10th and J streets.

The club is expected to have 40 to 50 cars on site for the events. 

“We will have a number of different types of vehicles that will be out there this year,” Gotshall said. “I am not sure exactly what will be out there, but I know I personally will have a 1940 Ford Coop that will be on display.”

During Graffiti a select group of individuals will be honored with Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame. Gotshall is one of the inductees for 2021. 

“It’s a huge honor. I remember as a young man seeing some of these guys and now I will be recognized with them and that’s a great feeling,” he said.

Other club members previously inducted into the Legends of the Cruise Walk of Fame are: Bart Bartoni, Pete Hischier, Dennis Wilson, Don Monaco, Frank Burnett, Glen Wild, Bobby Gaines, Rick Walker, Don Wood, Paul Corgiat, and Dub Kyle.

Mid Valley Chevy Club is looking for new members and those who are interested in joining can get more details on their website www.midvalleychevy.com . Current president of Mid Valley Chevy Club is Howard Rees, vice president Greg Benes, secretary Deborah Ballard and treasurer is Kathy Hein.