Pavilions Rock ’N Roll Car Show Rocks Again

Mark Kramer, the Rock ’N Roll Car Show founder, with a few of his Ferraris

Larry Oliver, right, with drawing winner Ron Gemoll

written by David M. Brown

On October 2, the world’s oldest weekly car show restarted its popular Saturday evening shows, 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., at the Pavilions at Talking Stick.

Scottsdale’s Larry Oliver restarted the 31-year-old Rock ’N Roll Car Show on May 15 at the shopping center, 9120 East Talking Stick Way (Indian Bend Road), in the Salt River Pima – Indian Community. The venue is just off the Loop 101 north of the Shell station near the McDonald’s.

“It’s a great location and wonderful people,” says Oliver. “You can get every type food that you could want at the center, and there’s also a movie theater, Home Depot, Target, car and tire repair –– all within walking distance.”

The show welcomes all cars, classic and new; no awards are given, and there is no cost to enter. Valley resident Mark Kramer, a Ferrari collector and original owner of the McDonald’s at the Pavilions, founded the show in November 1989. The following April, it became an official event. Kramer died in March after a long illness.

Because of the onset of COVID-19 in early 2020, the event was discontinued. Concerned, Oliver called Marty DeRito, the managing partner of Phoenix-based DeRito Partners, which manages The Pavilions. That was in December 2020.

“I’ve been attending it for 20 years and met Mark a few times. I heard dozens of rumors about the show and wanted to know what was going on. Marty told me the company wanted to reopen but did not know anything about car shows,” recalls Oliver, who has organized many, including the one for Cherokee Casino near Tulsa, Oklahoma. “I am a car nut and also a classic car broker for the last 15 to 20 years,” he adds.

Marty and Oliver met with center’s operations manager, Chuck Carlise, who is also the president and partner at the firm. “They asked me to manage the event, and I said ‘no’ but would help. About 30 days later, they asked me again, and I said I would think about it. After another 30 days, I said ‘yes,’ knowing they had no one else and I, and many others, wanted it to re-open.”

Oliver scheduled the first 20 new shows this year from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. because the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community approved the permit but with limited numbers and special rules. He notes that for the last month about 100 cars have participated, increasing to 130 most recently. “Changing to afternoons and evenings should double or triple that number,” he adds.

Events change every week, and the event has had drawings on most weeks. Beginning October 2, a new DJ, “Wolfman Jack,” has hosted the event, and on October 30, “Trunk or Treat” night is being offered for the children.

On November 13, the Pavilions Rock ’N Roll Car is holding a Tribute to Mark Kramer and unveiling a bronze commemorative plaque in his honor. “Like me, most of these car lovers have been coming to this show for over 20 years or more and know each other. We have become friends and look forward to seeing each other every week,” Oliver says. “Mark Kramer lived this attitude and liked all cars and the people that drove them.”

For information, see thepavilionsattalkingstick.com/carshow. Or call Larry Oliver, 480.203.9973.

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