When most middle schoolers start their summer vacation, they make a beeline straight to the amusem*nt park, a friend’s pool or an air-conditioned video game room.
Abel Bringhurst is spending the early days of summer a little differently. The charismatic 12-year-old is talking to food vendors, supercar owners and silent auction sponsors as he puts together his third car show in as many years.
Abel poses with his parents at the Back the Blue Car Show he organized in 2022.
The Code Red Car Show, a free event to benefit the Lehi Fire Department, will take place on Saturday, June 29, 2024, at the Young Living Headquarters from 11-2 p.m. And if you’re thinking this event is all about the novelty of its preteen organizer, just wait until you see what he’s got in store.
They’d never seen anything like it before
Abel hosted his first car show two years ago. The Back the Blue Car Show, organized by Abel, was an effort to raise money for the Lehi Police Department’s K9 unit.
A lot of 10-year-olds who want to raise money for a local cause might opt for a lemonade stand or lawn mowing business, but not Abel. He set up a show with 350 cars and over 2,500 attendees, and raised a whopping $18,000. Thanks to Abel’s fundraising, the K9 unit added a new dog and covered all of its supplies and equipment.
Abel gets to know the Lehi K9 officers he helped raised money for.
Abel admits some of that success was due to the novelty of a fourth-grader hosting a car show. “I think it kind of made people go, ‘Wait, what? There’s a kid hosting a car show?’ That first one blew it out of the water because they’d never seen anything like it before.”
The first year was his biggest so far, but year two was nothing to sneeze at. In 2023, Abel raised just under $10,000 for Continue Mission, a non-profit supporting veterans. Vehicles and Veterans was a success, but Abel thinks this year’s Code Red Car Show will be the most successful yet.
Not your average car show
How big is this year’s event? Well, people will have to look up to take it all in. That’s right, the cars won’t be the only thing making their big entrance at the Code Red Car Show. Abel has skydivers (literally) dropping in this year, and that’s just the tip of the iceberg. There will also be food trucks, local vendors, a DJ and a raffle featuring prizes from event sponsors like Pit Viper.
Abel's raffle prizes tend to get people excited.
But the pièce de résistance is the silent auction. Abel’s never done one before, but based on the prizes he’s got on tap, you’d think he’d done hundreds. The silent auction will feature:
- An Italian wine package
- A supercar driving experience in Las Vegas with a three-night stay on the Vegas strip
- A five-night Cancun vacation
- A “Ferrari Fantasy” trip that includes a three-night stay in Modena, Italy, along with a Ferrari test drive and a tour of the Ferrari museum
Come for the Italian supercars; leave with a trip to Italy (or some Italian wines). Not a bad way to spend a Saturday. It’s all part of what Abel thinks makes his shows special. “I like to make mine one-of-a-kind. That’s what I think people like about my car shows.”
Rare cars and regular Joes
The event has everything, but don’t think that the cars have been lost in the shuffle of all the excitement. Along with the usual lineup of supercars, Abel said there will be plenty of iconic Japanese domestic market standouts and classic muscle cars in attendance. You’ll even be able to check out one of the rarest cars in the country.
Abel's friends have some pretty cool cars. Well, the ones who are old enough to drive, anyway.
Supercar Ron, a friend of KSL Cars, is bringing his Pagani Huayra Roadster Tempesta. It’s the only one of its kind in the entire U.S. And while the ultra-rare car is the headliner, Abel isn’t picky. Whether your car costs a couple million or a couple thousand, all are welcome at his shows.
“When people ask me, ‘Can I register this in your car show?’ I always tell them yes. I don’t care if you drive an old, broken-down Honda Civic or a $500,000 Lamborghini; I accept all cars,” Abel said. “That’s what I love about the car community. A billionaire with a Bugatti Chiron and a guy that’s living paycheck to paycheck can get along because they both love cars.”
Those are some wise words from a 12-year-old, but it’s hard to be surprised by anything Abel says or does. From the level of detail in his shows to the causes he raises money for, Abel shows maturity beyond his years.
Cars for a cause
What made Abel want to raise money for first responders and service members? Abel’s father served in the police force for seven years, and his grandfather was a veteran officer of over 50 years. “I really like law enforcement and first responders,” Abel said. “I know that they risk their lives for us almost every single day, and I really appreciate that.”
The timing of Abel’s show is significant, too. “There are more fires than ever this time of year, so I wanted to raise money for the Lehi Fire Department for their relief efforts.”
The department is also in the midst of building a new fire station. “I was hoping we could raise some money to make their living quarters a little more comfortable.”
10-year-old Abel celebrates his first successful car show in 2022.
If you want to help Abel’s cause, mark your calendar for Saturday, June 29, at 11 a.m. If you want to help yourself, register your car for the show early and save $10! Pre-registration is $20, while day-of registration is $30. (It’s free to attend for the public.)By pre-registering, you’ll also make life easier for Abel. Not that he needs the help, though. “It’s actually way easier than people think,” he said of hosting his car shows. His mom, Wendy, was quick to jump in. “I don’t think it’s as easy as he’s made it sound,” she added. “It’s easy for him because he enjoys it.” See all of Abel’s hard work (or not-so-hard work) come to life at the Code Red Car Show.
