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Car is King Weekend

About the Event

Celebrate Sam Hill’s love of roads, the automobile, and the arts at Maryhill Museum of Art, Car is King Weekend. This is a free two-day event featuring a classic car show, an open drive on the historic Maryhill Loops Road and a timed hill climb with vintage sports cars. All activities are free on the grounds of Maryhill Museum of Art and at the historic Maryhill Loops Road. Enjoy a classic car show, artist booths, food vendors, hands-on art, an open drive and vintage race cars on the Maryhill Loops Road and more.

Car is King

This Years Event

Car is King Weekend at Maryhill Museum of Art 2023

Car is King Weekend at Maryhill Museum of Art 2023

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2023 – CONCOURS DE MARYHILL

Concours de Maryhill| 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

This event is FREE TO ATTEND on museum grounds for spectators! All vehicle makes, models and years are welcome to be displayed at the Concours de Maryhill, with an opportunity to win a trophy in one of 29 classes plus Sam Hill’s Choice. The Concours runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Registration starts at 8 a.m. and is $25 per vehicle. For more information or to pre-register your vehicle, visit the Goldendale Motorsports Association event page.

Drive the Maryhill Loops Road | Noon to 2 p.m.
The historic Maryhill Loops Road, one of the first modern roads in the Northwest, is opened for automobiles only twice a year. This is your chance to take a spin past the beautiful scenery and through the road’s eight hairpin curves. Free on the historic Maryhill Loops Road, located just east of US 97 off of State Route 14.

Organized by Goldendale Motorsports Association

In addition to the Concours itself, participants and spectators can:

  • Visit Maryhill Museum of Art from 10 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Spectators must purchase admission to the Museum; vehicle registrants receive up to 2 free admission passes per entry.
  • Drive up the historic Maryhill Loops Road from 12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • See Maryhill Loops Vintage Hillclimb Association’s vintage hillclimb race cars display from 12:00 p.m. to 2 p.m.
  • Bid on items in a silent auction at the Concours including local wines, motor oil, $150 Les Schwab gift certificates, restaurant gift certificates, ratchet straps and more.
  • Purchase event t-shirts ($20).
  • Buy raffle tickets for the drawing at 2:30 PM. The Grand prize is a flat screen SmartTV.
  • Purchase food from onsite vendor Taqueria Veracruz, serving breakfast burritos and coffee from 8 a.m. until sold out, and authentic Mexican food lunch items until 3:30 p.m.

Schedule of Events

8:00 a.m. – Vehicle registration begins; Silent auction begins; Raffle ticket sales begin. Prizes raffled throughout the day. Grand Prize: Flat Screen Smart TV winner announced after awards ceremony.

9:00 a.m. Concours de Maryhill opens to the public.

10:00 a.m. Maryhill Museum of Art opens to the public.

12:00 p.m. – Maryhill Loops Vintage Hillclimb Association (MLVHA) racers arrive; Open Show ballots due at Registration table.

12:00 p.m.-2:00 p.m. – Maryhill Loops Road open to drive. Save your show spot and return after the drive (put out a lawn chair or borrow a traffic cone).

The historic Maryhill Loops Road, located just east of US 97 off State Route 14, is one of the first modern roads in the Northwest. It is open for automobiles just twice a year. This is your chance to take a spin past the beautiful scenery and through the road’s eight hairpin curves.

1:30 p.m. – MLVHA Race Car voting ballots due at Registration table

2:30 p.m. – Silent Auction ends (must be present to win)

3:00 p.m. – Awards Ceremony begins (trophy parade)

3:30 p.m. +- – Grand Prize TV raffle winner announced.


SUNDAY, OCTOBER 8, 2023 – MARYHILL LOOPS HILL CLIMB

Organized by Maryhill Loops Vintage Hillclimb Association and assisted by members of the Tri-Cities Strictly British Motor ClubYakima Valley Sports Car Club and Society of Vintage Racing Enthusiasts.

Vintage sports cars from the 1930s to 1960s race singly in a three-mile timed climb up the historic Maryhill Loops Road. This is the most historic event on the Pacific Northwest motor racing calendar is this recreation of the Maryhill Hillclimb. First held in 1955, it has seen top international drivers and cars as diverse as Ferraris, vintage Bentleys, Model-T racers, and formula B cars race up its slopes. The Hillclimb now sees a diverse group of cars, motorcycles, and karts even. It’s a unique experience for any motorsports enthusiast, as very few hillclimb events are still available anywhere in the world. Driving this large portion of the original 1955 course at speed is a dizzying ascension not for the faint of heart, with long drop-offs just a few feet away all the way to the top. Free for spectators viewing the race from the Highway 97 Overlook and from designated viewpoints along the route. Organized by the Maryhill Loops Vintage Hill Climb Association; only their approved cars and drivers will be competing. 

Previous Years

Car is King Weekend 2021

Car is King Weekend 2021

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 2, 2021 Concours de Maryhill| 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.This is an open car show and anyone with a special car may enter. The day concludes with an awards presentation, followed by a catered dinner at 4 p.m. Organized by Goldendale Motorsports...

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Vintage Autos Take Center Stage October 7 & 8 2017

Vintage Autos Take Center Stage October 7 & 8 2017

(Goldendale, Wash., September 11, 2017) -- Celebrate Sam Hill’s love of roads October 7 & 8 during Car is King Weekend, a free two-day event featuring a classic car show, an open drive on the historic Maryhill Loops Road and a timed hill climb with vintage sports...

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Art & Autos Combine for Two Days of Fun 2015

Art & Autos Combine for Two Days of Fun 2015

Celebrate Sam Hill’s love of roads, the automobile, and the arts on October 3 & 4, 2015 at Maryhill Museum of Art. Enjoy a classic car show, artist booths, food vendors, hands-on art, an open drive and vintage race cars on the Maryhill Loops Road and more....

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Car is King Weekend Oct 4 & 5 2014

Car is King Weekend Oct 4 & 5 2014

Celebrate Sam Hill’s love of roads and the automobile in a weekend full of events. Drive the Maryhill Loops Road Noon to 2 p.m., Saturday, October 4 The historic Maryhill Loops Road, one of the first modern roads in the Northwest, is opened for automobiles only twice...

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