Midnight at the Oasis

The car show has rust,
dust, colour and lots of great
private memories

~ carliewired

MATO (or Midnight at the Oasis) has been an annual event in Yuma for 22 years now. It features something in the neighbourhood of 1 ooo classic cars, vendors, rides and activities for the kids and live concerts in the evening.

The gates were open at 9 AM today for the paying public. I noticed many empty spaces on the fields and many classic vehicles arriving after we did. I guess these car owners don't like to get up in the morning.

It was a big walk around all the exhibits. I found another 1947 Plymouth but not as grande as my "Daisy". I also found one 1956 Pontiac similar to the one I learned to drive on as a teenager. Some exhibits were definitely for entertainment value. One featured a 'mechanic' under the front end. On close inspection there were empty beer cans beside him. Another seemed to be a pickup with all sorts of 'attachments' added, including a dog lifting its leg on the front tire. The mannequins used for this truck moved their heads from side to side. That feature alone had a startling effect on some viewers.

No sooner were we on the field than the wind came up, as it does in Yuma, and the dust began to blow around. The wind did keep us cool but the sand in my shoes and eyes became quite an irritant.

We were off to IHOP by noon to refuel.