'Large turn out' expected for 10th Wheels for Wheels car show

NEW MILFORD, Conn. — When the annual Wheels for Wheels car show fundraiser rolls around each year, excitement stirs.

Car enthusiasts, including those with and without wheeled vehicles to showcase, mark their calendar for the fundraiser that benefits Wheels for Wheels, a New Milford nonprofit founded by the late Sean Quigg.

This year’s car show will be held Saturday, June 28, from noon to 4 p.m. at John Pettibone Community Center on Pickett District Road.

“I expect a large turn out,” said Tom Nisco, a car enthusiast and multi-year event videographer. “We have awesome vendors, amazing food, and some of the best cars yet coming this year.”

Deborah Rose/A variety of food trucks will be on hand at Saturday's event. This photo was taken at the ninth car show in 2024.

This year’s event is bittersweet. It’s the event’s 10th anniversary, but it will be the first without the nonprofit’s leader. Quigg, 31, died Feb. 19 after a fierce battle with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Before he died, Quigg expressed that he wanted the show to continue. 

Courtesy of the Quiggs/Sean Quigg, who died in February, founded Wheels for Wheels, a nonprofit organization whose mission is “serving, uplifting, and mobilizing the disabled community through advocacy, education and realized successes that foster compassion and advance accessibility.”

“This is the first year that we have to do it without [Sean],” said Sam Coutts, vice president of Wheels for Wheels. “It’s really tough….I wish more than anything that he would be with us that day. But doing this for him is very exciting. It’s what he would want. He wouldn’t want [us] to be sad and upset on the day.” 

“I hope it turns out to be something [Sean] would be proud of,” Coutts said. “He’ll be looking down on us.” 

“Though I wish Sean were physically here for it, I know he wanted to do this 10th annual bigger than ever, so we are sticking to it,” Nisco said.

The family event is expected to draw several hundred vehicles and visitors from the region and beyond. Attendees can expect to see a lot of classic 1960s muscle cars, some late 1960 Chevys, and a strong JDM presence, including old Nissans and Toyotas, as well as Euros and more, according to Coutts.

Deborah Rose/The 2024 car show brought in a variety of vehicles.

Courtesy of Wheels for Wheels/Attendees appreciate viewing all aspects of the vehicles on exhibit, including this one shown in 2023.

Courtesy of Wheels for Wheels/Attendees are attracted to the assortment of show cars, like this one in 2023.

Courtesy of Wheels for Wheels/This photograph was taken at the 2023 car show.

Nisco said the show brings in a variety of vehicles and offerings “that most other shows don’t have, with a near endless capacity.” He added, “From classic muscle, like a ‘69 Camaro, to a mid-90s Lamborghini Diablo. You’re sure to see something you like.”

Coutts, who worked with Sean on car shows for 13 years, said attendees come from all over. “Sean was very tapped into a lot of different types of people in the automotive world. His reach was very broad.”

Much of the show’s attendance comes from word of mouth and through sponsors. This year’s sponsors are Be Easy, Passarelli Automotive, Auto Turismo Sports Ltd., Robert’s Auto, OEM+ Industries, Howie Hammer, Race Works, Max Power Sports, JAG Fine Jewelry, Odyssey, and Max KTM/Max BMW.

“I have a really good feeling it’s going to be really big,” Coutts predicted. 

In addition to the exhibition portion of the event and food trucks, guests will have an opportunity to view the 1961 Ferrari 250 GT California used in the 1986 film “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” which will be on exhibit.

Last year, a race car, a Lamborghini, and custom Porsche 911s were among the unique extras on display.

With all the cool cars on exhibit, it seems only right some be acknowledged, and they will be. Awards will be presented for Best in Show, classic, muscle, JDM, Euro, motorcycle, paint, wheels, engine bay, and new this year, Sean’s Pick.

“The awards we usually keep pretty sparce and they’re not for individual genres of cars,” said Coutts. “This year we’re doing something special, Sean’s Pick…. what do we think Sean would think is the coolest car for the show? In my opinion, I think Sean’s Pick is going to be the hot award this year.”

Lunch and beverages will be available from several sources, including food trucks Rice to Meat You, John’s Hot Dogs, JK’s Pizza, and Jesse’s Ice Cream. In addition, Kash & Live Coffee will be present.

Coutts acknowledged one this is different than in past years; there is no online registration. 

“Sean handled that entirely,” Coutts said. “As far of workload, Sean did the workload of 10 able-bodied men. He was a brute; he ran this show almost single-handedly…..The conceptualization and getting everything together, it was an honor to work with him for so long.”

The suggested admission to the show is $20. Entry to show a car is $20. Funds raised benefit Wheels for Wheels, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization whose mission is “serving, uplifting, and mobilizing the disabled community through advocacy, education and realized successes that foster compassion and advance accessibility.”

“We’re happy to see [the event] go forward because it was [Sean’s] passion and biggest fundraiser” that gave the organization the means to continue to fund grants, Quigg’s mother, Mia Quigg, said of seeing the car show move ahead.

“We want to continue his legacy,” she said.

Since its founding, Wheels for Wheels has raised imparted “tens of thousands of dollars” of essential supportive services and funds to individuals and businesses, according to Coutts.

It has bestowed grants to individuals throughout the country who need assistance with equipment or other needs and supports adaptive athletes with assistance to purchase equipment and travel funds for competitions. Types of assistance has included putting hand controls in a car, purchasing wheelchair Motocross chairs, and more. 

In addition, the organization has built several ramps at downtown businesses that were otherwise inaccessible to those with mobility challenges. 

“Sean always had this idea of having different tiers of giving and service,” Coutts related.

Deborah Rose/The 2024 car show held at the John Pettibone Community Center attracted an assortment of show cars.

Deborah Rose/Exhibitors from Connecticut, New York and beyond attend the event.

Courtesy of Wheels for Wheels/Wheels for Wheels, Be Easy, and others will have vendor booths on site.