Today we’d like to introduce you to Bob Fuller.
Bob, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
The idea for Keels & Wheels was to create an event that combined the type of classic automobiles that you would see at the famous Pebble Beach Concours with the vintage wooden boats that were featured at the Lake Tahoe wooden boat concours. To do so, you would have to have access to a facility like Lakewood Yacht Club which features beautiful grounds covered with hundred year old oak trees that surrounds a large inner harbor lined with palm trees. Combining classic cars and wooden boats on a major scale had not been done before. A concours event is distinctive in that it aims at featuring only the very finest examples of cars and boats for the public to see, appreciate and enjoy.
Our first show was 22 years ago with 100 classic cars and 35 wooden boats. Our charity was the Leukemia foundation. We had around 2000 people attend and we donated $2000. to the Foundation. The show has grown over the years to where we now average 190 Cars and 85 boats and attendance averages in the 12-14,000 range.
The cars and boats come from every corner of the United States. The last attendance survey we did revealed attendees from 26 states and 7 countries.
Boys & Girls Harbor is our current Charity and we have donated $1.7Million to date.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
The show has grown each year to the level it is now. The challenges are to attract sponsors as well as the finest car and boat collections in the country to be part of our show.
So, as you know, we’re impressed with Keels & Wheels Concours d’ Elegance – tell our readers more, for example what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
Our organization presents the largest combined classic car and vintage wooden boat show in the United States. We are proud to be the first organization to present such an event. There are now several copy cats around the country but none on the scale of our event. I am proud of the fact that we have generated $1.7Million in donations to the various charities we have supported. Lakewood Yacht club is the perfect venue and over 250 members work the show weekend as volunteers. We are known for the quality of cars and boats we display each year as well as the hospitality we extend to all who attend the event.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
Our plans are to continue to present the finest classic car and vintage wooden boat show in the world. We constantly consider ideas as to how to make the show better.
Pricing:
- Tickets at the gate are $35.00 children 10 or under are free
- Discounted tickets purchased on our website are $25.00 at www.keels-wheels.com
Contact Info:
- Website: www.keels-wheels.com
- Phone: 713-521-0105
- Email: bob@keels-wheels.com
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