AutoMania in Beaver Creek this weekend

Beaver Creek’s population could quadruple in size this weekend when Springbrooke Events brings the 2020 AutoMania event to town.
“I thought it would be a great opportunity to bring awareness to this community,” said Springbrooke owner Rick Gourley.
“We have about 200 cars registered so far, but typically the turnout is actually three times the actual registered number, so we could have 500 or even 800 show up.”
He said 500 to 600 cars will fit in the upper course fairways, and tractors and overflow vehicles will be staged in the lower course.
With sunny skies and 83 degrees in the weekend forecast, there’s a likely chance Beaver Creek could see plenty of cars and sizeable crowds Friday and Saturday.
AutoMania, which began in 1998, brought 20,000 people to Sioux Falls five years ago, and in the two years following, the event was held in Brandon.
After two years of no AutoMania, Gourley bought the brand and staged his debut in Beaver Creek, where he’s been working to revive the golf course and event center.
“That’s what I do — take over properties and repurpose them,” Gourley said Monday. “Had it just been the golf course in Beaver Creek, I wouldn’t have been involved, but event centers are needed and necessary in communities.”
He’s hosted several large weddings and events at Springbrooke since it opened last fall, but this weekend will be a true test of his hospitality skills, especially in a time of pandemic precautions.
“We added a very large patio and even increased the outside patio space below,” Gourley said. “We have a total of 8,000 square feet of outdoor hard surface.”
Activities associated with AutoMania are outdoors by nature with Live Rock ‘n’ Roll music, special movie cars, auto-related vendors, food and beverages.
Admission is free, thanks to several sponsors, and Gourley said proceeds will be donated to Game Plan 4-Hope, Veterans Cemetery, El Riad Shriners children’s hospital.
Saturday is considered the main event, but Friday night offers a preview with a charity poker run at 5 p.m., free live music at 7 p.m. on the golf course and the first rounds of Dock Dogs diving competition starting at 5 p.m.
Gourley said a 30,000-gallon above-ground pool will have a dock at one end for the dogs to make running dives in competition for the longest jump, highest jump, fastest retrieve and other categories.
Dock Dog National Sportsmen’s Series competition will continue Saturday starting at noon with finals at 6 and 8 p.m.
The schedule of events is featured on the back page, and on the AutoMania website, www.automaniaatspringbrooke.com.