Serving Clovis, Portales and the Surrounding Communities

Auto enthusiasts gather for show

Cannon Connections photo: Liliana Castillo Adrian Martinez, 4, calls his father’s 1964 Chevy Impala Super Sport his car. Tech Sgt. Francisco Martinez said he’s worked and lived in low riders since he was his son’s age.

Staff Sgt. Adam Platt said his 2004 Ford Mustang GT parked in between two other Mustangs at Doc Stewart Park was a work in progress.

Platt’s Mustang joined about 50 entries at last month’s Cannon Thunder Auto Show. About a dozen Cannon airmen entered their cars in the event.

Platt, 28, said he has worked on the car during the weekends since he bought it seven months ago. With his friends’ help, he has added $15,000 worth of enhancements, including a super charger and a pressure sensor to the engine.

“It’s set up to be a track car,” he said.

He said he races his car in Lubbock with his co-workers.

Platt said working on cars helps him relieve stress and turns his car into an investment.

“It’s an investment for your fun and you can sell it when you’re done,” he said.

Though he said he will probably sell it and buy a faster car such as a Ford Mustang Cobra.

Platt said the Ford Mustang was the car to own when he was growing up in Chicago. He said he owns two more Mustangs.

“I’ll probably always have Mustangs,” he said.

For Tech Sgt. Francisco Martinez, the lowrider is his choice of car.

Lowriders are cars with modified suspension systems so that it rides as low to the ground as possible.

The 32-year-old airman from Villanueva said the lowrider was the popular type of car when he was growing up. He said his relatives owned lowriders.

“I was raised with lowriders,” said Martinez who displayed his 1964 Chevrolet Impala during the car show.

The vice president of the Enchanted Memories Car Club, Martinez said he bought the car several months ago from New Jersey to add to his collection. He owns four other cars and one motorcycle.