Coronavirus Halts Spring Festival of LX 15 Until Further Notice

Originally scheduled for March 20-21 in Pomona, California, organizers are taking preventative measures against the Coronavirus.

If you’ve been looking forward to attending the 2020 Spring Festival of LX, we have bad news for you. Citing “the current uncertain circumstances and the nature of the event, which draws enthusiasts who travel from 25 states and several countries,” organizers have decided to postpone it.

The people behind the festival didn’t specifically mention concerns about the Coronavirus (aka COVID-19), but they didn’t really have to. Aside from the physical havoc it’s wrought in multiple countries, it’s already led to the cancellation of multiple events, including this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

The first official Spring Festival took place in 2006. It was a way for the owners of vehicles based on the LX (Chrysler 300), LC (Dodge Challenger) and LD (Dodge Charger) platforms, and even SRT-grade Jeep Grand Cherokee and Dodge Durango drivers, to show off and talk about their rides (organizers use the blanket term Lx to cover them all). Over the years, the number of attendees and FCA executives (including Ralph Gilles, Mark Trostle and Tim Kuniskis) who take part in the festivities has grown.

Dodge Forum was at Spring Fest 14 and got an up-close look at the Dodge Charger SRT Hellcat Widebody Concept in all of its broad-shouldered glory. We also had the chance to drive the Dodge Challenger R/T Scat Pack 1320 on the strip at the Auto Club Dragway in Pomona, California. Being able to open up the Challenger SRT Hellcat Redeye in the canyons was a nice bonus.

If you were already registered for the 2020 Spring Festival of LX as an attendee or vendor, it is possible to get a refund due to the Coronavirus. Just read this notice from the event organizers first:

We will be processing refunds for all registered attendees and vendors. PayPal does not have an automated process, this may take up to a week for us to work through every transaction one-by-one issuing the refunds. We PLEASE ask that you DO NOT issue a chargeback via PayPal or your credit card as the charity that collected the registration fees will incur chargeback fees if you do. The Hotels are aware of the situation and you may call to cancel your reservation. Thanks again for your understanding.

Registration donations for this year’s festival were supposed to benefit Every 15 Minutes, a program designed to educate high school juniors and seniors about the dangers of drinking and driving. If you’d still like your donation to benefit Every 15 Minutes, just send an email to Donations@socallx.com saying you’d like the program to hold onto your contribution.

Photos: Derin Richardson

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Derek Shiekhi

Derek Shiekhi's father raised him on cars. As a boy, Derek accompanied his dad as he bought classics such as post-WWII GM trucks and early Ford Mustang convertibles.

After loving cars for years and getting a bachelor's degree in Business Management, Derek decided to get an associate degree in journalism. His networking put him in contact with the editor of the Austin-American Statesman newspaper, who hired him to write freelance about automotive culture and events in Austin, Texas in 2013. One particular story led to him getting a certificate for learning the foundations of road racing.

While watching TV with his parents one fateful evening, he saw a commercial that changed his life. In it, Jeep touted the Wrangler as the Texas Auto Writers Association's "SUV of Texas." Derek knew he had to join the organization if he was going to advance as an automotive writer. He joined the Texas Auto Writers Association (TAWA) in 2014 and was fortunate to meet several nice people who connected him to the representatives of several automakers and the people who could give him access to press vehicles (the first one he ever got the keys to was a Lexus LX 570). He's now a regular at TAWA's two main events: the Texas Auto Roundup in the spring and the Texas Truck Rodeo in the fall.

Over the past several years, Derek has learned how to drive off-road in various four-wheel-drive SUVs (he even camped out for two nights in a Land Rover), and driven around various tracks in hot hatches, muscle cars, and exotics. Several of his pieces, including his article about the 2015 Ford F-150 being crowned TAWA's 2014 "Truck of Texas" and his review of the Alfa Romeo 4C Spider, have won awards in TAWA's annual Excellence in Craft Competition. Last year, his JK Forum profile of Wagonmaster, a business that restores Jeep Wagoneers, won prizes in TAWA’s signature writing contest and its pickup- and SUV-focused Texas Truck Invitational.

In addition to writing for a variety of Internet Brands sites, including JK Forum, H-D Forums, The Mustang Source, Mustang Forums, LS1Tech, HondaTech, Jaguar Forums, YotaTech, and Ford Truck Enthusiasts. Derek also started There Will Be Cars on Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube.

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