Words & Images by Mark C. Bach
The Copperstate 1000 rally left the Phoenix, Arizona, area on Sunday, April 12, 2026, for a four-day adventure. The rally is sponsored by the Men’s Arts Council, which supports programs and activities of the Phoenix Art Museum. Each year, the rally route changes to take advantage of Arizona’s diverse natural settings.
Given that the nation is celebrating the 100th year of Route 66, it’s fitting that the tour includes a substantial portion of Route 66’s asphalt in northern Arizona. The actual route is kept secret until participants arrive at the rally. This year, over 80 vehicles will participate in the rally, which includes stops in Seligman, Peach Springs, Flagstaff, Winslow and Sedona, among other sites.
Vehicle eligibility is generally limited to 1973 and older models, with clones, tributes and reproduction vehicles excluded. The featured cars include American muscle as well as foreign speedsters.
Typically held in April, this is the 36th Copperstate 1000. As part of the kickoff at Tempe Diablo Stadium, the rally also sponsored a car show that drew in over 200 cars. The rally cars were staged inside the stadium’s ball field and sent off individually, where the crowd enjoyed seeing and hearing these classics roar off on their route. The cars will return to the Phoenix area on Wednesday, April 15, for their awards dinner.
