HOT TIMES AT JAMUL’S HOT ROD AND CHILI COOK-OFF

By George Dominguez

April 13, 2013 (Jamul) -- Saturday marked the first Jamul Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off  held at Pio Pico / Thousand Trails Family Camping Resort this year. This annual event had been previously held at Simpsons Nursery for the last several years but was moved to Pio Pico because of closure of the nursery.

The Jamul Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off is sponsored by the Kiwanis Club to benefit the “Serving the Children of the World” charity.  Pio Pico Thousand Trails donated their campground for the one day event.   This year’s Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off was highly successful, with an estimated 60 hot rods and 32 vendors participating, according to Myrna Thornton, Pio Pico event Vendor Coordinator.

The campground has recently gone through significant renovations of camping sites and guest cabins, according to Operations Manager David Watkins. Pio Pico offers a variety of activities and events for its guests including the “Market Place” vendor’s market every Saturday. 

The event organizer from the Kiwanis Club was Amanda Burns, with Fran Darroch coordinating the Kiwanis vendor portion of the event.

The Hot Rod and Chili Cook Off  will only increase in size next year, according to David Watkins. Next year’s event will again be held in April.

Kiwanis Club’s service projects respond to community needs and the “Serving the Children of the World” charity focuses on the needs of young children in developing future generations of leaders.

Thousand Trails campgrounds are in 80 locations in 22 states and British Columbia and have been in business for over 40 years. Our local Pio Pico Thousand Trails is a 180 acre campground located at 14615 Otay Lakes Road, in Jamul California.