RCC Music Industry Club Powers the Soundtrack of Big Bear Lake’s 34th Annual Fun Run

Students from Riverside City College’s Music Industry Club put their audio engineering and event management skills in the fast lane at one of Southern California’s most celebrated automotive gatherings — the 34th annual Big Bear Lake Antique Car Club Fun Run, held Aug. 8–10, 2025.

Under the leadership of Jennifer Amaya, a longtime member of the Big Bear Lake Antique Car Club, MIC students stepped into a role the nonprofit could no longer fill due to rising costs: delivering professional-quality music and live announcing for the three-day event. The Fun Run transforms Big Bear Village into a showcase of 500 classic, custom and exotic cars from across the Western United States and beyond, drawing thousands of spectators.

The students — Angel Barral, Harley Glenn, Vera Koeller, Paige Thompson, Taryn Bagwell and Morgan Sapanghila — funded their own travel and lodging through club-led fundraising efforts. Once in Big Bear, they managed every aspect of the event’s audio, from early morning 6 a.m. setups to end-of-day wrap-ups after registration, vendor sales, vehicle judging and more. They curated an age-appropriate, event-specific playlist, honored special requests such as the vintage Big Bear Lake song by Mel Blanc, and even debuted a new Fun Run theme song created by Amaya with AI collaboration. Students also pitched in beyond their audio duties, helping set up tents and seating for dining areas.

The work culminated Sunday with the Fun Run’s distinctive awards ceremony — a drive-thru celebration where each of the 70 winning vehicles is honored in front of a giant American flag. Students relocated and set up the full sound system, miked a choir and announcers, and delivered clear audio over the rumble of award-winning engines.

Beyond the technical execution, the students gained invaluable professional experience interacting with organizers, adapting to real-time feedback and troubleshooting on the fly.

“We can teach students to prepare playlists and run audio all day in the classroom, but until they’re at a live event — managing the sound, making adjustments and hearing firsthand how their choices impact the audience — the lessons don’t fully click. These are career-shaping moments,” said Amaya.

The Big Bear Lake Antique Car Club was so impressed with the students’ professionalism that they have already invited them back for 2026. Proceeds from the Fun Run support local scholarships, furthering the event’s community impact.

For more information about the Big Bear Lake Antique Car Club visit https://antiquecarclub.org/big-bear-fun-run/.