Car show rolls into town Saturday

Published 6:41 am Wednesday, May 12, 2010

On a day perfect for celebration, the Austin Veterans of Foreign Wars Post No. 1216 will hold their fifth annual car show this Saturday, May 15.

Saturday happens to be Armed Forces Day, which has been held on the third Saturday of May since 1949 in an effort to honor Americans serving in the five U.S. military branches — the Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force and Coast Guard.

Rollie Hanson, senior vice commander of Post 1216, said the car show and Armed Forces Day have lined up the past few years.

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“It just happens to be that same Saturday of the month,” he said. “It works very well for us.”

And it certainly will work well again this year — to honor Armed Forces Day, the post is having a special drawing on Saturday. The winner will receive a free paver to go in the new Mower County memorial project, while second place will get a 15-foot flag pole and third place will win an eagle plaque.

But the big draw, of course, is the actual car show, which will feature vehicles in categories dating all the way back to the early 1900s and up through present day. Trophies will be presented to winning cars in each categories, with those in attendance getting the opportunity to cast the votes.

In addition to cool cars, visitors will be able to enjoy music from the 1950s and ‘60s, eat plenty of good food and enter into prize raffles. There will also be drawings for car owners in which some of the entrance money will be won back.

The show is scheduled to run from noon until around 3 p.m., which is when awards will be given out. Afterward, the classic cars will be going on a five-mile cruise through the city to cap-off the event.

“I’d certainly like to invite people down,” Hanson said. “Everyone’s invited.”

Cool cars — and more — on Saturday

What: Fifth Annual VFW Classic Car Show

When: Saturday, May 15. Registration is from 8 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The show will run from noon to 3 p.m., with awards to follow.

Where: Austin VFW, Post 1216, 300 Fourth Ave. NE

Cost: It is $10 to enter a car in the show; $5 for each additional car. The show is free and open to spectators.