Vintage car show returns to Homesteader Days

HOT SPRINGS- The turnout was impressive for the car show during the 64th annual Homesteader Days celebration in Hot Springs on Saturday. Around 30 owners displayed their vehicles for judging in an event that has been absent from the festival for several years.

Cars shiny and new and some old and not so shiny were on display at the Hot Springs High School football field. Owners proudly showed off their cars and trucks for the public as others perused the competition, trading stories about the blood, sweat, tears and money that have gone into restoring the vintage cars.

Jim Willoughby of Plains brought his burgundy 1966 Mustang Coupe to his first car show ever. Willoughby said he has had the car since his high school days.

“I just finished restoring the car last winter. This is the very first car show I have taken it to. It took about four months to get it to look like this,” said Willoughby.

A veteran car show attendee, Norm Wright brought his 1932 Ford four door to the event. He said the car was present at the original Yellowstone Rod Run held in the National Park in 1970. The Yellowstone Rod Run is still held in the park to this day.

“It’s been a hot rod for many, many years. It was originally used by a rancher to haul irrigation pipe out into his field,” said Wright. “Somebody rescued it in the 1970s. I’ve had it about eight years. We go to about seven or eight shows a year.”

Car show organizer Dave Campbell said he wanted to bring back the car show as a way to give Homesteader Days “a shot in the arm”. Campbell said participants had travelled from as far as the state of Washington to display their cars.

“I guess they did shows years and years ago but it died out. We were trying to figure out a way to bring more people out to Homesteaders,” said Campbell. “We thought bringing back the car show would help.”

As more and more cars arrived during the course of the day, Campbell said he was pleased with the turnout. With horns honking and engines revving in the background, Campbell noted the extent of the work involved in putting together this type of event.

“We went to a lot of car shows. We did a lot of advertising. For our first time, we did pretty good. I think it turned out beautifully. The town is really behind it,” said Campbell.

After the judging took place around 2 p.m., the cars proceeded to line up behind a Hot Springs Fire Department engine and parade through the town. The caravan ended up on Main Street for all Homesteader Days participants to see. Festival attendees were welcome to walk amongst the vehicles to gain a closer look before the award ceremony.

Campbell said based on the level of participation, the car show will be a permanent fixture of the Homesteader Days celebration.

“This will be a yearly thing. The word is out there. On short notice, I think we pulled it off,” said Campbell.