Car show brings in droves of cars

HOT SPRINGS – The roar of engines and the smoke of exhaust filled the air as a wide variety of old and new automobiles took over the Hot Springs High School football field for the afternoon.

For the second year in a row, the Hot Springs Car Show was featured as part of the annual Homesteader Days celebration.

The event started bright and early on Saturday, June 14, with sign ups for the car show being held at the field starting at 9 a.m.

Though the rain held off throughout the day, and the sun even managed to make its way out in the afternoon, storm clouds gathered in the distance.

The weather definitely kept a few attendees away, not wanting to expose their beloved vehicles to the day’s inclement weather.

“We had 38 cars last year and 25 showed up for this year’s show,” David Campbell, one of the main organizers for the car show, said.

Nonetheless, Campbell was still positive with how many drivers showed up and the variety of vehicles, brought to the show.

“I am happy with how the show turned out this year, especially considering the weather,” Campbell said.

This year’s show did feature an interesting blend of old and new.

In addition, to the fixtures of area car shows, 1950s roadsters and muscle cars from the 1960s and 1970s, the Hot Springs show featured a nice touch of modernity.

Modified new age Ford pick-ups, a 1990s Cobra and a sleek Porsche were all on display with the classics.

At the conclusion of the show, there were several awards handed out for a variety of categories.

The award for late model truck went to Gordon and Joyce Schliep and their 1950 Ford F-350. Blake Herman and his 2008 Ford F-350 took modified truck honors home.

The award for classic stock car was given to Mark Nelson and his 1966 Ford, while classic modified was given to Rich and Jane Larson for their 1953 Studebaker.

Russell Logan took home the award for late great stock car with his 1963 Thunderbird and the late great-modified award went to Bill Bekner and his 1953 Chevy ? ton pickup.

The people’s choice award went to Cliff and Nancy Arthur and their 1977 Dodge Monaco with the hard luck award going to Marvin Samson’s 1964 Mercury.

All the participants of the car show were brought up to the stage on Main Street, where the awards were announced and distributed.

Before the awards ceremony, all the participants took part in a parade through town.

The cars lined up at the football field, behind one of the vintage fire trucks of the Hot Springs Fire Department, piloted by Mayor Randy Woods.

Once the cars formed up they followed the mayor as he wound his way through the streets of town, eventually coming to Wall Street, where the procession merged onto the previously closed off Main Street.

Most of the cars followed the pilot fire truck in an orderly manner.

However, some with the permission of the event organizers showed off their wheels by participating in a series of burnouts as they entered Main Street.

The screeching tires and spinning wheels drew a bunch of applause and a ton of smiles as the car owners showed off their toys.