The Rails to Trails Annual Classic Car, Truck and Bike Show received a welcome reception this past weekend.
Lee Patterson of Lee’s Rod and Restoration says, “It went extremely well, being as it’s a first annual, it exceeded all expectations.”
In the last few days before the Car Show, Cherie Layton, one of the organizers of the event, had pre-registered only 97 entries. On the day of the event, about 180 entries arrived. That includes cars, trucks and motorcycles.
The best part, according to Layton, was the estimated 3,000 people who also showed up.
“It had to be at least that many,” says Layton. “From 6th Street to 10th Street, there was nothing but people and cars, you couldn’t even see the pavement.”
The goal of the car show, according to Layton, was to have a community event where the entire town could come out and enjoy the day without having to pay anything, “If they didn’t want to.”
“At one point, I was in the trailer counting votes, when I looked out the window and saw a man and a woman holding hands and pushing a stroller,” said Layton. It was as if her vision had come to life.
The businesses of Taft profited as result of the car show as well. According to Patterson, “the Chilled and Grilled normally does 25 dinners on a Saturday night. It did 90 dinners,” the night of the car show.
Layton said it was like a reunion for the residents of Taft. She saw people she hadn’t seen in 10 years or more. Patterson also remembers seeing old friends.
“People were shaking hands, and hugging,” says Layton. “It’s what this town needed.”
Local businesses donated many prizes for the raffle at the car show. Patterson hand painted mailboxes and propane tanks with flames. Patterson also helped out by doing leg work for the show. He was calling friends and spreading the word at other car shows in the area.
“We had all the volunteers we needed, and everyone helped out,” says Layton.
Layton and The Taft Chamber of Commerce are planning two more car shows for next year. One will be the second weekend of June, and the other will be for Oildorado. However, next year will be the only year they plan of having 2 car shows.
“We want this to be an event the community will look forward to every year,” says Layton.