By JUDD WEIL
Hutch Post
INMAN, Kan. — The 33rd Annual Inman Classic Car Show along with the Inman Spring Festival is Saturday, April 22.
Lori Kearns, Event Coordinator for the Inman Classic Car Show, anticipates 225 cars at this year’s show.
Inman Chamber of Commerce became involved with the Inman Classic Car Show about 15 years ago.
“The original people, Stan and LaDonna Balzer, had just kind of burned out and they were short on help and so the Chamber got involved,” Kearns said. “Interestingly enough, Stan and LaDonna still live here, and they get to come down and choose a car Saturday of their choice and that will be given the Balzer’s Beauty Award.”
In the world of automotive shows, 33 years is impressive longevity.
“We get just some really, really nice, quality cars and we really try to attract the classic cars, and that’s why it says Inman Classic Car Show.” Kearns said. “We have vehicles coming from as far Mesquite, Texas. We got another guy coming from Delta, Colorado, comes every year. Just nice, quality, well done cars.”
New this year, the Inman Classic Car Show is adding five trophies to car classes from the year 2000 and newer.
“Because those cars are destined to be classic someday and there’s some nice ones that we get that are probably trophy worthy,” Kearns said. “It is a way we wanted to attract some of those cars.”
Adding new millennium cars is meant to attract interest in those vehicles as well as attract younger people to the classic car game and provide a future for the Inman Classic Car Show.
The fact is that many collectors and restorers of vintage automobiles are dying due to the hobby being so old. It is a reminder that innovations age with people. Few things compare to the unique definition of longevity attributed to the constant evolving nature that is automotive technology.
According to Kearns, the minimum age a car can be considered ‘classic’ is 25 years old.
“If you don’t get the youngers involved, your car show is going to die,” Kearns said.
This makes a seemingly simple event like a car show, have more of a meaningful impact to the community it is in.
Popular among young and to be prominently featured at the Inman Classic Car Show, are the square-body Chevrolet pickup trucks.
Other cars to be featured this year’s show will be:
A 66’ Ford Mustang from McPherson, Kansas.
A 67’ and 68’ Chevrolet Camaro from a husband and wife in Hutchinson, Kansas.
Several Rat Rods are also registered. Rat Rods are different to judge due to the unique criteria in their class.
There will be awards for the highest scoring vehicles of the day in the Top 35 category. Then 10 Bests for several other categories.
The big prize of the day is, Best of Show, for the highest scoring vehicle. The Best of Show winner will take home a crystal trophy and $250.
A crystal trophy will also be awarded to the highest scoring motorcycle of the show.
The Inman Classic Car Show will be judged by students from the McPherson College Automotive Restoration program.
At the Inman Classic Car Show, live music by the Phaetons as well as the Salt City Cowboy Church Band will be played from noon to 3 p.m.
Registration for the 33rd Annual Inman Classic Car Show will begin at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
Concurrent with the Inman Classic Car Show, the Inman Spring Festival will be full of activities and events for those not quite interested in vintage automobiles.
The Spring Festival is organized by the Inman Chamber of Commerce under Chamber president Shane Williams.
People can start their day with a Pancake Feed at the Inman Senior Center.
A Fun Run will start at 7:30 a.m.
There will also be a disc golf tournament at Lambert Park starting at 9 a.m.
There will be a crafts and vendors show.
A Kiddie Coral from Salt City Cowboy Church.
A Kiddie Dash-for Cash event will take place at 1 p.m. Kids will have the opportunity to scramble and grab candy and cash.
There will also be a benefit basket auction. All funds will benefit the medical expenses of the Danae Osborn family.
Following the Car Show, people are invited to go to Lambert Park for an evening concert to benefit the Danae Osborn family.
The concert will be headlined by Sam Shilts.
At 4 p.m., the Lyons Club Fishing Derby. The evening will also host a Pedal Tractor Pull, with registration at 5:30 p.m. and the event at 6 p.m.
A cornhole tournament is slated 6 p.m. at Lambert Park. Registration is $20.
The benefit concert will also host plenty of food trucks.
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