By Brandon Clifford
As the plains turn a vibrant green, another car show season approaches. Out of state cars arrive in the streets of McPherson, some are rentals and some are pre-war Bentleys. Other signifiers of the season include the Reliable Carriers truck blocking Baer Street and students sweeping up empty beer cans from the floors of their sheds.
On Saturday, May 2nd, vehicles from near and far will congregate on the quadrangle. Bespoke and brass trailer queens will rub sidewalls again with field found Fords and malaise Mercuries. Students and faculty apart of C.A.R.S. Club anticipate this show will have the largest turn out yet. Auto Restoration Faculty, Chris Paulsen, said during a C.A.R.S. Club meeting said that it is, “our day to shine.”
C.A.R.S. Club members are busy preparing for the show weeks in advance. Some of them will be pulling all-nighters on the eve of the show to put the finishing touches on their projects.
Close to dawn, student cars begin to roll on the field. At 7am, the coffee starts flowing and the students assemble at the gazebo. They begin to set up signs, tables, and speakers.
By 8am, the registration committee begins signing in vehicles as they arrive; directing them to parking committee members. Gavin Powell, C.A.R.S. Club treasure, and cohead of registration, said he is “feeling confident,” and hopes to remedy the long registration lines out onto Kansas Ave. with a new route for incoming cars.
Also new this year, The parking committee will be distributing maps of the show field as cars enter to streamline the process.
At 9am the show officially starts and the crowd starts gathering from there.
Student judges spend the morning speaking to owners and making careful assessments of each vehicle. Behind the scenes they determine the standouts and allocate awards accordingly.
The McPherson College Band and McPherson High School Band will both be performing in Harnly Garden during the show. Performances will be announced over the loudspeaker.
Tours of Templeton will also be available to the public during the show and food trucks can be found in the parking lot between Melhorn and Templeton.
The show will wrap up around 2pm with the awards ceremony in Harnly Garden.
