Annual River City Rodders car show takes over Main Street on Sunday

Cars won't be driving down Main Street on Sunday; they'll be parked there.

The street will be closed to traffic for the 31st annual River City Rodders and Old Town Cape Classic Car Show. In addition to a shared interest in preserving history, the two sponsors have separate interests in having Main Street closed for the event: more cars and more shopping.

Old Town Cape executive director Marla Mills said the event is definitely family- oriented.

"Everybody enjoys looking at cars of all ages," she said.

Six downtown restaurants within walking distance of the show will be open; 17 shops offering everything from gifts, motorcycles and accessories, to art, antiques and resale clothing will be open; and area attractions including the Arts Council of Southeast Missouri's art gallery, Red House Interpretive Center, Old St. Vincent's Church, the Glenn House and the Cape River Heritage Museum will be open for visitors coming to the car show.

"Last year we just assumed they'd want to keep Main Street open to traffic during the car show. It was crowded," said Danny Essner, the car show's chairman. "They actually encouraged us to park cars there last year. This year business owners wanted to encourage more pedestrian traffic and close down Main Street."

Essner said car shows have changed. People used to come look at the cars and then just sit in lawn chairs.

"Now it's kind of trendy to provide other things for people to do while attending a car show," he said.

Cars are still the common bond providing a good opportunity for enthusiasts to meet, but now family members can go shopping and see the attractions, he said.

Essner said they were expecting between 250 to 300 cars at the car show, now held downtown for the second consecutive year. Parking on Main Street up to Broadway will result in another 60 to 70 parking spots for show cars ranging from the early 1900s to 1998.

Trophies will be awarded in 31 classes. Visit www.rivertalesclassic.com for details.

"This an opportunity for car owners to reflect their own taste and show off their handiwork," Essner said.

Many of the vehicle owners who show their cars are perfectionists. Their attention to detail could earn them a trophy for best paint, best engine, Rodders' choice and Old Town Cape's choice.

Registration begins at 8 a.m. Judging begins at noon, and trophies will be awarded at 3 p.m.

Proceeds from the event will fund the Toybox charity, sponsored by the Southeast Missourian and the Cape Jaycees. Last year, because of Toybox, 1,300 children received Christmas presents.

River City Rodders president Rick Crow is also the Toybox coordinator. He said the club has supported Toybox for the last several years after he made a pitch to members about his own humbling experience while assisting the Cape Jaycees in a Toybox delivery. The Jaycees told the Rodders that a lot of children ask for bicycles but not a lot of groups were donating them.

"Each year we buy as many as we can. Last year it was 31. To date we've bought over a hundred," Crow said.

The River City Rodders also donates to the Cape Parks Foundation.

"They are near and dear to us for the 15 years Capaha Park served as a shady and beautiful setting for the car show," Essner said.

Members of the Rodders will judge the cars. Crow, who has been judging for several years, said he grew up with classic cars. Of the 32 years he spent in the car business, 11 years were in management. Now semiretired, the favorite cars in his own collection include a 1934 Ford Roadster and a new project, a 1934 Plymouth he's transforming into a hot rod.

cpagano@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 133

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