Rainy morning doesn't stop car enthusiasts in downtown Cape

A rainy Sunday morning could not stop classic car enthusiasts from attending the 35th annual River Tales Classic Car Show in downtown Cape Girardeau.

More than 100 cars entered the show Sunday, and another 30 to 40 cars came and parked simply for display.

"Despite the rain, we're happy with the turnout," River City Rodders member Danny Essner said. "If the weather had been nicer, we probably would have had about 50 to 60 more cars and filled up the entire Hutson's parking lot."

The annual show is presented by the River City Rodders, the Cape Girardeau Convention and Visitors Bureau and Old Town Cape. The festivities began Saturday night with the preshow cruise at Capaha Park, where show participants could meet and greet their competition. Then at 8 a.m. Sunday, show participants could register their cars for one of the 31 competition classes.

This is Rick Horrell's second year in the River City Rodders, which has around 60 participating members. He brought his blue 1971 Chevelle to the show.

"My first car was a 1971 Chevelle, then I wrecked it and bought this one in 1983. I fixed it up and have been taking care of it ever since." Horrell said.

River City Rodders members bring their cars but do not enter them in the competitions.

One of the cars present was a 1962 Buick Skylark owned by Bob Wiemer of Oxford, Ark. Wiemer and his wife drove more than 200 miles to be in Sunday's competition. His vehicle has an LS 1 engine, a nine-inch Ford rear axle, disc brakes, air bags and a compressor. His son Michael took about four years to restore the vehicle for his parents.

"We are really proud of this car." Wiemer said. "Not only is it a unique body style, but we're just proud of the great work of our son. There's about $30,000 in this vehicle, if you include his hard labor."

The Buick was completed in June, and this is the Wiemers' fourth competition of the year. Their Skylark has previously taken three first-place trophies.

The first River Tales Classic show was in 1977 at the Town Plaza Shopping Center but has since moved to downtown Cape Girardeau.