First Real Rain In All Wheels History

DAYTON - One Main Street merchant noted that on Saturday morning, All Wheels looked more like Christmas Kickoff than the hot- tarmac Father's Day weekend car show Daytonites and visitors have come to expect.

But even though the number of families coming to the mobility extravaganza was down this year, the number of cars on Main Street was as big as ever and very few participants complained about the weather.

They just dressed for it or spent more time inside shopping their hearts out.

"I was so sad about the weather because we've never had that before," All Wheels chair Bette Lou Crothers said about the event now in its 17th year. "We may have had some sprinkles in years past, but it has never been this cold, rainy and cloudy before."

Still, Crothers called the gathering with all its races, rides and rare rigs "a hands- down success." The 2011 registration list ran up to 367, about as many as in the previous three years. Many mor car owners simply showed up to show and shine on Main.

"The weather didn't slow anyone down," she said. "Everyone was in good spirits."

The Saturday weather did have some impact on the various "players." Though it featured more speeder cars than ever, those rides drew fewer takers than usual since their protection from the elements on the railroad tracks is minimal.

The outdoor vendors too saw less traffic than in warmer years.

The indoor downtown merchants, however, did much better. It was standing room only at the Country Cupboard and plenty of orders for hot chocolate at Home- baked Goodness. Woody's was packed, as were many other restaurants and stores.

"That was the silver lining," Dayton Chamber of Commerce Director Claudia Nysoe said.

The morning lawn mower drag races were dampened somewhat by the slick asphalt, but the contestants went plenty fast in the afternoon, shortly after the rain stopped and 12 macho Daytonites in drag races their oversized tricycles from the Liberty Theater to the corner of Second.

Columbia County Health Systems CEO Charlie Button won that event despite his/her foot-high platforms.

Jack Bailey, a first-time car showman from west of the Cascade Mountains, was one of the few victims of bad luck when he drove his recently restored 1921 Model A pickup back to his fairgrounds campsite and his fuel pump ignited, burning the entire front of his classic beauty. He won the hard luck award.

Crothers said a lot more registrants and visitors stayed for the entire weekend rather than cherry picking from the back-to-back activities.

"We had heavier attendance from the westside (of the state) this year," Crothers said. "I think with the high price of gas, people are taking mini vacations closer to home."