Show Time

WAITSBURG - The Waitsburg "One-of-A- Kind" Auto Show & Swap Meet is quickly approaching, scheduled for Friday night, Aug.5 and Sat., Aug. 6..

The Friday night cruise from Preston Park to Prescott and back is from 7-to-8 p.m. An ice cream social follows at 8 p.m.

On Saturday, the car shop and swap meet run from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with live music and entertainment for part of this time. Food vendors will be set up in park. Coffee is available from the newly opened Coppei Coffee Co. on Main Street.

Sixty to 75 cars are the average number of participants expected at the fourth annual event.

"What sets us apart from other car shows is that we have drawings for prizes, not the trophies for the best cars," chief organizer Ken Lenhart said.

"Anyone who is proud of their car and wants to show it off is welcome," Lenhart added.

Each car that pays the $10 entrance fee is given a number and entered in the Saturday drawing.

The prizes are all donated by different local businesses. The grand prize is an all inclusive stay at the Wildhorse Resort & Casino.

Other prizes include gift certificates from various Waitsburg businesses including the restaurant, the bar, the brewery, the hardware store and the grocery store.

The swap meet is organized by car and truck owner Herb Meddler.

"We didn't have the swap meet last year because I was unable to attend and organize it," he said. "It was here in our second year of the show. That year we had eight vendors selling car and motorcycle parts. This year, we only have three signed up so far."

The swap meet vendors also pay only $10 dollars for a spot in the park to sell parts.

" We used to have no entrance fee for the show in its first year of operation. Then we decided we needed a little money for prizes and setting up the show. It has stayed at just ten dollars though," Meddler said.

Meddler has two cars that will attend the show. He has a 1952 bright red pickup that he bought just four months ago. The truck has on original Ford Flathead Engine and 3-speed column with less than 2500 miles on the motor.

Meddler also has a light grey 1966 Barracuda. He traded a 1956 Buick Station Wagon for it about two years ago.

The pickup will be on display at the park and the Barracuda will be for the cruise to Prescott.

Meddler said that the show brings in business for the city and some of its donors.

"People at our show can walk right over to the brewery, the restaurant, the bar, the hardware store or the grocery store and spend money. The city thanks us for having the show by allowing us to use the park, all of its scenery and great shade for almost no cost."

Meddler noted that the car show in Waitsburg brings in people primarily from Walla Walla, Lewiston, Clarkston, Pomeroy, Dayton and Prescott.

Ron Henderson, another Waitsburg resident and car enthusiast, has a dark blue painted 1955 Ford Truck with a 351 Windsor engine, an automatic that he has owned for 36 years. He has fixed it up three different times over the years.

He, his wife and his buddy have done all of the work on the pickup.

"My pickup hasn't been done by a hot rod shop or body shop. We have done all the work at home," Henderson said.

The truck gets 12 miles to the gallon and the rising gas prices keep him from straying too far from home to attend many other shows.

"We go to Walla Walla, Palouse and Dayton but not a whole lot more shows anymore,"

Henderson said.

Henderson is also working fixing up a rare car, a 1970 Rebel. Only 200 to 300 of these Rebels are left anymore, he said. It has proven to be very expensive to rebuild.

"Sometimes , I see similar trucks to mine at the shows we attend. I want to have a really unique car at these shows and I will with the Rebel when it is finished," he said.

There should be plenty of unique cars and trucks on display at the show this year. Maybe the Rebel will be ready for next year.

Meddler challenges the locals to have a bigger turnout this year to show off their cars and trucks.

Waitsburg Classic Auto Show

Cruise To Prescott 7-8 p.m., Friday, Aug. 5 Show & Swap Meet 10 am - 3 pm, Sat. Aug. 6 Preston Park