Lansing - As local car-lovers gathered Saturday to exhibit unique cars with colorful paint jobs, classic styles and elaborate sound systems, many found it enjoyable, and more competitive than expected.
AutoZone, 4725 S. Cedar St., hosted its first car show with more than 50 different cars competing for prizes.
Contestants where placed in four different categories; Best Stock, Best Modified/Customs, Best of Show and Spectators Choice. Four winners were selected by a voting process and received small crystal plaques with a bucket of car cleaning supplies.
Hasslett resident Chuck Post took first place in Best Stock with his 1957 candy apple red Chevy Bel Air with a white convertible top.
“I was surprised to win because the other cars here are nice with expensive toys added to them,” Post said. “But my car has all its original parts and happened to be very popular among people today.”
A 1970 orange Mustang, a 1934 two-door red Ford Pheaton with a white convertible top and a 1969 Chevelle SS with lime-green paint and glittered flakes were among the many cars competing with Post’s Chevy.
The show also displayed automobiles such as Lansing resident Jessie Wilson’s GMC Yukon, which showcased a surround sound system that included two television sets and a DVD player.
“This is my hobby, because I love participating in car shows,” Wilson said. “Last year I won first place at a car show held in downtown Lansing on the riverfront.”
With last year’s first-place trophy on display underneath his hood, Wilson was disappointed walking away without another.
Hasslett resident Mike Myard and his son Eric came to the show because they thought it was a good way to kick off the weekend.
“We usually get all of our car parts from this place,” Mike said. “So we decided we would come over here and check the show out. They have free food and drinks, so what’s a better way to spend the day?”
Joining the free food and drinks was Cookie the clown, who handed out balloons to children.
Other winners were Gary Felzke for Best Modified/Custom with his 1957 Chevy painted black with purple flames and Ron Spare for Best of Show with his 1962 four-door Imperial painted bright metallic green.
Spare, a Lansing resident, said his car is called Dragon because it has a dragon theme painted on it with a dragon head assembled on the hood of the car.
“Everyone wants to know how I make the Dragon head spit fire,” he said, “but that will remain a secret.”
Also remaining a secret was the cost to assemble his Imperial. With his wife at his side, Spare felt it best to keep the lid on his expensive hobby.
The Spectators Choice went to Elwood Wilkins and his 1992 Purple Mustang with black trim.
“We knew our customers would enjoy something like this,” said AutoZone manager Dan Story. “Most of the people participating are consistent customers of this store.”
