Sean C. Morgan
Organizers of the Sixth Annual Sweet Home Sweet Ride plan to get the car show rolling early, with gates and registration table open at 7 a.m. Saturday.
“We actually will have people coming in Friday night to set up,” said organizer Kimi Nash of the Kiwanis Club.
Vendors will open at 8 a.m. Opening ceremonies begin at 9 a.m., with the Young Marines placing the colors, an invocation and the National Anthem.
A poker walk begins at 9:15 a.m., Nash said. All stops are on the site, the field below Sweet Home Junior High School next to Husky Field, off 22nd
Avenue.
Judging begins at 10 a.m.
Judging will include 10 children from Doernbecher Children’s Hospital picking their favorite from a row of cars, Nash said. A handful of adult judges will decide on the best vehicles in specific categories.
“The money that’s raised (for Doernbecher) is actually put into a fund for local kids only,” Nash said. “It’s nice to know that there’s that cushion. Those funds have to come from somewhere.”
Awards and trophies begin at 1:30 p.m.
This year, the event has 50 classes, from Ford Model A to motorcycles, Nash said. As of Saturday, the event had 55 registered. Most will register close to or the day of the show. Last year, with rainy weather, the show drew 212 entries. It has had nearly 300.
Registration is $20 until Friday. It is $25 the day of the show.
All Rights Reserved, which includes Tim Riley of Sweet Home, is providing music again this year.
The site has been rearranged to allow vendors on the grass among the vehicles, Nash said. The show has 20 vendors signed up. So far, Sweet Ride is adding seven swap meet vendors this year, offering people the opportunity to find vehicle parts they may be seeking.
The show is organized by the Kiwanis Club as a fund-raising event for Doernbecher Children’s Hospital, the Sweet Home Police Department’s children’s programs and Sunshine Industries.
Sweet Home Sweet Ride provided around $1,500 to each last year, Nash said, and it’s already surpassed that figure for this year.
Major sponsors include T2, Anderson Auto Body and White’s Electronics. The Beaver Corvette Club provides volunteers setting up the site. Also providing support and volunteers are the Kiwanis Club, the high school Key Club, the Vets Club, AmVets, Sweet Home Police Department and Linn County Sheriff’s Office.
Oregon State Trooper Tiffany Lynn will be the emcee.
Volunteers are still needed, Nash said. Contact her at (541) 401-9844 to volunteer or for information.
For more information visit the Sweet Home Sweet Ride Facebook page or sweethomesweetride.com.