Sean C. Morgan
Organizers are pre-registering participants this week for the eighth annual Sweet Home Sweet Ride car show, which benefits several children’s programs.
The gates open at 7 a.m., with the grand ceremonies under way at 9 a.m.
The Young Marines will present the colors and provide security, and Praise in 3D will perform the National Anthem.
If people want their cars judged, said organizer Kimi Nash, they need to be there before 10 a.m. when judging ends.
The burnout pit opens at 11 a.m. Awards are scheduled for 1:30 p.m., and the show closes down at 3:30 p.m.
“We’ve got four good food vendors,” Nash said. “We have eight regular vendors for vendor’s alley.”
Visiting the event will be the Break the Chain monster truck as well as a drag bike and an alcohol-fueled car, Nash said.
It is the second year for the burnout pit, Nash said, thanking the Vietnam Veterans of America Chapter 585, which donated money and labor to build it.
“They’re a phenomenal group to work with,” Nash said.
KFIR will broadcast from the show, Nash said. KSHO and KGAL are running radio spots to promote the show, and she was scheduled for a live interview earlier this week with KGAL.
Proceeds from the Sweet Ride go to Sweet Home children who are patients at Doernbecher Children’s Hospital in Portland, Sunshine Industries, Shop with a Cop and other Sweet Home Police Department community projects.
Proceeds from the burnout pit go to the ABC House in Albany. The ABC House assists abused children.
The event is organized under the Kiwanis Club umbrella. Some 48 volunteers will help run it this year.
The show is doing well with entries at this point, Nash said. Most people pre-register the week of the event, usually around 200. Another 50 to 75 sign up the day of the event.
“It’s starting to take off even more,” Nash said, thanking Larry and Susan Angland, who founded the event, for their contributions. “It’s pretty exciting.”