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Lions Continue Drawing Classic Car Enthusiasts
ADAMS
Longtime emcee Gene Adams is at the microphone each Friday night, making announcements, playing music and generally informing the crowd about the cars and the upcoming Autumn Cruise in Escalon. Marg Jackson/The Times

 

Now just about a month away, sign-ups are going well for the annual Escalon Lions Club Autumn Cruise, which will be staged in the city’s Main Street Park on Saturday, Sept. 12.

Each Friday night, the sponsoring Lions Club puts on a car show in the parking lot adjacent to Hula’s on Jackson Avenue, drawing classic cars and auto buffs from around the region. The shows are a precursor to the main event in September, and feature music, food, prize drawings and the chance to swap stories about the classics on display. Friday night gatherings run roughly 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

The Aug. 7 show was a little smaller than normal, competing with the Hot August Nights show, but there were still plenty of cars and trucks, gleaming in the late afternoon sun, to check out and enjoy.

The show on Sept. 12 will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and all proceeds go to the Escalon Lions High School Scholarship Fund. Along with the display of classics, there will be a Treasure Chest available, afternoon fashion show, music, food, silent auction items, raffle drawings, car judging, pinstriping, a ‘cruise’ of award winners and vendors with a variety of wares.

“We have 162 entered,” said Marylyn Salvin, helping coordinate the show. “We’re working right now on the goodie baskets and the raffle, getting items to raffle off.”

By mid-September, they expect to have well over 200 autos entered.

There is also a $500 cash drawing for participants, those with vehicles in the show. Each time they come to a Friday night car show, they get a ticket for that drawing, and will get another the day of the show if they are entered, with the grand prize presented at the downtown cruise in September. This year marks the 22nd annual Autumn Cruise.

Those car owners that pre-register for the show will also receive a ticket good for two lunches the day of the cruise or one lunch ticket and a T-shirt or hat.

“We get a lot of support from local merchants,” added Salvin. “They get their name on the back of the T-shirt.”

Prizes, items to raffle off, and financial support are provided to the Lions through the various merchants, and registration fees for the cars also help provide the senior scholarships.

Gene Adams serves as emcee for the Friday night car shows and will also be there for the Sept. 12 gathering.

Stopping by the show on Aug. 7 was David Hoyle of Modesto.

“I like it out here,” he said of driving the short distance to Escalon for the event. “It’s quiet, a nice group of people.”

Roxanna Brown had three grandchildren with her, noting that they stop by the show almost every Friday night before going out to eat.

“It’s a lot of fun,” she said.

From Model A’s to Studebakers, classics by the dozens are part of the show.

For more information, contact Doug George at 209-968-8473; John Salvin at 209-838-7077; or Marylyn Salvin at 209-838-2077.