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Saturday Show Shaping Up
0904 LIONS 1
Escalon Lions Club member Bud Andrew, left, offers congratulations to Bill Broome for winning the first $100 given away on Friday night at the final pre-cruise gathering. Looking on are Hulas owner Tony Victorino and Lions Club President John Salvin. Marg Jackson/The Times

After months of Friday night ‘pre-cruise’ gatherings – some of which drew more than six dozen classic cars – Escalon Lions Club will host its annual Downtown Autumn Cruise this Saturday, Sept. 7.

This is the 20th year for the cruise, and money raised by the Lions Club through the event goes to providing scholarships for graduating Escalon High School seniors. The final Friday night pre-cruise on Aug. 30 drew 70 cars and was the final time to sign up in advance for the Saturday show.

“Last year, we raised $25,500 for scholarships and we’re on track to do the same this year, maybe a little better,” Escalon Lions Club President John Salvin told the crowd gathered for the Friday night finale.

There is always plenty of music, shop talk, food, fun and prizes at the Friday night sessions and the winner of the first $100 giveaway on Friday night was frequent attendee Bill Broome of Escalon. He will have his ’54 Chevy Bel Air in the show on Sept. 7.

The finale of the Friday night gatherings, hosted adjacent to Hula’s on Jackson Avenue, also included a thanks from the Lions Club to owner Tony Victorino. He offered his own thanks to the classic car buffs who have patronized his business over the weeks. A number of prize packages were handed out Friday night and there will be more to come on Saturday, said Salvin. Grand prize is the $500 donated by major sponsor, Grower’s Choice.

Saturday’s schedule is packed, starting with a breakfast at the Grange Hall on Main Street at 7 a.m., the car show with over 300 pre-registered vehicles in the Main Street Park, lunch served up by the Lions Club from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and a variety of vendor booths in the park. There will also be a fashion show, tentatively set for 1 p.m., lots of time to see the classics and visit with those who have restored them.

Salvin said many of the 50-50 drawings at the Friday night gatherings have seen people donate some of their winnings back to the Lions Club, as they look to provide the scholarships.

Last year, they presented scholarships to 14 Escalon High School seniors, each award for $1,600.

“It’s all about those scholarships,” said Salvin.

Among the other offerings at the Saturday show, raffle drawings, music, sales of car show merchandise and a ‘treasure chest’ with keys for purchase, some of the keys opening up the chest for prizes.

Cars can still be entered into the show; contact Bud at 815-5789 or Marylyn at 838-2077 for more information or to get registered.