Chowchilla hopes for biggest car show

Although it’s the biggest event the Chowchilla Chamber of Commerce puts on, Executive Director Dillon Haworth is hoping for the biggest Classic Car and Custom Bike Show in its history.

“We are hoping to have 150 cars and bikes,” he said. “Last year was our biggest year with 154 total. This year, we have been pushing it more than in the past because we’re able to. A lot of people came out last year because they wanted to do things outside. Now, there are those people who are worried about it, but aren’t scared to come out.”

The Classic Car and Bike Show will be next Saturday at Chowchilla’s Veterans Memorial Park on Robertson Boulevard. The event starts for the public at 10 a.m. with awards set for 2:30 p.m.

“We have over 30 awards to give out,” Haworth said. “We have 27 plaques. Each person that registers their car will get a ticket for a participation drawing. They get their own raffle. We have a bowling pin for the best of show and a clock for the best bike.”

The car show is the biggest event the Chamber puts on and may be the second biggest event in Chowchilla, next to the Madera County Fair.

“We do our awards banquet in January, but this is our big thing for the community,” Haworth said. The fair is really big. The farmer’s market and movies in the park are pretty big. this gets a lot more people than that does. It’s probably the second biggest event in town.”

In addition to the car show, the event will have vendors, food booths and live music.

“We will have a bunch of crafts people and some information booths,” Haworth said.

Throughout the day, the Chamber will also have a raffle for various donated prize baskets. In addition, the Chowchilla High School Sober Graduation committee will have a 50/50 raffle.

“We will have a bunch of raffle prizes and will be getting a lot more,” Haworth said. “That’s a fun thing and it’s a good way for us to make money. This really isn’t a money-making event for us, but it helps us do well, financially. Our Chamber Board directors bring items for the raffle.”

Haworth says that people have to be present to win, but not necessarily.

“We will have their name and phone number on the ticket,” he said. “We will announce winners throughout the event. We will have a big whiteboard and when we pull a ticket, we will put the ticket number on it.”

Haworth hopes to see many people out to the park, especially since they have been highlighting the event everywhere.

“We’re hoping for a lot more people,” he said. “We’re pushing it more this year. People who have been preregistering aren’t necessarily people who we’ve had before. We are getting a whole new crowd coming in. It’s good we’re getting a lot of new people.”