Hot cars got warm welcome
"It's getting there," said Gary Wines of Effingham, whose friends had gathered on a motel parking lot north of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds Sunday morning just before heading home.
Wines drove his 1969 Plymouth Super Bee into Du Quoin on Thursday for the start of the 2014 Street Machine Nationals.
"It was awesome," said Dave Gilbert of Shumway, Ill. who brought his 1969 Mercury Cougar to Du Quoin. "They weren't prepared last year," he said of the 2013 NATs. "There weren't enough bathrooms. A lot of things," he said.
Their group included Aaron Gilbert and Jackie Wiseman who brought a 1970 Ford Mustang to Du Quoin, Rich and Amy Whitaker with a Chevelle, Dave and Terri Gilbert with their Cougar and Gary and Marlene Wines with their Super Bee.
2013 was part of the trial-sized NATs. This year's show, with well over 3,000 participants, was on good behavior for the second year and probably establishes the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds as the future home of the Street Machine Nationals.
"The cars are the stars," Matthew Louck, vice president of marketing for Family Events, said.
Johnny Ray Neding was wiping the overnight rain off the hood of his yellow Bel Aire on the parking lot of the Fairgrounds Inn next to the fairgrounds Sunday morning. He and his wife were in Du Quoin for all three days of the show and headed to the I-57 drag strip near Benton Saturday night. "It was packed," he said.
Neding said Du Quoin was more inviting this year. The welcome mat was bigger.
Many show participants cruised Du Quoin streets like they did during the show's run back in the 1980s and 1990s. Townspeople set up lawn chairs along South Washington Street and East Main Street in downtown Du Quoin Friday and Saturday nights just to watch the cars and trucks go buy.
This year, the city dropped its "no cruising" ordinance and while there was no organized cruise, there were plenty of cars to see. Some participants are asking that a cruise route be established for next year's show.
One crowd-pleaser was an upside-down pickup truck. The same builder brought a motorized red wagon to the show last year.
Jeff Baker brought a mini-T-bucket, weighing just 350 pounds. It wasn't the loudest or most powerful car at the show, but it was a head-turner.
It was a show that was good for business.
The Alongi's Italian Restaurant in downtown Du Quoin said the show contributed to having well over 200 table tickets. "It was a lot better than last year," said one waitress. At times the crowd was shoulder-to-shoulder. The Fairgrounds Inn was full all three days and show goers who weren't staying there could park on the motel lot for $5.
Du Quoin kept a "no camping" ordinance in place for this year's show.
State Police were not arm-in-arm lining South Washington Street this weekend. But, there were several traffic stops Friday night to serve notice they were around. The Perry County Sheriff's Department set up a central booking facility at the Du Quoin Police Department, but it was not as well-traveled as in 1998 when the city fathers and the Du Quoin State Fair sent the show packing.
It was brought back in 2013 on a "visitor's pass" but will likely stay.
Marshall Browning Hospital reported little or no activity related to the show.
Wines and Gilbert said they hope the show keeps growing with more vendors and more participants.
This year's show was very family oriented.
Debbie Barnum, owner of Barnum Entertainment, brought inflatables for the kids to this year's show. Kids could build models. Families could take a sight-seeking helicopter ride.
The popular Dyno horsepower challenge, Show 'N Shine and burn-out competitions didn't let you forget it was a car show.
Louck said it didn't matter if you were 9 or 99 there the show offered something for everyone.
Du Quoin Mayor Rex Duncan and fairgrounds manager Shannon Woodworth were also pleased with the way the weekend turned out.
The show closed Sunday afternoon with the popular Miss Street Machine Nationals bikini contest and awards presentations in the grandstand.