Nothing says “summer Saturday mornings” quite like barbecue, classic cars and rock music by the river.
Classic and cool car owners and enthusiasts headed to the John C. Stennis Lock and Dam on Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon for “Rumble at the River,” a car show to benefit the Bradford Freeman Memorial Walkway in Caledonia.
Carl Ulmer, president of the Southern Cruisers Car Club and organizer of the event, said he holds car show benefits all the time for various nonprofits and community groups. Before the car show, there was a benefit concert and Boston butts for sale on Friday, which Ulmer said helped raise at least $500. He said he hopes to raise about $5,000 total from the event.
“I’ve been doing car shows for 30 years,” Ulmer said. “… The car club doesn’t have anything to do with this, but several of my members are helping me with it. A car show was just easy, quick and something I knew how to do.”
Admission to the car show was free for spectators, but each car shower paid an entry fee of $20. Barbecue and T-shirts were available for purchase.
Ryan Watkins from Columbus was showing his red 1989 Chrysler TC by Maserati. He said the car was a collaboration between Chrysler and Maserati, and it has Italian leather and a motor that is one of less than 500 only made in 1989.
“Getting into car shows really started with a car hobby, I guess,” Watkins said. “Once I got my first car I started modifying and maintaining it. I thought, ‘You know, it would be cool to go to one of these car shows and see what everybody else has got around here.’ Now I get to make new friends and see old ones and catch up.”
As people milled about, they could see all kinds of cars – old and new, sports cars, muscle cars and trucks. They could also visit a booth set up about Bradford Freeman, who passed away nearly a year ago and was the last surviving member of the U.S. Army “Band of Brothers” from World War II.
Aaron and Heather Zanier from Aberdeen entered their 2002 Honda S-2000 in the show, and they said they like coming to the car shows. They agreed this one is special because it pays homage to veterans and highlights what Freeman did for the country.
“We got a flyer about this at a car show in Vernon, Alabama, so we decided to come out because it’s a great location with the camaraderie of the other people with their cars and spectators,” Aaron said. “It’s a good time. … Any time we can honor veterans, I think there needs to be more things like that in the communities. I think that veterans don’t quite get the recognition they deserve, so I think it’s great. I hope a lot of people come out.”
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Quality, in-depth journalism is essential to a healthy community. The Dispatch brings you the most complete reporting and insightful commentary in the Golden Triangle, but we need your help to continue our efforts. In the past week, our reporters have posted 47 articles to cdispatch.com. Please consider subscribing to our website for only $2.30 per week to help support local journalism and our community.
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