Clouds part, sun kisses All Wheels Weekend
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-Chronicle photo by Charlotte Baker
Nothing says vintage cars like a family trip to an A & W or other hamburger stand on a soft summer evening, with the window tray hanging by the driver's window and ready for burgers and fries to be passed inside to waiting and hungry small fry. The glove box door was also designed to be level when open to hold a drink or two for the driver and front passenger. This was on a 1949 Plymouth Deluxe brought by Mike and Judy Ostler of Pasco.
DAYTON–The 29th Annual All Wheels Weekend was a hit, a blast from the past and present, and by all accounts, a resounding success.
Friday afternoon, the traffic began to pick up and by early evening, vintage and newer cars, trucks, 4X4s and rigs of all sorts were busily plying Main Street from one end to another.
Saturday, some 353 vehicles were registered to Show and Shine, as breeziness and an overcast soon gave way to blue skies, puffy clouds and mostly sunny to make the day's events–Outlaw Lawn Dragsters, Crazy Costume Contest and hundreds and hundreds of people strolling the length of Main Street, taking in the sights and sounds.
In the late afternoon, entrants convened in the Depot Courtyard for the awards ceremonies then adjourned to the Columbia County Fairgrounds for the Demo Derby.
-Chronicle photo
Tom Griffith and Lonnie Martin of Vancouver, Wash., took home the 2023 People's Choice Award, a hefty one-of-a-kind trophy from All Wheels Weekend. Their 1978 C-3 Corvette was the Official Pace Car for the 62nd Indianapolis 500 in 1978. Griffith admitted to yearning for exactly this car since high school and he was finally able to acquire one.
"Three hundred fifty-three registered cars made for a super fantastic weekend!" said Belinda Larsen, Executive Director of car show organizer Dayton Chamber of Commerce. "We can't thank all of those cars, trucks, motorcycles, vintage snowmobiles...every type of vehicle enough for sharing their pride and joy with us."
The Friday "Drag the Gut" event was enthusiastically received, Larsen said. "I don't know how to describe how overcome with joy I was with our "Drag the Gut" event," she said. "This was super fun to include with our Presentation of Cars."
"Lawn mower racers were full throttle and our Crazy Costume Contest allowed us girls to take a turn on the trikes!" Larsen said. "The food vendors kept us wanting more with the delicious aroma of their food and the craft vendors kept us in awe with their talented art work, jewelry and clothing."
Larsen was overwhelmed by the standing-room-only demo derby, conducted by Bly Racing.
"Our Kids Zone knocked it out of the park again this year with every t-shirt becoming a work of art," she said.
"All of this can't happen without our sponsors, our local businesses, our volunteers, our community and so many others offering up their support!" she said.
