23rd-annual Mid-America Mopar’s Car Show registration at 9 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. at Brit Spaugh Park. Trophies will be awarded at 4 p.m. Golden Belt Model Railroaders Association will hold its annual open house from noon to 4 p.m. in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest.
From sports cars to railroad cars, next Sunday will be a busy day in Great Bend as Mid-America Mopar and the Golden Belt Model Railroaders Association plan their annual showcase events.
“We do this intentionally hoping people will visit both,” said Mark Orth, Railroaders Association president.
Rev the engines, the 23rd-annual Mid-America Mopar’s Car Show roars to life Sunday at Brit Spaugh Park.
The show begins with registration at 9 a.m. and runs until 1 p.m. at the park. Trophies will be awarded at 4 p.m.
Entry fee is $20 per vehicle with $5 from each entry being donated to the Barton County Food Bank. The show is open to classics of all makes and vintages, motorcycles, pickups, tuners, race cars and imports. Public viewing begins at noon and there is no charge for spectators.
There will also be food and live entertainment during the show.
According to organizers, the event is expected to draw more than 100 classic cars from Kansas and surrounding states. Those showing their cars will vote for first, second, and third place winners in each category and best of show.
Money raised from this event helps to sponsor scholarships for students interested in auto technology.
Meanwhile, all aboard as the Golden Belt Model Railroaders Association will hold its annual open house from noon to 4 p.m. in the basement of the First United Methodist Church, 2123 Forest in Great Bend.
Model trains in a wide variety of gauges will be running on elaborate layouts or on display. There will also be exhibits of railroad lanterns, memorabilia antique toy trains.
Admission is free, and there will be refreshments and door prizes. Attendees are asked to use the west doors.
“We just want to promote model railroading,” said Mary Jo Cunningham, association secretary.
The event is popular for the young and the old. “Kids are fascinated by them and adults come and remember the trains they had as kids,” Cunningham said. This marks about the 10th year for the open house.
Cunningham said the club has 26 members from across Barton County and the town of Sterling. “A lot of them had trains when they were little and some of them work for railroads.”
The members come from all walks of life, she said. Some are businessmen and some are retired.
Anyone who missed the model train show can view some of the trains at the Barton County Fair in July.
