More than 250 custom, vintage and show cars filled the lawn at Kentucky Wesleyan College (KWC) on Saturday for the school’s 14th annual Car, Truck & Jeep Show. This year’s show was intended to honor KWC graduate Wayne Foster, a key member of the school’s alumni board for many years and who, along with a group of alumni representatives, was instrumental in bringing the car show to the school. Foster passed away a few years ago.
“The largest turnout we’ve ever had was about 300 cars,” said event organizer Drew Cooper. “Unfortunately, the timing with the autumn holidays in the city may have resulted in fewer entries, but we still had a great turnout from both exhibitors and guests.”
Friends Wesley Page and Randy Mayfield came to look at all the cars on Saturday.
“We were trying to get here before it got too hot,” Mayfield said.
The friends were interested in a 1955 Chevy Bel Air driven by Raymond Robbins of Santa Claus, Indiana, parked in the middle of the front lawn.
“My grandpa had a Bel Air that I rode when I was a kid, so it’s nostalgic for me to see one here,” Mayfield said. “Seeing all these older cars continues to bring back memories for me.”
Both Mayfield and Page said this was their first time attending the car show at KWC.
“But I’ll definitely be back next year,” Page said.
Robbins said he purchased the 1955 Chevy Bel Air in 2017 and did some engine and interior work on the car. He has been bringing the car to the show at KWC for about three years.
“The restoration only had a little over 12,000 miles,” he said.
He said he likes how the cars are lined up at the show, organized by category, and he also likes seeing all the other vehicle entries. He specifically said he likes seeing all the Jeeps together.
“Cars have been my hobby since I was 17 years old,” Robbins said. “As a Navy member, I have been all over the world and have been able to show cars along the way.”
Cooper said this year’s Car, Truck & Jeep Show is even more special for the KWC community because it pays tribute to Wayne Foster. Organizers have named the “Best of Show” award the “Wayne Foster Award” as a way to commemorate Foster’s contributions to the college and to the car show. The award is sponsored by American Patriot Getaways.
“Without Wayne’s influence, we wouldn’t be here today,” Cooper said.
Two of Foster’s children, Bob Foster and Michelle Foster Jones, came to the event as a way to remember and honor their father’s legacy.
“Dad loved the college, so it would be an honor to have his name associated with it,” Foster said. “He always encouraged us to come to the show every year.”
Foster Jones said her father’s influence helped introduce and showcase the world of cars. She had her 2015 Chevy Corvette on display for guests.
“I’m the first daughter and you know what they say about us being heavily influenced by other fathers,” she said. “I got my love for cars from him.”
Both Foster and Foster Jones said their father would have loved seeing all the cars on the KWC lawn and was thrilled to bring in his own cars to display.
“He loved taking his 1937 Ford to car shows,” Foster said.
“We tried to make it his year,” Foster Jones said, “but it just wouldn’t start. But last year we succeeded here.”
Donnie Haley of Manitow, Hopkins County brought his 1987 Chevy Monte Carlo SS to this year’s show. He said he has owned the car for about 10 years and has enjoyed bringing it to the Car, Truck & Jeep show in the past.
“I enjoy seeing all the cars, meeting everyone and just spending time talking about cars as we all have this hobby in common,” he said.
Haley explained that he has been showing cars for years, but took a break for a while when his children were young and active in sports and their own hobbies.
“Now that I’m not so busy with them, I can now indulge in my own car hobbies,” Haley said.
In addition to the Wayne Foster Best In Show Award, awards will be presented in approximately 19 other categories, including Best GMC, Best Street Rod, Best 2017 or Newer Model and Best Trail Ready Jeep. Each award is sponsored by local businesses such as US Bank, Owensboro Auto Spa, River Park Eye Care, Tony Clark Realtors and Ole South Barbeque.
“This event would also not be possible without our wonderful volunteers,” said Cooper.
The show was free to the public and also featured music, door prizes and a raffle for attendees.
