Wes Walker-Kern Valley Sun

More than 100 local and out of town motor heads lined Kern River Drive in Kernville Saturday at the Rotary Club's 9th annual Classic Car Show. Vintage models in the range of early 50s to mid 70s comprised most of the gallery of cars at the show, but there were a couple of newer models as well. Glimmering paint, bright shining rims, and trick interiors brought out the crowds this year to marvel at the hot cars from years past.

The Rotary Club Classic Car Show is only in its 9th year, but like many other local annual events, it has seen growth parallel with the growing number of visitors to the valley during summer months.

A wide variety of vintage beauties in a wide range of colors could be seen at the Rotary Club car show at Riverside Park in Kernville on Saturday.

This year the turnout was also helped by beautiful warm weather that no doubt helped the car show see success on a much larger scale than in years past. In fact, this year was the first time the show was held on a weekend that did not coincide with the ever popular annual Sirretta Street Sale, with which the show shared visitors. Despite the change in date the turnout still rivaled the size of the very popular and coveted  October classic car show, the annual Kernville Rod Run. However, despite the open entry policy, most cars still fell within the “classic” category between the 1950s and 1970s. Car enthusiasts most interested in cars from the 1960s found quite a few cars to satisfy their interests. Among the most impressive entries, most notable were a 1965 Mustang, a 1966 Chevy Malibu, and a, 1966 Chevy Corvette Stingray. Every car at the show had at least one interesting characteristic or detail about it, among the top entries in the 1960s era, a good examples was a 1965 Mustang, which the owner had owned since 1966. Most car collectors buy scrapped cars or cars in less than perfect condition, and then restore them, but in this case the owner bought it only  a year after it was made and owned it ever since.

Those more interested in cars from the 1950s weren't left out in the cold either and had quite a few cars to marvel at themselves. Among the most interesting entries of the 1950s era were an early 1950s Oldsmobile Indian Chieftain that had been converted into a drag car and a 1959 Chevy Impala. A notable fact about the 1959 Impala is that it was the model of car used as the original Bat Mobile in the popular Batman show that aired throughout the 1960s.

Cars weren't limited to only these two eras though; there were also strong showings from other eras as well, even a 2007 Mustang Cobra graced the car show with an appearance, though most visitors were interested in older models.

This year the Rotary Club had a lot more lined up than just cars, they also organized a variety of other entertainment for the public to enjoy as well. Other attractions included a variety of vendor booths, karaoke, a bounce house for the young ones and even a demonstration by Rangers from the Bureau of land management (BLM) with their K9 units, whom the Rotary Club has partnered with over the years.

Not something you would expect to see at a car show, but none the less informing or entertaining were the K9 demonstrations by the BLM Rangers. Both demonstrations by the rangers exhibited the practical use of K9 units in law enforcement and the crucial part their K9 partners play in the drug enforcement. The first part of the demonstration illustrated the amount of control Rangers have over their K9 partners and exactly why that control is so important.  This part of the demonstration was simply a show of obedience illustrated by having the K9s carry out various commands such as sit, lay and the most impressive command to have the dog stay, even after his commanding officer left his side and walked several feet away. The next part of the demonstration had a K9 find a small stash of drugs that had been hidden on a vehicle staged in front of the crowd. The dog was lead around the vehicle on a leash and instructed to find any narcotics. Within a couple minutes the K9 had quickly found the contraband and indicated to his commanding officer precisely where it was.

The last part of the demonstration was the most exciting for the crowd and was definitely the highlight of the exhibition. A ranger was dressed in a special padded suit to provide him protection from an attack induced by a staged confrontation between him and the K9's commanding officer. As the staged scuffle unfolded, the crowd watched as the dog was released from his seat in the back of a patrol vehicle by a button on the officers belt. The K9 quickly seized the arm of the officer and the padded suit and proceeded to quickly stop the confrontation by latching his jaw onto the padded officer's forearm and wrestling him away from his commanding officer.

As well as the flashy cars, and the demonstrations, there was lots more for folks to do too.  Karaoke by Arlie's Club was on the scene to provide visitors to the show some audible entertainment, while they walked around and checked out the rides.

Also for those who were interested in doing a little shopping, there were vendor booths with a variety of merchandise for sale. In between the cars, shopping and demonstrations there was even a bounce house set up for younger visitors to the show to burn off some of their extra energy.

In years past the Rotary Club Car Show has typically been held on the second weekend in May on the same weekend as the Sirretta Street Sale, this year was the first week they held in the week after and it didn't seem to hurt their turnout any. For those who missed this year's Rotary Club Car Show, there will always be next year, or for those who will be in the area, don't forget this year's 32rd annual Rod Run in Riverside Park on October 11 through 14.