Chris Caporale, sports@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale One car sits in a row for car enthusiasts to view as part of the first annual car show at the Shawano County Fair on Friday.
Leader Photo by Chris Caporale Cars line the back wall of the Crawford Center for the first annual car show at the Shawano County Fair on Friday.
Expectations were low for the first classic car show at the Shawano County Fair, but there were already signs Friday that the event could find its niche in the fair’s annual lineup.
Early Friday afternoon, 37 cars were displayed in the air-conditioned Crawford Center in the southeast corner of the fairgrounds. Dick Beyer, of Wittenberg, organized the event with little time to plan, prepare and promote the show.
“So far this year, it has been a total success, just from the help of car enthusiasts right in this area,” Beyer said. “That’s all it. They put this on.”
Beyer said Shawano’s car enthusiasts helped ensure things would run smoothly at the inaugural show. The expectations were low, however, given the minimal time for planning, he said.
With many other car shows going on throughout the summer, it was difficult to finalize details for the new show, said Brad Luepke, the fair’s marketing and promotions director.
However, the Shawano County Fair has already extended the contract for the car show, according to Beyer and Luepke.
“It’s going better than expected. I gave them a three-year commitment,” Luepke said. “They said that there is no reason we cannot pack this place full.”
Beyer said next year he will have more time to plan, recruit car enthusiasts and advertise the event, possibly filling the Crawford Center and the nearby parking lot with classic cars.
“The idea is great, and it will only grow from that,” Beyer said.
About 15 people wandered in and out of the car show early Friday afternoon during a relatively slow time at the fair, but the crowd picked up later in the afternoon, according to Luepke, with the Crawford Center almost full with patrons.
Those who showed up, including Chuck Renner, of Marinette, were able to view a variety of vehicles.
“I think it’s an excellent display. I’m a car collector myself,” Renner said. “When we heard about this, I said, ‘We have to go and check this out.’ I think it’s a real nice display and it’s not even peak time.”
Others who stopped also seemed to enjoy the display, which is a good sign for Beyer and the future of the car show.
“It’s over what I expected for the first year and short notice we had,” Beyer said. “It’s been very good.”
The show began at 11 a.m. Friday and will continue through Sunday.