I don't recall seeing any posts regarding this show:
Car show provides onlookers vrooms with a view
Michael Norris / Amarillo Globe-News
"Butch" sits in the passenger side of a 2004 Chevrolet SSR during the car show. About 60 percent of the vehicles on display were new to the show this year.
By Janelle Stecklein
janelle.stecklein@amarillo.com
Batman loves car shows.
For 20 years, Charlie Owens, 57, of Amarillo has attended the annual Make-A-Wish Foundation Car Show at the Amarillo Civic Center with his trusty "Batmovette." And for many of those years, he has donned the pointy-eared cowl and black cape of the world's greatest detective as part of his display.
"This is predominately the only show I do every year," he said. "It's because of the Make-A-Wish (Foundation). (People say), 'My parents brought me here to see Batman when I was a child. Here's my child.' "
Sixteen times, the show's visitors have voted Owens and his tricked-out, pitch-black 1980 Chevy Corvette a winner of a people's choice award. His car, which originally was used as a crime-fighting tool by the Amarillo Police Department, is complete with Batman license plates. Owen's superhero costume was made in North Carolina. His display includes a special "bat signal" that reads, "Chicks Luv the Car."
"Some of them really work hard on their car and their display," said Barry Henson, the car show's chairman. "Others just park them."
The show, sponsored by the Panhandle Council of Car Clubs, raised more than $80,000 for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Plains Inc. last year. The organization uses the money to grant the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.
This year, thousands wandered among 332 vehicles competing to win the public's vote. Henson said the number of people attending the show seemed to be up from the previous year. About 60 percent of the vehicles were new to the show this year.
Another car that generated a lot of buzz was the green and purple "Shift Kicker No. 16." A Hot Wheels designer liked the remodeled 1931 Chrysler so much that he made about 5,000 toy copies of the car.
"A lot of them think we made the car after the Hot Wheel," said Keith Bright of Salina, Kan. "It's the other way around."
The six employees who helped build and design the car entered it in the Hot Wheels contest in July 2008.
Out of about 600 cars entered, it was one selected to be reproduced.
Bright said it was the first time the car had been displayed in Amarillo. Several toy-sized models were displayed next to it.
Slide show here:
Make-A-Wish Car Show
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