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PHOTOS: Car Lovers Gather Behind Kirkwood Sonic

A Kirkwood car show has seen a substantial increase in vehicles but is still able to keep to its family friendly roots.

 
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Stephen Peters stands next to his rare 1939 Buick Coop Friday evening at the car show.
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Just as the sun is beginning to set and the day is winding down, a rare 1939 Buick Coupe pulls into the parking lot between Sonic and Famous Footwear where there are rows of automotive spectacles waiting to be admired.

With cars ranging from old classics to new oddities, this car show has not only grown in the variety of cars shown but also in numbers. The first year, this car show only 12 cars displayed. Now, in its fourth year, the number has grown to near 300.

Bob Lovely, creator of the event, stresses that even though there are a huge amount of people who are passionate about cars, this is a family oriented event.

“We don’t allow burn outs, or drinking, or all that silliness and that’s kind of why people come here, because they know it’s safe,” Lovely explains. 

After going to many out of state car shows, Lovely was able to figure out what kind of environment he wanted to bring to his show and that’s why he approached Sonic and asked if he could do the show in the parking lot behind the business.

“I’m going to two shows where before I was going to six, seven or eight [shows a year]. So now I can come here every Friday and get my car fix,” Lovely says.

Though Lovely has sacrificed the time he has for other car shows, it seems safe to say that he hasn’t lost his love of his hobby.  He has simply taken more control and created an event that he, and the community, can simply enjoy.

Related Topics: Bob Lovely, Car Show, and Sonic

Jan

9:11 am on Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Photos are great & article well written.

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Linda Austin

12:30 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012

I accidentally caught this one Friday and thought it was some kind of one-time gathering. Loved looking at the oldies-but-goodies.

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Owen Skoler

2:25 pm on Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Linda, my first experience with this show also was accidental. It made my day and now I try to swing by as often as I can to get a glimpse of the amazing rides. Emma did a great job explaining the history, I thought.

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