PHOTOS: Car Lovers Gather Behind Kirkwood Sonic

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 and 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.