The 29^th Annual Lamar Days Rod Run started its weekend with the “No Booze Cruise” Friday, May 16.  The lineup of 51 motorcycles, 68 cars and multiple Lamar Police, Fire Department and EMS vehicles began at Sonic Drive Inn, headed south on Main Street and then proceeded down several side streets to continue the poker run.  Winner of the poker hand was Misty Gomez, who went home with half of the $1800 prize. The other $900 was donated to the Lamar Fire Department for the annual Fourth of July fireworks display.  Winner of the evening’s 50/50 drawing was Olivia Middleton.

Registration for Saturday’s Car Show in Willow Creek Park began at 8 am, with 116 cars registering, along with 21 motorcycles.  In addition to the registered cars, there were quite a few that showed up, not being eligible for any awards voted on.  The crowds of people attending the show were treated to a vast array of cars and trucks in every shape, color and vintage imaginable, all cleaned and shined to perfection.  They were all lovingly displayed by their owners who were happy to answer questions about their cars or trucks.  Winning “Best of Show” in the car category was Greg Berry’s 1967 Ford Shelby GT 500 Mustang.    Delphina Perales’s 2014 Harley Davidson Softail Deluxe won Best of Show in the motorcycle category.  Donnie Batterton won the “Rat Rod” award with a 1928 Chevy rat rod.  Winning the “Moon Man” award was David Trujillo and his 1968 Chevy truck.  Rounding out the awards was Jerry Weber receiving the Marie and Dennis Buhrer award with his 1949 Chevy 3600 pickup.

A crowd favorite every year is the “blow-up car”.    This year’s car engine lasted 6 minutes and 27 seconds as it smoked, caught fire and finally died as the crowd cheered.  In the past, cars have lasted anywhere from 20 to 45 minutes before the engine is blown.  The awards were presented to the above winners following the blow-up car’s demise.

Ron and Lonna Cook of Lamar are the force behind the Rod Run and put in a tremendous number of hours gathering sponsors and putting in all the behind-the-scene work to make it such a successful event year after year.  They want to thank the local merchants for their sponsorships as well as all the participants and the community for supporting the Lamar Days Rod Run each year.  They also want to thank the Lamar Police and Fire Departments for all the help they provide to pull this all off.  Lamar Days wouldn’t be the same without the annual Rod Run, so thank you, Ron and Lonna for all your hard work!

By: Barbara Crimond