A heat wave that pushed temperatures to above 90 degrees did not stop more than 200 cars from pulling into downtown Elkins as part of the Mountain State Street Machines Auto Extravaganza Cruise-in on Friday.
"I think it is a fabulous turnout," Randolph County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kate Reed said. "People started coming at noon today. People want to be here."
Classic cars and hot rods lined Railroad Avenue and Third Street as disc jockey Dan Barkley played class rock-n-roll tunes in front of the depot.
Article Photos
The Inter-Mountain photo by Anthony Gaynor
Harry Lamb, of Fairmont, pops the hood on his 1972 Ford Mach 1 Mustang during the Mountain State Street Machines Auto Extravaganza Cruise-in on Friday. Lamb was at the event for the first time and was joined by more than 200 other car owners. To see more photos, visit CU at www.theintermountain.com.
Harry Lamb, of Fairmont, brought his unique 1972 Mach 1 Mustang with a 351 engine. He said it was his first time to the Mountain State Street Machines Auto Extravaganza.
"It is a great event," Lamb said. "There are a lot of downtown shows, but I heard this is one of the best."
Lamb said he attends several car shows each year, but hasn't found many cars like his black and red Mach 1.
"There was only one other show I've been to that there was another Mach 1 Mustang," Lamb said.
Petersburg native Chris Rohrbaugh drove his 1963 Chevrolet 2 Nova to the event and said the heat was better than rain.
"It is a nice show," he said. 'It is a little warm, but it's not raining."
Rohrbaugh said the downtown area was an excellent choice for the cruise-in because of the atmosphere.
"I think this is great for the car hobby crowd," he said. "It is a great atmosphere to be around."
Elkins resident Beverly Johnson has participated in the show for years with her husband, Bill. The couple brought a red convertible 1977 Porsche Speedster replica to the show.
"It is amazing how many people and how much money this show brings to town," she said.
Danny and Barbara Chewning of Buckhannon brought a 1934 Plymouth Coupe to the event and have been attending since the first Auto Extravaganza.
"It is a great show," Barbara Chewning said. "We have been coming for 28 years."
Terry Patterson, of Fairmont, brought a black and white 1957 Chevrolet to the event. He spent time during the cruise-in to look at the numerous cars on display.
"We love it here," he said. "We always come in for the cruise-in."
Patterson said the downtown area is a good place for the event.
"I like it in the downtown," he said. "It gets better every year. We have been coming for 15 to 20 years."
Tom Anderson drove his 1958 Ford panel truck from Buckhannon to the show.
"We have a good time every time we come here," he said. "We've been coming since the 90s."
The Mountain State Street Machine Car Show will open in Elkins City Park at 9 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday. Registration for the show will begin at 8 a.m. both days. There is a $15 registration fee, which includes a participation plaque and entry into drawings for hundreds of dollars in prizes.
