2009 Wings & Wheels Car, Truck &
Motorcycle Show

Saturday, October 10, 2009
     Families were entertained by the "Jumpin" Patriots and the Patriot Pizzaz Dance Teams from Russell Elementary School; younger riders got to race down the picnic area "runway" in battery operated cars donated by Wal Mart; and hundreds of spectators got a high view of the Museum grounds riding in the "Savage" Monster Truck from Williamson, Georgia.
     Elaine Larsen, one of the few women jet car drivers in the country, displayed her 6,000 jet car sponsored by Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. And some spectators took their frustrations out by bashing a junk car donated by Hons Auto Parts in Cochran.
     "All in all, it turned out to be a slightly smaller but great car show to raise money for the Museum of Aviation," said show organizer Bob Dubiel, the Marketing Director for the Museum.  "We get wonderful support from the businesses in Middle Georgia that sponsor the show and vehicles come from all over the state -- and some from out of state.  We had three from Florida, one from Tennessee and one from Alabama."
     A total of 30 judges picked the top vehicles for trophies.  "We gave out a total of 106 trophies," said Dubiel.  "Two out of every three vehicles that entered the show took home a beautiful trophy crafted by Rutherford Trophies in Macon."  And five top vehicles received the coveted silver eagle "Best of Show" Trophy. 
      The Museum, which preserves the history of Robins Air Force Base, also has a senior official choose a vehicle for the "Commander's Choice Trophy."  This year Colonel Debra Bean, 78th Air Base Wing Vice Commander, chose a 1970 Ford Mustang "Mach I" owned by Richard Poole from Hawkinsville, Georgia.  Other special awards included Best Paint, Best Original and Modified Engine and Best and Custom Interior.  A "Young Gun" Trophy was presented to the youngest entrant -- Robin Swann from Macon Georgia for his 1990 Ford Mustang LX "7-Up."  And judge Johnny Johnson from Centerville, Georgia, awarded his "Master Builder" Award to Johnny Cannon from Gordon, Georgia.

Poker Run Also a Success

     The Wings and Wheels Poker Fun Run held on Friday, October 9 was also a success with 123 hands played -- the best turn-out ever.  The event is conducted for the Museum by the Corvettes Ltd. Of Central Georgia Car Club.  Club members manned five poker run "stops" at Reeves RPM Performance, Five Star Chevrolet/Cadillac, Sonic Drive-In on Russell Parkway, O-Reilly Auto Parts on Russell Parkway and Kipper's Sports Grill.  The event ended with awards given out at a parking lot party at sponsors Steak and Shake and Hooter's on Margie Drive.

     The poker run and car show event were the seventeenth annual motor events put on by the Museum of Aviation.  Next year's show will be held on Saturday, October 9, 2010.  For photos of the show, see
www.wingsandwheelscarshow.com and www.adamneil.com
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2009 WINGS AND WHEELS CAR SHOW DEFIES THE WEATHERMAN
       Warner Robins, Georgia -- At 8:30am on October 10 the weather man was predicting a 75% chance of rain at 11:00 a.m.  The Museum of Aviation officials running the Wings and Wheels Car, Truck and Motorcycle said a little prayer as the first few "show car" owners showed up for the annual event which usually draws about 250 vehicles.
     The prayers were answered --  eleven o'clock came and no rain fell.  And by noon, a total of 191 vehicles had arrived for the show. A few hours later the clouds parted, the sun came out and an estimated 4,000 spectators poured into the Museum to look at gleaming paint jobs, chromed and original engines and seldom-seen vehicles of all types.
Left:  The Savage Monster Truck gave rides
Around the Museum grounds.
Above:  Best of Show Winners (l-r):
Rickey Sutton, Taylorsville, GA, 1969 Camaro;
Bob Agee, Grovetown, GA, 1957 Chevy Bel Air;
Chris Davis, Bogart, GA, 1969 Camaro;
Ed Goins, Fayetteville, GA, 1937 Ford;
and Joe Tuckey, Tallahassee, FL, 1957 Chevy Bel Air.