Grace Hooley | Echo
Car shows, swap meets, and music. Oh my!
From Sept. 27 to Sept. 30, Ducktail Run, Inc. is putting on the 24th annual Ducktail Run Rod and Custom Show in Gas City.
Mike Salter, Denny Shanks, and Jerry Caudill run Ducktail Run, Inc. together, which was named because Gas City Park is known for a lot of geese and ducks on the pond within the park. Caudill expressed that if there was a president of the corporation, it would be Mike, but that the three work in different aspects.
"We all three have equal shares of the show," Caudill said. "I take care of the swap meet and the vending. We all just take care of certain parts of the show."
The event will begin on Wednesday with the swap meet where car owners swap for parts. This is a fun time where owners can make their cars better, safer and possibly cooler.
Then Thursday night, they have the cruise-in for all of the entered cars. Everything from 1972 and older is welcome to come to the show; anything newer isn't welcome unless okayed by the three leaders. The swap meet will continue on into Friday and Saturday.
"The swap meet is an entertainment thing, too, because guys like to walk through there," Caudill said.
Friday morning is when the full-day event begins, but there are other fun activities such as a craft area for women where approximately 130 booths will be selling different craft items from perfume and diamonds to clothing for women.
Live music will also be played all day as car judging happens Friday and Saturday. Along with that, there will be different games going on to entertain anyone else.
"If you like the '50s and '60s, that's where it's set," Caudill said. "It takes a lot of these people back to their high school days."
The money goes all over in Gas City. Thursday night, they donate all awards to Mississinewa High School in Gas City. Students work and make money by selling food and helping out.
Other places in Gas City also receive benefits from this event. They once bought the police department tasers, and they also pay the rent for the Gas City Eugene Lin Park, named after the mayor who helped start the event in Gas City.
"We do a lot of things with the money," Caudill said. "The money is spread out a lot of places."
Shanks enjoys how the event brings people from all over the USA and Canada. Caudill enjoys getting to see his friends and seeing all the car people.
They both agree that it gets pretty stressful, but for the most part, the event is full of fun. They hope for people to have a great time and enjoy the activities.
"My least favorite thing is knowing that winter is just around the corner when it is over," Shanks said. "It is almost the last car show of the season."
Everything is free to the public, but Shanks and Caudill warn that there isn't much parking space. They expect about 2,500 to 3,000 cars to come to the show, so they are also expecting that many to show up.
According to Shanks, any information about the event can be found at http://www.showmegrantcounty.com/event/ducktail-run-rod-custom-show-2/. 24 years of cars, music, and fun has brought Ducktail Run, Inc. to where it is today, and those who run it are excited to see how this year's event goes.
"This is a free family-oriented event," Shanks said. "Where everyone can have a great time."
