EVANSTON — Community members and visitors convened at Hamblin Park recently to participate in the Evanston Car Cruise, an annual fundraising event that’s raised more than $82,000 for local charities over the last 26 years.

“All things considered, this year’s car show was better than average. This was our 26th annual charity show,” Scott Kallas, member of the organizing group, said. “We had a lot of new and nice entries and a lot of people came to see the cars.”

At the event on Aug. 7, Kallas said they had 99 registered vehicles and a total of 105 with members’ cars (they do not register, as they are not eligible for prizes). Kallas said the entry fee is $20, plus they had numerous donated raffle items including four handmade quilts, a pressure washer, and many nostalgic car items, which winning tickets were drawn for throughout the day. He said it would take a couple of weeks before they got a complete count of how much money they raised this year.

Since the incorporation of the Evanston Car Cruise in 1996 as a Wyoming nonprofit corporation, the mission and goal of the car club has been to provide donations of new winter shoes and coats to Evanston and Bridger Valley school children in need, from grades K through 12. Last winter, the car club spent more than $1,000 on new winter shoes and coats for 14 school age children.

In 2016, the club expanded their chosen charities to include providing donations to the local SAFV Task Force, the Evanston Shop with a Cop program and the local YAHA home. Since 1996, the Evanston Car Cruise club has donated a total of over $82,000 to those charities.

Kallas provided the Herald with the list of winners for the following categories: Best Muscle Car and also Best Engine went to a 1968 Dodge Charger owned by Jerry Cover from Rock Springs; Best Interior was for a 1940 Ford owned by Bruce and Dorothy Bennett from Hooper, Utah; Best Original winner was a 1933 Packard owned by John Mason from Lindon, Utah; Special Interest winner was a 1948 Triumph owned by Gene Woody from Bridger Valley; Best 4 x 4 winner was a 1969 Bronco owned by Randall Johnston of Evanston; Best Show Truck winner was a 1949 Studebaker owned by Vince Guinta from Grand Junction, Colorado; Best Paint winner was a 1934 Ford owned by Steve and Shirley Coon from Utah; and the Club Choice Award went to a 1966 Chevy Corvette Stingray owned by Carl and Cindy Tiede from Orem, Utah.

“Everyone who enters and pays the registration fee receives a goody bag provided by the Chamber of Commerce which includes a voting slip,” Kallas said. “The participants pick the winners, except for the club choice award which the club members vote for.”