Lake Chelan Car Club gives back for future and fellow motor-heads

CHELAN - The Lake Chelan Car Club brings motor-heads together to support aspiring motor-heads. Through car shows, parades, meetings, cruise-ins and scholarships, members of the organization strive to promote the passion for automobiles.

“Our club hosts the Lake Chelan Car Show in September and supports the Cruizin’ Car Show in June,” member Mark Cook explained.

Lake Chelan Car Club president Shawn Shippey and his board are eager to share their classics with the masses. Leo Miller, on the board of Directors, owns the largest collection of classic cars in the Lake Chelan Valley. His museum, the location of which is known only to car club members and friends, is filled with cars and memorabilia making it feel like the set of a cult-classic film like American Graffiti or Rebel Without a Cause. But Miller has a cause and that cause is the Lake Chelan Car Club and its programs.

The car club will award four scholarships this year to graduating seniors who intend to pursue studies in the automotive field. The students come from Manson, Chelan, Entiat and Pateros High Schools.

“Maybe they aren’t A students but they want to look at a career in automotive. That’s who we’ve decided to support with these scholarships,” Cook stated.

“We let the FFA pick their top deserving students and they submit them for us to choose,” Miller added.

The money for the scholarships comes from the annual Lake Chelan Car Show, where sponsorships and 50/50 raffle funds raised go towards the $3,000 which will be awarded. This year’s students have been chosen but not all have been notified as of yet. Sponsors such as Les Schwab and Mill Bay Casino have helped to make the scholarships possible in addition to the club’s participation in car shows and parades throughout the region.

“We will be taking part in the Apple Pie Jamboree up in Pateros and we do the Swallow Fest in Entiat too,” Shawn Shippey stated.

Registration is now open for the club’s 2017 Lake Chelan Car Show which takes place on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2017 at Riverwalk Park in Downtown Chelan. Visitors, residents and participants will get an up close and personal look at classics, hot rods, custom builds and even motorcycles.

The 2017 Lake Chelan Car Show will kick off on Friday, Sept. 8, 2017 with a barbecue for registrants to mingle. The Barbecue will take place at 5:30 p.m. at Leo Miller’s Shop located on Bluewater Avenue in Chelan. There is a suggested donation of $10 for participants wishing to attend.

The Car Show in the Riverwalk Park goes from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature competitions sponsored by local businesses. At 3 p.m., guests can head to the Ruby Theatre on Woodin Avenue to watch a special showing of the classic film, American Graffiti sponsored by the Lake Chelan Car Club.

At 7 p.m., guests are invited to the Woodin Avenue Bridge Dance sponsored by Historic Downtown Chelan Association. The event features live music, a beer garden and fun for all ages.

Early registration for the event goes until August 15, 2017 and includes a free event t-shirt. The cost is $20 per participant and $5 for each additional vehicle.

To learn more about the Lake Chelan Car Show and to register, visit the event website (http://www.lakechelancarshow.com/registration-form.html).

 For those looking to join the Lake Chelan Car Club, they meet the first Thursday of each month at 5:30 p.m. Visit the club’s Facebook page for meeting locations and event information (https://www.facebook.com/groups/562457813834805/).