Auto show at Albany Mall has good turnout | PHOTOS

ALBANY — If you like hot cars, or old cars or trucks … or cars with a lot of muscle, the grounds at the front of the Albany Mall was the place to be on Saturday for the Artesian City Car Club’s 42nd annual Open Car, Truck and Street Show.

Mobile users can view the auto show photos here.

Club officials say 88 car and truck owners turned out for the event this year, topping last year’s mark by 10.

“We’ve got a pretty good turnout today,” said club President David Carter. “We had some misting rain this morning but it’s turned out to be a real car man’s day.”

Members were up and out at 7 a.m., Carter said, pulling things together for the event. Then came registration at 9:30 a.m.

“We have a bunch of trophies ready to give away, and if you’ve got a car, we have a class for you,” Carter said. “You can put it in the show for competition or just bring it for display. A lot of people have done that.”

According to Carter, the show was open to anyone who wanted to only display their vehicle for $15 on the day of the event. To compete for one of the 105 prizes to be awarded was $20 per vehicle for pre-entry or $25 on show day. The auto show is always free for the public to attend.

Carter said the yearly show attracts car enthusiasts, primarily “older” men, from all around the region. Visitors this year arrived from Phenix City, Ala.; Byron; Warner Robins; Tallahassee, Fla., and other outside cities.

“Mostly though, this is a local show,” Carter said, “and around 90 percent of participation comes from right around here.”

Carter himself brought his 2008 Special Edition 427 Rouch Mustang — his pride and joy.

Robert Childers, another hometown member, came to show his Phantom Blue 1970 Chevrolet Chevelle, and to be near others of his kind.

“We’re all about old cars and camaraderie,” said Childers, 62. “It’s like going back and living in the past. It’s a sickness, really, but it makes you feel young again, and once you get the habit there’s no cure for it. You meet the best of people messing with cars.”

Childers said he’s been coming to the show since 1975.

Richard Rykard came all the way from Hahira to display his 1930 Studebaker. While he and his wife sometimes dress the part of a gangster and his moll, Rykard said he found the weather a little too warm for his chalk-stripe suit.

“Another month or so and I’ll wear it,” Rykard said.

Rykard, 66, and his wife often take the Studebaker, modified with a 327 Chevrolet engine and modern-day air conditioner, to restaurants and other public venues dressed in period outfits.

“It does draw a lot of attention,” Rykard said.