Click to enlarge GARY SEWELL / HERALD DEMOCRAT Classic cars line the street in downtown Howe for the annual car show benefitting the Howe Volunteer Fire Department.

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By K. McSTAY

HERALD DEMOCRAT

HOWE -- Cars as bright as candy lined a parking lot off Highway 5 on Saturday, as the Howe Volunteer Fire Department raised funds for their department. Antique cars and military vehicles showed up from all over Texas, and children from a local baseball team set up a tent to raise funds for a playoff game. Howe's Boy Scout troop also hosted a bake sale.

The show was originally set for May, but was rained out twice. "It's for a good cause," said Gary Park, one of the members of the Red River Military Vehicles Preservation Society. People frequently come by and ask questions about the vehicles, Park said. "Everybody asks whether or not they were in the war," he said. Passers-by also tell stories of their own military vehicles, he said.

Jim Garrison, one of the car owners, attended the show with his 1968 Candy Apple Red Ford Mustang. "I go to a lot of the car shows," he said. The car, he said, is very rare, particularly as the dash was signed by Caroll Shelby. "I had one when I was a kid, and I sold it when I was about 16," Garrison said. "I wanted it back almost as soon as I sold it." He drove the car to the show, he said. "There's no AC in the car, but you still feel cool when you drive it," he said. The car is particularly recognizable, Garrison said, as it is the bright red color and a part of car history. "Everybody has a story about a family member or someone they knew who had one."

Shelby, who autographed the car, was instrumental in designing the cars and developing it. Garrison said to keep the car in good condition, he keeps it clean. "There's all kinds of products on the market," he said.

Jacob Howell, Mason Riggs and Tate Matthews, all 8 years old, attended the event in their baseball uniforms, handing out reminders to attend their fundraiser. "It's for our state play-offs," Mason said. "We got in there because we're awesome," Tate said. All three boys are excited about the possibility of winning. "We have a good defense," Mason added. The boys agreed that a red Cameo on the lot was the best car there. "It rocks," Tate said. "It looks good," Mason agreed.

Chet Teel, the owner of the 1969 Cameo, said he's glad the event sponsored the volunteer fire department. "If I burn down my house, they're the ones that would put it down," he said. "I like driving (the car) because everybody loves it."

Jerry Kirby and James Melton, both of Howe, also attended the show. Kirby brought his 1951 Chevrolet two door hard top, and Melton drove a 1948 five window modified Chevrolet. "We make all the car shows in the area," Kirby said. "We want to let all the people see how it used to be." Cars had some class then, he said. "The cars aren't unique anymore, one looks just like another."