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Traer summer show shines bright in 2020

Traer Chamber of Commerce President Michelle Podhajsky (right) congratulates an award winner during the Shine & Show Annual Traer Car Show on August 8. An estimated 150 vehicles showed up for the car show that ran throughout the middle of the day on Saturday. Darvin Graham/NT Telegraph

One familiar hallmark of summer that has remained in tact for many Iowans is the presence of small town car shows that punctuate the hot and humid summer months.

The Shine & Show Annual Traer Car Show in downtown Traer was held on August 8 and gave folks an occasion to socialize and enjoy the outdoors and all of the things downtown Traer has to offer.

The event is sponsored by the Traer Chamber of Commerce who helped coordinate both local sponsors as well as promotions for the day of the car show at downtown businesses including Farm to Flame Bar & Grill, the Wind Up Lounge, and Sweets on Main.

“We advertised ‘SMALL TOWN. BIG SHOW.’ for the this year’s Chamber Car Shine & Show event and it did not disappoint,” Traer Chamber of Commerce President Michelle Podhajsky said. “People showed up in big numbers to support our event and our town. We’re all very pleased and appreciative of the turn out.”

Spiffed up and tricked out vehicles from many decades lined 2nd Street in Traer as over 135 entries from all over Eastern Iowa came to get in on the fun and competition.

The top 25 entries were awarded trophies along with some superlative awards including the Best in Show, VIP, and the “Belongs at My High School Reunion” award, among others.

Tama County entries that took home some hardware at the 2020 Shine & Show included:

1960 GMC 3/4 ton pickup with camper by Nancy Dvorak from Clutier; 1972 Chevy Chevelle SS by Cory Herman from Elberon; 1970 Plymouth GTX by Mark Pokorny from Clutier; and a 1969 Chevy Chevelle by John Schneider from Dysart.

A piece of Traer history was also on display at this year’s Shine & Show.

Brian Sienknecht was on hand with his 1971 Plymouth Road Runner called “Motion Maker”. The hot rod may be familiar to area car enthusiasts as it was originally owned by Roy and Carol Fuller of Traer. The couple purchased the car from Vokoun Motors in Traer where Roy worked in the service department.

The Fullers spent many years taking “Motion Maker” around to races where they garnered class records in the American Hot Rod Association and the International Hot Rod Association.

Decades later, “Motion Maker” still resides in Traer and still wears portions of its groovy ’70s paint job. Sienknecht and “Motion Maker” were a popular stop along the Shine & Show spectator lane as folks young and old stopped by to either learn about the car’s unique history or reminisce on days and races past.

The Traer Chamber of Commerce are already fired up for next year’s Shine & Show, which was announced to take place on August 14, 2021.

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