The Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club is sponsoring the 4th Annual City of Lakes Cruise In to Downtown Warsaw on May 19. At 1 p.m. D.J. Chris Cage will begin spinning the records to welcome the arrival of the cars, trucks and motorcycles to the show. At 1:30 p.m. there will be a special “Presentation of the Colors” featuring four antique fire trucks and an aerial display provided by a 1943 Stearman Bi-Plane aircraft piloted by Alan Hoover, Hoover Aerobatics LLC and the Island Weaver. NASCAR’s Michael Waltrip’s 2009 Original Toyota Racing Division car will be one of the featured cars. Throughout the day, David Illingworth, retired senior vice president and general manager of the international Toyota Racing Division, will rev up the 700 horse power engine. A large display of Corvettes will return along with many vintage cars. Other fan favorites on display will be ML Motorsports Nationwide car no. 70, Jerry Williams and his 1931 United States Post Office Truck and the 1912 fire truck that was driven by the Bob Fuson Team in Disney’s Race Across America. Returning this year is the fan favorite miniature “Polar Express Train” owned by Hoffman Body Shop and Craig Welding. Throughout the show, the gas powered train will take guests for a short ride around our downtown. The nationally recognized “Shigs in Pit” Bar-B-Q team, sponsored by Mad Anthony’s Brewing Company, will be selling their barbecue items. At 4 p.m. the judging of the cars, trucks and motorcycles will be completed. All entrants in the show will receive a “dash plaque” to acknowledge their participation and support of the Optimist Club’s “Friend of Youth” mission. Martin Becker and the Lakes Area Concert Band will take the stage on the courthouse lawn at 4:15 p.m. to play a 45 minute concert as a prelude to the presentation of the winner’s trophies for each class. There will be an escorted cruise leaving downtown Warsaw at the conclusion of the awards presentation. The cruise will travel down Center Street to Argonne Road and then enter the Village of Winona for a tour down Park Avenue and a return to downtown Warsaw. The registration fee for each vehicle entered in the show is $12. All proceeds benefit the 60 youth programs sponsored by the 150-member Breakfast Optimist Club. Last year 150 vehicles participated in this event. For more information visit www.warsawoptimist.org or call event Co-chairs Art Gakstatter 574-265-1010 or John Elliott 574-265-6556.
