Classic and custom car and motorcycle owners are set to bring their prized rides out to the Onalaska Volunteer Firefighters Association (OVFA) Car Show at 9 a.m. Saturday, Aug. 8, at the Lewis County Fire District 1 fire station.
The station is located at 1733 state Route 508 in Onalaska. Gates for participants open at 7 a.m.
Once again up for grabs are dozens of custom trophies welded together from scrap car parts by a local retiree-turned-artist who wished to remain anonymous and simply to be known as “Tetanus Trophies.”
“Because if you see some of the rusty junk that I start off with,” the Onalaska resident said when meeting with The Chronicle earlier this year, along with car show organizer Kathy Kassel.
The winner of the Firefighters’ Choice Award will also be featured on the shirt for the OVFA Car Show in 2027.
Along with a chance at getting a coveted “Tetanus Trophy” and bragging rights, a variety of prizes are up for grabs in a fundraiser raffle drawing, including an $800 Shine Your Sht ceramic wash and polish auto detailing package, a Papa’s Smokehouse barbecue sampler plate, a Route 66-themed hand-stitched quilt, a round of golf for four with golf carts at Newaukum Valley Golf Club and more.
The car show serves as a fundraiser for the OVFA and Lewis County Fire District 1 to get gear and equipment needed at the department.
In past years, they raised over $10,000 each car show. Proceeds have been used to purchase special washing machines and dryers capable of removing smoke and ash from firefighter gear, new gas detectors for the department's fire engines, new automated external defibrillators and more.
Additionally, funds raised at the car show also go toward OVFA scholarships for graduating Onalaska High School students and helping assemble holiday meal packages for those in need in partnership with the Onalaska Alliance.
“We’ve done $3,000 in school scholarships the past three years in a row,” Kassel said. “... And the backpack program they have here in the community, you wouldn’t believe how many kids they feed with that backpack program. It’s like 85. It’s a big number.”
OVFA volunteers will begin cooking up burgers and Polish dogs starting at 11:30 a.m.
Along with the custom trophies up for grabs, the first 50 entrants to register will also get a custom dashboard plaque.
To pre-register, contact Kassel via email at onycarshow22@gmail.com.
