Willie Granger and Carson Brown took home Best of Show trophies Saturday afternoon at the Made In The Shade car show, but it was four Bladen County charities who were the big winners.
It’s estimated more than $6,300 was raised for Bladen County Hospice, Bladen We Care, Bladen County Relay for Life and assisted living facilities during the daylong event held on land owned by the Greene family located beside San Jose Restaurant in Elizabethtown.
A near record 230 entries – three off the all-time mark – packed into the grassy lot to vie for more than 100 trophies in a variety of categories at the 21st annual event.
“It’s ranging from patriotic to antique to brand new,” said Wayne Dove, one of the organizers with the Classic Cruisers Car Club. “You name it, they’ve got it.”
Granger (pictured, above), from Riegelwood, won Best of Show for cars in the 1989 and newer division with his 2006 Mustang Saleen.
Brown (pictured with Wayne Dove of Classic Cruisers Car Club), from Richlands, accepted the trophy for his family in the Pre-1989 division for the 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Truck.
The oldest vehicle was a 1921 Ford Model T Touring car owned by Tanner Benton of Wilmington.
There was an entry from Manchester, New Hampshire and another from Jacksonville, Florida.
“We love it,” Dove said. “I’m going to keep it going as long as I’m able to.”
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Top winners in the Made in the Shade Car Show sponsored by Classic Cruiser Car Club:
Best of Show
1989 and newer: Willie Granger, Riegelwood, 2006 Mustang Saleen
Pre-1989: Carson Brown, Richlands, 1951 Chevrolet 3100 Truck
Best Truck
1989 and newer: Connie Barber, West End, 2000 Chevrolet Silverado Step Side
Pre-1989: Grady Love, Fayetteville, 1949 Chevrolet 3100 Pickup
Best Mopar
1989 and newer: Robert Atkinson, Orange Park, Fla., 2014 Dodge Challenger R/T
Pre-1989: Thomas Lee, White Lake, 1968 Plymouth Satellite
Best Corvette
1984 or newer: Gary Bass, Whiteville, 2017 Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport
1953-82: Ed Schultz, Wilmington, 1970 Chevrolet Corvette LT1
Best Camaro
1989 and newer: Isaac Morales Jr., Fayetteville, 2017 Camaro ZL1 50th Anniversary
Pre-1989: Michael Cummings, Ocean Isle Beach, 1971 Chevrolet Camaro
Best Chevelle
Terry Powell Sr., Fayetteville, 1966 Chevrolet Super Sport 396
Best GM
1989 and newer: Stephen Jones, Raeford, 2018 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1
Pre-1989: Ronnie Thornton, Newton Grove, 1972 Chevrolet C10
Best Mustang
1989 and newer: Tim Crouch, Lillington, 2012 Ford Shelby GT500
1964-88: Gilbert Cain, Elizabethtown, 1966 Ford Mustang
Best Ford
1989 and newer: Sandy Beard, Fayetteville, 2007 Ford Mustang GT
Pre-1989: Steve Douglas, White Lake, Ford T-Bucket
Best Original
Timmy Brice, Elizabethtown, 1957 Ford Fairline 500
Best Rat Rod
Steve Klunk, Murrells Inlet, S.C., 1946 Chevrolet/Ford Pickup Rat Rod
Best Street Rod
Ronnie Johnson, Clnton, 1932 Ford
Best Foreign
Jerry Jackson, Elizabethtown, 1953 MG
Best Other
Kent Mowery, Currie, 1960 AMC Metropolitan
Ladies Choice
Michael Hamby, Wilmington, 1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Oldest Vehicle
Tanner Benton, Wilmington, 1921 Ford Model T Touring
Most Unusual
Jerry Jackson, Elizabethtown, 2001 Chrysler Prowler
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