Delta Cruisers car show bigger than ever

Annual event attracts patrons and entries from all over the Mid-South

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Residents from all over the Tri-State area came out for the great weather Saturday for the 18th Annual Delta Cruisers Car show held at the Marion courthouse which featured the requisite food trucks, trophies and a silent auction but the biggest attraction by far, of course, were the cars themselves.

“It just keeps getting bigger and bigger” said Marion resident Hailey Whitehall, “I’ve been to everyone of them for the past nine years and so have my two boys. They just love it.”

To which her son, 8-year-old Jacob added “I want to be Ant-Man so I can make all the cars small and take them home in my pocket!”

Delta Cruiser’s of Marion is a car club consisting of all makes and models of cars, trucks and even a few motorcycles. The club was started in 1998 with about 10 members. The charter members were Tim Williams, Jim Turner, Don Nelson, Everett Sumner, Randy Anderson, Jeff Altemus, Jimmy Williams, Gary Haynes, Maxie Keith, Lee Smith and Gerald Martin.

The club meets at the Marion Sonic every Monday night during the Spring/Summer months up until about October and is involved in many charity causes and according to their social media page “It’s a lot of hard work but we love doing it! The funds raised from our shows always goes to a worthy cause. We have donated to Relay for Life, Crittenden County Museum in Earle, AR, West Memphis Christian School, Ronald Mc-Donald House, Single Parent Scholarship Fund, Project Life Saver, A Bit of Hope and Hope House. Our donations have totaled over $100,000 dollars”.

The prize winners this year were:

■ ■ Best of Show: Jodi Lytle with a 1969 Camaro from Olive Branch, Mississippi

■ ■ Best Engine: Jill Rhyne with a 1960 El Camino from West Memphis

■ ■ Best Paint: Richard Burrow 1966 Chevrolet Truck from Hernando, Mississippi

■ ■ Best Interior: Shane Franklin 1983 Chevrolet Truck, from Wynne

■ ■ Teen Award: Cody Webb 1976 Maverick from Harrisburg

■ ■ A Cash Award: Zach Webb with his 1963 ford truck from Harrisburg

■ ■ Cliff Southern Memorial Award: Albert Taylor 1966 Chevrolet Truck from Marion The last award was given in memory of Cliff Southern, a beloved member of the Marion community who passed away on April 27 on this year. In 1987, after several years working in the parts business, Cliff bought what is now Cliff’s Auto Parts. Throughout the last 36 years, Cliff’s had become a vital part of the community, providing parts and supplies for all. Cliff always said “If we don’t have it, we can get it!” His customers were his friends and he was known for his generosity and integrity. Cliff took pride in serving Marion and the surrounding communities.

A 1939 Chevy Deuce Coup that used to be the favorite of its’ original owner Don Bolden, founder of the Crittenden County Cruisin’ Car Club. But the new owner appears to love it just as much.

Photos by Don Wilburn

ABOVE: The Marion Courthouse looms in the distance to lay down the law in case Eleanor decides to make a 60 second run for it … again. BELOW: It might not be a Judge, but we’re not telling it that!