Custom car owner Bruce Ricks is impressed with the drive behind this weekend’s Cars for Charities Rod & Custom Show in Wichita.

All the show’s proceeds go to two area nonprofits that help individuals with disabilities: the Arc of Sedgwick County and Starkey. The show runs Friday through Sunday, Jan. 17 to 19 at Century II, 225 W. Douglas.

Plus, the organizers — a group of car owners and enthusiasts — “go out and invite good and great cars to come,” said Ricks who’s been showing cars all over the country since 1998 and once won one of the most prestigious rod and custom cars awards, the Ridler Award given at the Detroit Autorama. “They really work at it.”

This year’s cars are coming from both coasts and in between, including Oklahoma, where Ricks is based, according to Drew Holmes, a Cars for Charities board member and one of the organizers.

It’s rare to find a charitable car show of this caliber, Ricks said. “Most car shows are put on by organizations who are in it to make money.”

In the world of custom and hot rod cars, vehicles generally fall into the categories of “good, nice and great,” Ricks explained. At the Cars for Charities Rod & Custom Show, people can usually expect to see three great cars and about 10 very good cars among the 300 on display, said Ricks, who’s been entering the Wichita show for years.

This year, Ricks is entering a 1954 Chevrolet convertible into the show’s premier Magnificent 7 competition. In 2012, he brought the 1956 Ford convertible that had earned him the 2011 Ridler Award.

The Magnificent 7 competition showcases top vehicles never shown before in Sedgwick County, Holmes said. About 60 cars will compete for $17,000 in cash and trophies in that category. Awards are given in several other categories too. The show’s website lists 2019 winners in categories like Fat Fendered, Slick and Smooth, Timeless Traditional, Just ‘Cause It’s Neat and Scrapin’.

Those involved with Cars for Charities, along with other enthusiasts for the show, go to car shows all over the country during the year to recruit participants, Holmes said. The end result is a mix of classic cars from the 1920s to new and rebuilt custom cars to more modern SUVs.

“You’ll see a little of everything,” Holmes said.

Ricks’ car is a totally rebuilt version of a car he entered in the Wichita show in 2000 that later wrecked. Because it’s a new, rebuilt version, it’s eligible to compete. During the rebuild, Downey’s Auto Upholstery, a Wichita business, installed the convertible top.

Wichita’s annual car show is one of the nation’s longest-running indoor shows, having started in 1957 by legendary car builder Darryl Starbird. In 2011, the show was purchased by Cars for Charities, a nonprofit group that turned the show into a fundraiser for other charities. To date, the show has raised $868,300 for local charities, Holmes said.

“We hope 2020 is the show that puts us over a million dollars,” he said.

Besides raising money for charity, the organizers — led by folks such as collector Tom Devlin and builder Tim Devlin — hope the show can be an opportunity to recruit younger fans of car shows.

“Car shows tend to appeal to an older demographic,” Holmes said.

To encourage families to bring kids, admission is free to those 11 and younger and the show has an enhanced free kids zone where kids can make model cars and jewelry, play on inflatables, get their faces painted and more. Kids zone hours start later and end sooner than the regular show hours.

Cars for Charities Rod & Custom Show

When: noon- 9 p.m. Friday, Jan. 17; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 18; and 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 19

Where: Century II, 225 W. Douglas

Tickets: $14 adults, $8 ages 12-17; free for children 11 and younger. Tickets are available at the door or atwichitatix.com; discounted tickets available at Wichita area QuikTrip stores.

More information:carsforcharitiesshow.com

This story was originally publishedJanuary 17, 2020 at 5:01 AM.