The Poplar Bluff Technical Career Center will host its inaugural Car & Motor Show this weekend to showcase its updated programming and help raise funds to expand opportunities for students.
The admission-free event is slated to take place from 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 21, on the High School campus, featuring food, activities and prizes.
The cost to register a vehicle, motorcycle, four-wheeler or boat is $20 in advance at the TCC at 3203 Oak Grove Road, or $25 at the gate. Free T-shirts will be offered to registrants through Friday.
"It's not just a car show, we're trying to make a community event for outside companies to come in and experience what we do," explained Denni White, auto repair instructor. "Our programs are all revived, and most of our instructors are new over the last six years."
White approached Director Charles Kinsey with the idea for the event last school year, and a faculty committee was formed to make preparations over the summer. The ultimate goal will be to obtain tax-exempt status for an associated nonprofit organization and have the motor show serve as its primary fundraiser each year.
The mission of the 501c3 will be to generate money so students can travel to trade shows in their respective fields, for example. This way career and technical education students can stay on the cutting edge in their industries, and "go from good to great," according to computer graphics instructor Alex Nicolini.
"Our employment rates have gone up in the last couple years," noted welding instructor Chris Carpenter, "but we're also looking to offer more opportunities within our programs so students can see their full potential when they go into these fields."
People's choice awards will be presented in the various categories of the motor show including student-built projects, hot rods, rat rods, exotics, imports, trucks, specialty vehicles, inboard and outboard boats, side-by-sides and motorcycles. Multiple sponsorship levels are available to businesses, including platinum for $500, which secures booth space in the parking lot.
A Can-Am Outlander 450 will be raffled at the end of the show. There will be concessions, a dunking booth, bounce house, cornhole and much more for visitors of all ages. River Radio has agreed to broadcast live throughout the day. For more information, visit the PBTCC Foundation on
Facebook or call 573-785-2248.
Above: Austin Pullum, a senior at the TCC, poses next to a student-owned 1968 Chevrolet Camaro and the winning plaque for the Car & Motor Show.
