Car show raises $1,800 for charity event

The 10th annual Phil Taylor Memorial Car Show went on despite a rain-soaked Saturday. \nThe car show raised about $1,800 for charity despite a smaller than expected showing, Cruisin' Classics President Virgil Franks said.\nCruisin' Classics played host to the show at the east side of Memorial Stadium. All proceeds of the show went to 'Shop With A Cop,' a yearly charity event for underprivileged Bloomington children.\nThe event was dominated by classic cars and Bloomington residents, but there were newer vehicles and people from neighboring cities such as Bedford present as well. The temperature was warm, but a constant drizzle in the morning and an overcast sky discouraged many people from entering their vehicles in the show, said Joe Wilson, Cruisin' Classics vice president.\n"If we had good weather, we would have about 200 cars," Wilson said. A total of 43 vehicles eventually entered.\nFour judges looked under the hood, inside the trunk and at the vehicles' exterior and interior to compile the points. \nMultiple awards were given in four categories -- cars and trucks made before 1980, cars made after 1979, trucks made after 1979 and motorcycles. Because of the small turnout, everyone got an award. \nThe only special award, the People's Choice Award, was given to a 1950 Studebaker.\nAn auction was later held to raise money for "Shop With a Cop," a charity event in which a child from a disadvantaged family goes to Wal-Mart during the Christmas season with an off-duty police officer, who purchases clothing and a toy for the child. Last year, about 75 kids were able to participate in the program, said Donna Crane, a member of Cruisin' Classics. \nThe auction took place at 1 p.m. after all the cars had been judged and included items such as tool sets, children's bicycles, dolls and trinkets.