By Charles Romans
Carter County Times
Local Car Club MCCU Street Rods held a cruise-in style car show at the Members Choice Credit Union in Grayson Saturday, with all proceeds going toward supporting veterans. Todd and Jessica Brown of Grayson are the founders of the club, and said that Saturday’s event, like everything they do, is an enjoyable way for car lovers to come together for a good cause. Todd Brown, a long-time car enthusiast and veteran himself, said that the idea to found the club was born out of a need he saw to provide more support for veterans in our area.
“All the money we collect goes to benefit the veterans, and stays right here in town,” Brown said.
At the end of each season, he said, all the money left after expenses is donated to the Veterans Outreach in Grayson.
“They (the outreach) provide counseling, they have a food bank, and a clothing closet where veterans can go in and get free clothes,” he said.
In addition, Brown added, there is even some assistance with electric bills for veterans.
He said it is gratifying to him personally to see the public turn out to support veterans. Brown himself is a veteran who served in Iraq, and he knows full well how much support veterans need – and how in many cases they don’t receive.
“I was just given a plane ticket home,” Brown said. “No support, no counseling, nothing.”
This led to a lot of problems he had to overcome, and he doesn’t want any other veteran to go through what he did without support.
The cruise-in usually has between fifty and seventy-five registered vehicles, and numerous other unregistered vehicles, Jessica Brown said. The vehicles that are registered pay a ten-dollar fee and are eligible for door prizes donated by local businesses and individuals. As for what type of vehicle is eligible for the MCCU events, Todd Brown said that anything goes.
“It doesn’t matter if you have a restored antique, a classic muscle car, or an old ‘beater’, bring it down. Everyone is welcome, even motorcycles and off-road vehicles. We don’t judge, we’re just here to have a good time and support the Veterans,” he said.
The event, which was sponsored by the Grayson branch of Members Choice Credit Union, includes a long list of sponsors including AutoZone, Tireland, Grayson Truck and Trailer Repair, Tint Wizard, Mackey’s Towing and Transport, Abby’s Handmade Earrings, the Veteran’s Outreach, Wes’ Smoke Shack, Advance Auto Parts, Pit Stop Collision, Michelle Wilhoit State Farm, Griffith Lawncare, John’s Kentucky Trophy, And O’Reilly’s Auto Parts. Local Food Vendors like The Drive-In from Olive Hill also show up to the events so that all the money stays local, Jessica Brown added. MCCU holds a car show event monthly on every second Saturday beginning in April and running through October, Todd Brown said.
Event patrons enjoyed looking through the rows of cars that varied from tricked out El Camino’s to Classic Ford trucks and Corvettes. Antiques such as Gary Carroll’s 1928 Ford A Model were well represented, as was Gordon Womack’s Classic Chevy Suburban. Specialty paint jobs shined next to project cars still showing rust pre-repair, and chromed and detailed motors reflected the sun while patrons browsed through the Member’s Choice parking lot. Food, music, and the cars themselves made for an enjoyable afternoon as people throughout the area turned out to have a good time and support veterans.
Contact the writer at charles@cartercountytimes.com
