Hangtown car show set

By Mike Bush
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What: Hangtown Car Show

Who: Placerville Lions Club and Placerville Downtown Association

Where: Main Street from Bedford to Sacramento streets

When: Thursday, Aug. 23 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Cost: Free but registration for classic cars pre-1974 is $15. Registration forms can be picked up at 601 Main St. in Placerville

Information: Michael Ocenosak at 530-622-1731 or fax 530-622-7241 or e-mail mikocen@yahoo.com

Michael Ocenosak takes pride in the classic cars he owns.

He knows other classic car owners also love their vehicles and love showing them off to admirers.

Classic car owners and classic car admirers will have a chance to share their fascination with the automobile on Thursday, Aug. 23. at the Hangtown Evening Car Show in downtown Placerville.

The pre-1974 classic cars will be on display along Main Street from Bedford Avenue to Sacramento Street. Main Street will be closed for the Placerville Lions Club and Placerville Downtown Association event.

Ocenosak, 54, owns a 1957 Volkswagon Beetle that has been in his family for many years. Pat, Michael’s wife of 27 years, owns a 1958 Cadillac Series 62 Coupe that has also been a part of her family for many years.

Ocenosak, a member of the Placerville Lions Club, said last summer’s event drew an estimated 1,500 to 2,000 people; mostly El Dorado County residents.

“An average day (car) show will draw about 6,000 people,” Ocenosak said. “Car shows are popular with the general public.”

More cars expected

The number of cars in this summer’s event is expected to exceed last year’s 185 entrants, Ocenosak said. He already knows quite a few people who will be entering their classic cars.

For the last two years, the Lions Club has hosted two daytime car shows in Placerville. The sixth annual Hangtown Car Show was held in May and gears toward out-of-town entrants and El Dorado County residents, Ocenosak said.

“We thought that the evening car show would cater more to the local people,” said Ocenosak. “Our day car show would gather people as far (north)west as Fort Bragg, all the way to Minden, Nev., south past Stockton and a lot come up from the Bay Area.”

Last summer’s evening show was well-received, Ocenosak said, because it’s a “small show.”

“We get a great selection of cars,” he said.”We’ve got a diversity.”

Studebaker to Corvette

From an 1881 Studebaker to a 1973 Chevrolet Corvette, Ocenosak notes anyone who is a car buff will benefit from checking out the cars on Thursday.

Another group of classic cars expected to be in the show are foreign cars, including the classic Volkswagen Beetle.

“We have everything from stock domestic to stock foreign,” Ocenosak said.

The classic car owners will have multiple chances to drive home with many awards in the following categories; best of show, plus best paint, engine and interior. There will be classes for pre-1949 classic cars and post 1948 vehicles, as well as categories for roadsters, convertibles, sedans, truck/delivery original, stock and foreign.

Anyone wishing to enter their classic car must fill out a registration and liability release form. The form can be picked up at the Ocenosak’s work place, Terrie Y. Prod’hon CPA, 601 Main St. in Placerville.

The registration and liability fee is $15. A check or money order must be made payable to the Placerville Lions Club. The check or money order can be dropped off or mailed to the same office. If mailed, address the envelope to: Placerville Lions Club, c/o Michael Ocenosak, 601 Main St., Placerville, 95667. The registration form can also be faxed to Ocenosak at 530-622-7241.

Funds assist charities

The money collected from the car show assist local charities, Ocenosak said.

“We sponsor the annual Fishing Derby, the Halloween Carnival at Town Center (in El Dorado Hills) and the Youth Assistance program for the city of Placerville,” Ocenosak said.

People who enter the classic car show will receive a T-shirt, printed by Placerville’s White Hawk Designs, Ocenosak said. The participants also receive a goody bag that consists of tickets for the 50/50 drawing and coupons from local merchants.

He noted that people who enter the car show can park their cars starting at 5 p.m.

Food and beverages will be served throughout the car show, Ocenosak said. Hammond’s Hits will play music at the Belltower during the car show.

For more information contact Ocenosak at 530-622-1731 or e-mail mikocen@yahoo.com.

Contact Mike Bush at 530-344-5079 or mbush@mtdemocrat.net. Follow @MBushMtDemo on Twitter.