Midwest Ford Fest, Shrine Swap Meet, and Ol' Marais. The Kansas City car show, car cruise, and car racing schedule for September 16, 17, 18

September continues to be a busy month for Kansas City car events. One of the biggest is the Ol’ Marais River Run in Ottawa, where some 1,600 cars will blanket Forrest Park.

If you like Fords, the Midwest Ford Fest is always a big draw at KCIR. And if your old car needs parts, or if you are looking for a new project, the Ararat Shrine Swap Meet in Lee’s Summit may have just what you need.

As the season winds down in Kansas City, there is no shortage of car shows, car races, and car cruises to check out this weekend in Kansas City. Take a look at the full schedule of events below.


Kansas City-area car shows

Friday, September 16-Sunday, September 18. Ottawa, Kan. 25th-Annual Ol' Marais des Cygne River Run Car Show. Forest Park. Cruises on Friday and Saturday nights, car show on Saturday, awards on Sunday. For more information, visit http://www.olmarais.com/.

Friday, September 16-Sunday, September 18. Branson, Mo. 4th-Annual Sleds ‘N September Hot Rod and Kustom Show. AREA 57. 1610 W Highway 76, 65616. For more information, call Lynn at (417) 588-7900, or visit http://www.sledsinseptember.com/.

Friday, September 16. Blue Springs, Mo. Winstead's Cruise Night. 7-Highway and I-70. 6:00 p.m. For more information, call Jim at (816) 841-2116.

Friday, September 16. Overland Park, Kan. Longbranch TGIF Cruise presented by Hollywood Nights. Dan's Longbranch Steakhouse and Saloon, 9095 Metcalf, 66212. 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. For more information, contact Dan at (913) 642-9555.

Friday, September 16-Saturday, September 17. Marionville, Mo. 4th Annual Fall Fest, Car and Tuck Show and Swap Meet. 24407 Hwy 60, City Park. For more information, call (417) 463-2507, or (417) 258-2601 or e-mail ubadoby@sbcglobal.net.

Friday, September 16. Holden, Mo. Happy Days Dream Cars Cruise. Sonic Drive-In, 101 S Lexington, 64040. 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Chris at (816) 616-6612.

Friday, September 16. Overland Park, Kan. Fast Fridays Cruise at KC Trends, featuring Tech N9ne. 13300 Grandview Street, 66213. For more information, call (913) 962-5200, or e-mail sales@kctrends.com.

Friday, September 16. Pleasant Hill, Mo. Pleasant Hill Cruise Night. First St and Wyoming in Historic Downtown Pleasant Hill. 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, visit the Facebook page.

Saturday, September 17-Sunday, September 18. Lee's Summit, Mo. Ararat Shrine Fall Swap Meet. Held at the former Adesa auction facility at the intersection of Hwys 50 and 291. For more information, call (800) 211-4120 or (816) 923-6220, or visit http://www.araratshrine.com/swap/.

Saturday, September 17. Kansas City, Mo. Midwest Ford Fest. Kansas City International Raceway, 8201 S Noland Rd, 64138. For more information, call Russ at (816) 635-3669, e-mail russ.dickey@midwestfordfest.com, or visit http://www.midwestfordfest.com/.

Saturday, September 17. Higginsville, Mo. Higginsville County Fair Tractor and Engine Show. 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. 19th Street by U.S. Bank. For more information, call Richard at (816) 699-1607, or visit http://www.higginsvillecountryfair.com/.

Saturday, September 17. Springfield, Mo. 5th annual Victory Mission Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. Second Baptist Church parking lot. 3111 East Battlefield Street. Registration: 8:00 a.m.-10:00 a.m. Awards: 2:30 p.m. For more information, call Floyd at (417) 581-3996 or (417) 831-6387, or visit http://www.vmcarshow.com/.

Saturday, September 17. Gladstone, Mo. Big Baby's Pizzeria Cruise Night. 6579 North Oak Trafficway, 64118. 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. For more information, call (816) 569-2442.

Saturday, September 17. California, Mo. 16th Annual Ham and Turkey Car and Antique Truck Show and Festival. 8:00am to 3:00pm. For more information, call the California Missouri Chamber of Commerce at (573) 796-3040.

Saturday, September 17. Humansville, Mo. 64th Annual Fall Festival Car Show. Downtown Humansville. Includes a carnival, crafts, music, soap box derby, and more. 11:00 a.m. For more information, call (417) 253-3139, or e-mail Sandy or Bonnie at haircutter13@yahoo.com or heinman@windstream.net.

Saturday, September 17. Lebanon, Mo. 11th Annual Route 66 Festival and Classic Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. Cowan Civic Center, 500 East Elm. 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. For more information, call Lynn at (417) 588-7900 or (417) 532-2148, or e-mail laclede66news@tds.net.

Saturday, September 17. Bourbon, Mo. 3rd-Annual Bourbon Firefighters Car Show and City Fall Festival. Historic Pine Street. 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. For more information, call Sean at (636) 667-8920, or e-mail sjohnson@bourbon.org.

Saturday, September 17. Princeton, Mo. Calamity Jane Car and Antique Tractor Show and Parade. For more information, call (660) 748-4331.

Saturday, September 17. Monett, Mo. 19th Annual Fall Festival and Car Show Downtown Monett, East Broadway Street to Route 60. For more information, call Bennett at (417) 772-7092 or (417) 354-0841.

Sunday, September 18. Gower, Mo. Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show. Downtown Gower. 9:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. For more information, call Eldon at (816) 669-8242.

Saturday, September 17. Independence, Mo. Heartman Heritage Center Summer Cruise-In. Jackson Drive next to Buffalo Wild Wings. 6:00 p.m. For more information, call Jim at (816) 808-1154.

Saturday, September 17. Olathe, Kan. KSD R.A.C.E. Auto Show and Fundraiser. Kansas School for the Deaf. 450 East Park Street, 66062. 10:00 a.m.-4:00 p.m. For more information, call Shelly at (913) 791-0580, e-mail race@ksdeaf.org, or visit http://ksdeaf.org/.

Saturday, September 17. Lee's Summit, Mo. Johnny Ray's Drive-In Cruise. 800 SW Blue Pkwy, 64063. 5:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. For more information, call (816) 524-1910.

Saturday, September 17. Olathe, Kan. Radical Rides Cruise Night. Sonic Drive-In.  915 S. Parker, 66061-4262. For more information, call Glen at (913) 713-5013, or Don at (913) 948-9521.

Saturday, September 17. Overland Park, Kan. HPAC Cruise Night. Culver's. 8600 W 135th St (135th and Antioch). 66223. Open to all years of MOPAR and AMC vehicles. 6:00 p.m.-10:00 p.m. For more information, call (785) 231-0719 or e-mail hpacmopar@hotmail.com.

Saturday, September 17. Overland Park, Kan. Golden Oldies Cruise. Foster’s Grille. 11831 Metcalf Ave (119th and Metcalf), 66210. 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Delbert at (913) 724-4025, or e-mail goldenoldiescarclub@sunflower.com.

Saturday, September 17. Platte City, Mo. Outta Control Hot Rods and Cruisers Monthly Cruiseathon. Pizza Shoppe and Mr. Goodcents parking lots, 2400 NW Prarie View Rd, 64079. For more information, call Larry at (816) 858-4070.

Sunday, September 18. Kansas City, Mo. Art of the Machine Display featuring the Studebaker Driver’s Club. 10:00 a.m.-2:00 p.m. Kansas City’s City Market. For more information, visit http://www.thecitymarket.org/, or e-mail ppowers@copaken-brooks.com.

Sunday, September 18. Kearney, Mo. Krusin’ Kearney. Downtown Kearney. For more information, call Neal at (816) 876-1357.

Now-September 25. Kansas City, Mo. Art of the Chopper Exhibit in Kansas City's Union Station. 30 West Pershing Road, 64108. For more information, call (816) 460-2020, or visit http://www.unionstation.org/chopper/index.php.

Kansas City-area car races

Friday, September 16. Grain Valley, Mo. Weld Family Memorial Weekend. Valley Speedway, 348 E Old 40 Hwy, 64029. For more information, call (816) 229-2222, or visit http://valleyspeedway.com/default.aspx.

Friday, September 16. Lebanon, Mo. Weekly Racing. Midway Speedway. 6 miles east on Highway 32 and then right on B Highway, the speedway is 1/2 mile down B Highway on the right-hand side. For more information, call (417) 588-4430, or visit http://www.lebanonmidwayspeedway.com/.

Friday, September 16. Topeka, Kan. Drag Week Finale. Heartland Park Topeka Drag Strip, 7530 Topeka Blvd, 7530 Topeka Blvd, 60610. For more information, call (785) 862-2016, or visit http://www.hpt.com/.

Friday, September 16. Kansas City, Mo. Grudge Night Races. Kansas City International Raceway, 8201 S Noland Rd, 64138. For more information, call (816) 358-6700, or visit http://www.kcironline.com/.

Saturday, September 17. Nevada, Mo. Weekly Racing. Nevada Speedway, S Barrett Ave, 64772. For more information, call (417) 667-5859, or visit http://www.nevadaspeedway.net/.

Saturday, September 17. Winston, Mo. Weekly Racing. I-35 Speedway. Interstate 35 and Highway 6, 64689. For more information, call (660) 749-5317, or visit http://www.i-35speedway.net/.

Saturday, September 17. Topeka, Kan. Super Saturday Showdown. Heartland Park Topeka Dirt Track, 7530 Topeka Blvd, 60610. For more information, call (785) 862-2016, or visit http://www.hpt.com/.

Saturday, September 17. Lebanon, Mo. Weekly Racing. I-44 Speedway. 24069 Route 66, 65536. For more information, call (417)532-2060, or visit http://www.i44speedway.net/.

Sunday, September 18. Kansas City, Mo. Fall High School Drags. Kansas City International Raceway, 8201 S Noland Rd, 64138. For more information, call (816) 358-6700, or visit http://www.kcironline.com/.


NASCAR on TV

The pre-season is over and the field has been set. Whichever Chase contender does the best in these last ten races will be the 2011 NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Champion. The first race of the Chase is this weekend at Chicagoland Speedway. Every lap counts now, so there should be plenty of strategy that comes into play. And, if strategy isn’t your bag, last week five-time and defending series champion Jimmie Johnson got into it with former champ Kurt Busch, so perhaps that will carry over to the next race. Visit http://www.nascar.com/ for more information.

Friday, September 16. Joliet, Ill. NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Fast Five 225. Chicagoland Speedway. 7:00 p.m. SPEED TV.

Saturday, September 17. Joliet, Ill. NASCAR Nationwide Series Dollar General 300. Chicagoland Speedway. 2:30 p.m. (c/t). ESPN2 TV.

Sunday, September 18. Joliet, Ill. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Geico 400. Chicagoland Speedway. 1:00 p.m. (c/t). ESPN TV.