Belton, Liberty, and Indy. The Kansas City car show, car cruise, and car racing schedule for May 25, 26, 27, 28, 2012

Memorial Day is when Americans remember those who have died while in the armed forces. Of course, one of the ways we do that is with huge car races.

This weekend is the 96th running of the Indy 500, as well as NASCAR’s Coke 600. And there is the usual selection of great local racing on tap as well.

More into the old car scene? There’s a lot of that too. Big cruises are going on in Belton and Liberty, and there’s even a Sunday cruise in Gladstone. Or get into the spirit of the weekend by checking out the vintage military vehicles, which will be on display at the World War I Liberty Memorial on Sunday and Monday.

Check out the entire Kansas City car show, car cruise, and car racing schedule below.


Kansas City-area car shows and cruises

Wednesday, May 23. Kansas City, Mo. Dale Wilch's Man Cave Indoor Swap Meet. 1501 West 31st Street, 64108. 6:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Dale at (913) 788-3219, e-mail dale@rpmcat.com, or visit http://www.dalewilch.com/.

Wednesday, May 23. Independence, Mo. Big Boy Car Cruise. 12401 East 40-Highway, 64055. 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. For more information, call Tom at (816) 356-1221. Or Mike at (816) 519-6424.

Wednesday, May 23. Olathe, Kan. Red Robin Car Cruise. 8657 W 135th Street at (at Antioch), 66223. 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Armando at (913) 894-2222.

Friday, May 25. Lansing, Kan. Leavenworth Cruisers Cruise Night. 391 N Main St (in the Carriage Hills Shopping Plaza), 66043. 5:30-9:00 p.m. For more information, call (913) 240-6775 or (913) 758-9362.

Friday, May 25. Overland Park, Kan. Longbranch Ale House TGIF Cruise. Longbranch Alehouse, 9095 Metcalf, 66212. 5:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Chris at (913) 642-9555.

Friday, May 25-Sunday, May 27. Springfield, Mo. Mid-America Street Rod Nationals. Ozark Empire Fairgrounds, 3001 N Grant Ave, 65803. For more information, call (417) 833-2660 or at (901) 452-4030.

Saturday, May 26. Liberty, Mo. Downtown Liberty Monthly Car Cruise. Liberty Square 1 Courthouse, 64068. 5:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://historicdowntownliberty.org/, or e-mail libertymoevents@gmail.com.

Saturday, May 26. Belton, Mo. Cruzin' Main Street.  Historic Downtown Belton. 4:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. For more information, call Mike at (816) 898-3698 Russ at (816) 392-0728, Paul at (816) 392-1470, Dave at (816) 898-5174, or Esther at (816) 322-7005, or visit http://www.south71cruisers.org/html/calender.html.

Saturday, May 26. Independence, Mo. Summer Cruise-In at the Hartman Heritage Center. Jackson Drive next to Buffalo Wild Wings. 6:00 p.m. For more info contact Jim at (816) 808-1154.

Saturday, May 26. Raymore, Mo. Hot Rods and Hawgs Cruise-In. Thirsty Ernie's Sports Bar and Grill, 1276 W Foxwood Dr, 64083. 1:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information, call (816) 322-2779.

Saturday, May 26. Weston, Mo. Weston Moonshiners Cruise-In. Main and Market Sts. 3:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m. For more information, call Scott at (816) 807-6430 or Jim at (816) 830-1891, or visit http://westonmoonshiners.com/index.html.

Saturday, May 26. Burns, Kan. Route 77 Car Show sponsored by the Burns Lions Club. For more information, call (316) 259-1448.

Saturday, May 26. Ste. Genevieve, Mo. Ste. Genevieve Car Cruise. Ste. Genevieve McDonald’s. For more information, call (573) 535-1063.

Saturday, May 26.  Lawrence, Kan.  Elston Abandoned Packards Auction.  1106 Rhode Island Street, 66048.  For more information, call (785) 594-0505, or visit http://kansasauctions.net/elston/05/26.php.

Sunday, May 27. Gladstone, Mo. Cowtown T's Cruise-In. Hy-Vee parking lot, 7117 N Prospect at (72nd and N Prospect at (MO 1 Highway)--N Antioch becomes N Prospect at 65th St), 64119. 5:00 p.m.-8:00 p.m. For more info contact Sal at (816) 452-8152, or e-mail sbonsignore@kc.rr.com.

Sunday, May 27. Kansas City, Mo. Art of the Machine Show featuring the Vintage Thunderbird Club of Kansas City. City Market Farmer's Market, 20 Genessee St, 64102. For more information, call Deb at (816) 842-1271

Sunday, May 27. O'Fallon, Mo. JJ's Restaurant Car Cruise. 200 Ft Zumwalt Sq, 63376. 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. For more information, call Mike at (636) 978-1737.

Sunday, May 27. Overland Park, Kan. Los Punk Rods Coffee Run/Burger Run. Snack Shack, 8039 Santa Fe, 66204.

Sunday, May 27-Monday, May 28. Kansas City, Mo. Vintage Military Vehicle Display. Liberty Memorial, 100 W. 26th Street, 64108 . 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information, visit http://www.theworldwar.org/, e-mail info@theworldwar.org, or call (816) 888-8100.



Kansas City-area car races

Wednesday, May 23. Grain Valley, Mo. ASCS National, W.A.R. Sprints and Modified Lites. Valley Speedway, 348 E Old 40 Hwy, 64029 . For more information, call (816) 229-2222, or visit http://valleyspeedway.com/default.aspx.

Thursday, May 24-Saturday, May 26. Wheatland, Mo. 20th Annual DART Show-Me 100, Lucas Oil MLRA. Lucas Oil Speedway, 700 E Hwy 54, 65779. For more information, call (417) 282-5984, or visit http://www.lucasoilspeedway.com/.

Friday, May 25. Grain Valley, Mo. Valley Sprints, Micro Sprints, UMLA Late Models and Modified Lites. Valley Speedway, 348 E Old 40 Hwy, 64029 . For more information, call (816) 229-2222, or visit http://valleyspeedway.com/default.aspx.

Friday, May 25. Kansas City, Kan. Budweiser Weekly Series. Lakeside Speedway, 5615 Wolcott Dr, 66109. For more information, call (913) 299-2040, or visit http://www.lakesidespeedway.net/.

Saturday, May 26. 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, May 26. Grain Valley, Mo. A Modifieds, B Modifieds, Street Stocks and Dirt Demons--40 Lap Modified Double Points. Valley Speedway, 348 E Old 40 Hwy, 64029 . For more information, call (816) 229-2222, or visit http://valleyspeedway.com/default.aspx.

Saturday, May 26. Lamonte, Mo. ASCS Warrior Region and USRA RHS A Modifieds. LA Raceway, 11649 Hwy Y, 65337. For more information, call (660) 620-1148 or (660) 620-1152, or visit http://www.laraceway.com/.

Saturday, May 26. Topeka, Kan. BriggsAuto.com Super Saturday Dirt Showdown Series. Heartland Park, 7530 SW Topeka Blvd, 66619. For more information, call (785) 862-2016, or visit http://www.hpt.com/.



NASCAR and Indy on TV

Memorial Day is traditionally one of the biggest weekends of racing in America. Of course, the biggest event is the Indianapolis 500, and if you haven’t been watching these races this year, you may be surprised at the look of the new cars. Oh, and Chevy is back into it, so I’ll have someone to root for!

The longest race of the year for the NASCAR guys is the Coca-Cola 600 at Charlotte. Jimmie Johnson won the All-Star race and a million bucks last Saturday night driving a car that was painted just like an S/C Rambler. Can he go back to Charlotte and win the 600 this weekend? Tune in to find out.

Saturday, May 26. Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR Nationwide Series History 300. Charlotte Motor Speedway. 1:30 p.m. (c/t). ABC Television.

Sunday, May 27. Speedway, Ind. IZOD Indycar Series 96th Running of the Indianapolis 500. Indianapolis Motor Speedway. 11:00 a.m. (c/t). ABC Television.

Sunday, May 27. Charlotte, N.C. NASCAR Sprint Cup Series Coca-Cola 600. Charlotte Motor Speedway. 4:30 p.m. (c/t). Fox Television.