2012 Old Marais River Run. 1,200 photos. Yeah, it was that big.

Generally, you can expect the Goodguys show at Kansas Speedway to be the biggest car show of the year in the Kansas City area.  But I think we might have a new champion for 2012—the Old Marais River Run in nearby Ottawa, Kan.  Nearly 1,700 pre-1972 cars and trucks packed into picturesque Forrest Park for a beautiful weekend of spit-shining and cruising.

This is a dynamic show, with cars driving around the access road all day, people riding the shuttle through the show, and numerous organized cruises and activities throughout the weekend.  This is the 26^th year of this event, and the Over the Road Gang has obviously learned a thing or two about putting on a good show in all that time.

7th Annual Shawnee Wheels and Dreams Car Show was bigger than I bargained for

On Sunday, I had this bright idea that I could go to 10:30 church, partake in a heaping plate of fake Krab salad from the Golden Corral buffet with my family, go home, get the truck, dart over to Shawnee to snap a few quick pictures of the 7th Annual Wheels and Dreams Car Show, and still make it to the awards ceremony at the All-Truck Nationals in Riverside at 2:00.

Kansas City car shows, cruises, and races for September 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 2012

There are lots of car events all over Kansas City this weekend, but most of the classic car world will be focused on Ottawa and the Ol’ Marais River Run. This is a monster show, with some 1,500 cars packing it into Forest Park. If you want to see something special, take that short trip south of town.

Other significant events of note include the Shrine Swap Meet in Lee’s Summit, the Basehor Boys cruise on Friday night, the Platte City cruise on Saturday night, and the strong cruise at the Hartman Heritage Center in Independence.

Check out the entire schedule of Kansas City car shows, car cruises, and car races for September 12, 13, 14, 15, and 16 below the break.

2012 Midwest All-Truck Nationals is the place where truck owners come together

If you own a Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Thunderbird, or Chevelle, there is a big, model-specific car show in Kansas City just for you. Now, I don’t own a Camaro, Corvette, Mustang, Thunderbird, or Chevelle. I have an old truck. Not even a pretty old truck. So the chances of me hitting a show that I would fit in at are few-and-far between.

The Kansas City car show, car cruise, and car racing schedule for September 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 2012

As the summer winds down, lots of big car shows fire up in Kansas City. See tons of really great trucks from all over the country at the Midwest All-Truck Nationals in Riverside. Check out a couple of big Johnson County car shows in Shawnee and Merriam. See an all-Dodge show at Olathe Dodge, or an all-Chevy show at Heartland Chevrolet.

Whatever you like to see or do that involves cars, you’ll probably be able to find it in Kansas City this weekend. Check out the entire Kansas City car show, car cruise, and car racing schedule, plus the NASCAR events at Richmond, in the schedule below.

2012 Greaserama: Heaven in hell

 

Greaserama.  This is the Devil’s car show.   Hundreds of rusty, crusty cars crammed door-to-door in a sea of tepid muddy water.  Dangerous-looking people listening to loud, grungy, angry music while they suck down copious quantities of Pabst Blue Ribbon.  How do you want to die—by rubbing up against a car and contracting tetanus, or getting stabbed because the owner saw you get too close?

2012 Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals Sunday: Here comes the sun

The Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals is typically the biggest car show in Kansas City, and Saturday is usually the biggest day.  In 2012, this was still the biggest show in town, but rains on Saturday kept most of the cars away until Sunday.  Bright sunshine ensured that the car count was more like what people have come to expect on the final day of the show.  They also open up this day to allow later-model vehicles, which obviously adds to the festivities.

2012 Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals Saturday: Here comes the rain again

Every year about this time, the car show world descends on the infield of Kansas Speedway for the Saturday installment of the Goodguys Mid-Western Nationals.  This is the biggest car show of the year in this area, and Saturday is the biggest day.

But not this year.