Whether you consider yourself a gear head or simply take pleasure in getting a look at some of the best American steel the automotive industry has ever produced, Saturday should be circled in red on your calendar.

In front of San Jose — on the lush green lawn under the grove of pecan trees lining West Broad Street in Elizabethtown — the 18th annual “Made in the Shade” Open Car & Truck Show will be held from about 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and there are high expectations. The event is being put on by the Classic Cruisers Car Club.

Always one of the area’s biggest shows, this one will feature 300 or more vintage cars and trucks if Mother Nature provides a sunny day. While many of the vehicles will come from throughout the region, some will travel from as far away as Virginia and beyond.

Along with a wide variety of classic vehicles of all makes and models, there will also be several specialty, homemade contraptions that will draw a crowd and be the focus of numerous photographs.

But the bigger picture here is that the event serves as the Classic Cruisers Car Club’s main fundraiser of the year, and a good portion of the proceeds collected are reinvested back into the community — primarily to the Bladen Journal’s Empty Stocking Fund, Bladen We Care, Lower Cape Fear Hospice and Relay For Life of Bladen County.

That’s a big deal.

And later in the afternoon, after some meticulous judging gets done, an array of shiny trophies will be awarded to the owners of deserving car and truck owners. Upwards of 120 are expected to be doled out before the day is done.

With very little else beckoning area residents on Saturday, it may be the perfect day to plan a little or a lot of time strolling in the cool shade — have lunch, visit the nearby vendors and get an up-close look at the freshly polished and carefully posed vintage machines.

You’ll have the chance to spend an hour or a handful of hours, but either way, it’s an event that will be well worth the visit.

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One week ago …

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Last Saturday, the area was treated to the first Fifty-Fifty Fear Factor joint fundraiser for the Elizabethtown Kiwanis Club’s children’s outreach programs and Bladen County Emergency Services’ training center.

The event, held at Dublin Motor Speedway, didn’t pack in the crowd, but it did offer those who did come plenty of fun, good food and a lot of entertainment.

It also showed plenty of possibilities for future events to raise money for local causes, and organizers are already thinking about the next one.

We hope to see a bigger and better Fifty-Fifty Fear Factor fundraiser next summer.

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QUOTE OF THE DAY

“Without a sense of caring, there can be no sense of community.” (Anthony J. D’Angelo)