ShawneeDispatch.com

For anyone looking to show off a classic hot rod, or even a brand new, tricked out car or motorcycle, downtown Shawnee has become the place to be.

The 3rd Annual Wheels & Dreams Car, Truck and Bike show is set for this Sunday, when downtown will shut down from 1 to 5 p.m. to fill the streets with rare and exceptional vehicles. Organized by the Downtown Business Association, the show grew from 105 vehicles in its inaugural year to nearly 250 last year.

And Mike Unterreiner, Downtown Business Association member and event organizer, said all indications are that the event will grow again this year.

"We're ahead of last year in pre-registration," he said. "If weather's nice, we are predicting between 250 and 300 cars this year."

Which means that those who would like to enter should move fast in order to get a free goody bag, available to the first 250 entries. Pre-registration for the car show is $20, and registration on the day of the event is $25. Pre-registration forms can be found at Hartman Hardware, 11018 Johnson Drive, and Encore, 11006 Johnson Drive.

The day also will include door prizes, trophies and a grand prize of a travel package worth more $500. Downtown food vendors will be out selling food and drinks for all automotive fans who come to browse the vehicles on display - last year's crowd of visitors was estimated at 1,500.

Last year's event more than doubled in size thanks in part to cooperation with the more established downtown car show in Merriam, the day before Shawnee's show. But Unterreiner said he thinks this year's show also will receive a boost because it's the first year organizers have made use of the downtown banner poles to string a banner over Johnson Drive.

"We had a couple of people who had no idea it was going on, hadn't seen it in the paper and hadn't been before, and they've called in with registrations after seeing the banner," Unterreiner said.

The intersection of Johnson Drive and Nieman Road will be shut down for the show, as will several blocks of each street in all directions. For more information, contact Hartman Hardware at 631-7592 or Encore at 268-5393.