Update: Silver Magic fund raiser deemed a success, turnout “great”
The annual Silver Magic Car and Bike Show was once again hailed a success by participants and spectators.
Held Saturday afternoon at Mariner High School, the event featured about 205 vehicles, including cars and trucks, and about 20 motorcycles. Robert Yoho, event organizer with his wife, Amy, said there was a total of 225 entrants, from all years, makes and models.
“It was a mixture,” he said.
The show, hosted by the Silver Magic Band boosters, serves as the main fund-raiser for the Mariner band. Marking its eighth year, the family event included live music, a silent auction and a visit from Earnest Graham, a running back for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
A Mariner alum, Graham has made an appearance at the show for the past few years. He signs autographs and picks out his favorite car, motorcycle and truck for the special Earnest Graham award. On Saturday, Graham said he enjoys being able to come home.
“To just help the community out,” he said. “I love it.”
The fact that Graham has an interest in cars does not hurt either.
“To get a chance to judge those as well, it’s kind of a double pleasure,” he said.
Yoho estimated that the show raised between $10,000 and $11,000, the same as 2010.
“We did OK,” he said. “For the most part, we had a great turnout.”
Typically, about 60 percent of those who register for the show are returning participants, while about 40 percent are new to the event. Cape Coral resident Jim Agles entered a ’73 Camero SS Restomod in Saturday’s show. He has entered every year since its beginning.
“It’s just a nice event,” he said, adding that it has improved over the years.
“It just seems to have gotten bigger and better,” he said.
The second year for the Camero, Agles had previously entered a 1965 Corvette Coup and a ’32 Ford Highboy Roadster. Though his vehicles have never won best of show, the Corvette won most original and the Roadster once took home the title for best Roadster.
A best of show trophy was awarded Saturday, along with trophies for the top 10 best of show in the vehicle category, cars and trucks, and top best of show for the motorcycles.
Agles said his passion for cars goes back about 50 years.
“I’m just a gearhead,” he said.
According to Agles, there is a lot to love about cars.
“The performance, the eye appeal,” he said. “They’re sexy.”
For spectators Tom and Becky Klish, it is all about giving the old days new life.
“It brings back memories,” Becky Klish said.
She and her husband, seasonal residents from Bonita Springs, dropped by the Mariner show for the first time Saturday. Car fanatics themselves – they own a ’69 Camero Z-28 RS, a 1967 GTO and a ’70 Chevelle Super Sport – they enjoy the shows because it gives them a chance to socialize and reminisce.
“I thought it was great,” Klish said of the local event.
Though it was not one of the bigger shows, she said it was one of the better ones.
Tom Klish said the variety of the entries was good.
“They were very nice,” he said.
The couple also liked how the show was set up on the track around the football field.
According to Yoho, the set up is intentional.
“We try to get as many people on the field and around the track as possible because that’s the ambiance of the whole thing,” he said.
Remax Realty was the title sponsor Saturday.