Elks Thank Car Show Sponsors

Six years ago the Winsted Elks Lodge started a car show after the Lions Club no longer wanted to run this successful event. We thought it might be a good fundraiser to have our own show—but it turned out to be not so easy. As advertising, printing, entertainment and awards cost more than you can charge for car classes while trying to stay competitive with other shows, we found it very difficult to make any money, let alone meet expenses.

We decided to ask local businesses if they would like to sponsor our trophies to offset expenses. This would also give them recognition, with their names printed on the trophies or dash plaques (which every car that enters the show receives) that they sponsored.

This year was a huge success thanks to all our generous sponsors. Without your help we could not fund this event, which provides another attraction for visitors to our town and enjoyment for many. We were invited to join the Fall Foliage Festival last year, and this makes it even better for everyone. I think people like to see Main Street so full and alive in spite of the snags and small problems we may have along the way. It is well worth the effort to benefit Winsted and the local business owners. That is what the Elks are all about—"Elks Share and Elks Care"—and it's true.

I would like to introduce you to our 2001 sponsors for the car show and thank them once again—without them, there would be no car show: A&M Auto Service, an Elk named Charlie, Auto Center, Berkshire Spirit Shop, Brass Horse Cafe, CarQuest of Torrington, Connecticut Light & Power Company, Distinguished Car Cleaning, Domino's Pizza-Winsted, Donut Station-Winsted, Ed Kostak & Son Building and Remodeling, Hair Too, Iron Horse Collectibles, Jeff Hodgkin-Exalted Ruler-Winsted Elks 2001-02, John's Package Store, Kent Pizza, Laurel City Towing, LLC, Ledgebrook Spirit Shop, Log House Restaurant, Lombard Ford, Meadow Package Store, Normand W. Spirit Shoppe, P.J.'s Auto Body, Painful Pleasure, Pine Needle Farm, R.C.G. Enterprises, Radio Shack-Winsted, Richard Hamm Painting, Slater Auto, Sterling Engineering Corp., American Legion Post #456-Mass., the Beaches, the Lock Doctor, Overhead Door Company of Torrington, the Tributary Restaurant, Tommy Rea's Cafe, VFW Post #296, Vanessa Thrall, Vibra-Conn, Inc., West End Mobil, Winchester Antiques, Winsted Area Child Care Center, Winsted Auto Center, Winsted Automotive, Winsted Diner, Winsted Elks #844-Leading Knight, Winsted News Store, Winsted Super Saver, and Winsted Tire & Auto.

I also cannot forget all the Winsted Elk members, non-members, friends and family who are too numerous to mention, who put in a lot of work and volunteerism to make this show a huge success—keep up the good work, and see you next year. Many thanks.

Dave Campbell is Chairman of the Winsted Elks Car Show.