Rod s N’ Rhodies get locals back roaring on the road

This is the 29th year Florence has had a car show and shine coincide with Rhododendron Festival Weekend. For the second year, local non-profit Rods ‘N’ Rhodies will host its annual Florence Rhody Days Show & Shine behind Siuslaw Middle School, 2525 Oak St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

At 6 p.m. most of the classic cars from the event will cruise down to Bay Street for the Show & Shine Car Cruise.

Last year over 250 cars entered. This year there will be classic cars, hot rods, muscle cars, trucks, four-wheel drives, Jeeps, VWs and British cars and over

25 award categories for these vehicles.

New this year, 27th Street will be closed from Oak to Kingwood and the most important facet of the event - show cars - will line the strip.

In addition, visitors to the event can expect non-profits from all over the Siuslaw Valley to be there to provide information about the services they provide.

“It’s a great opportunity for other nonprofits to get exposure,” explained RnR Vice President Ross Kroenert. “We don’t charge them for vendor space and the city waived their fee.”

For the first time RC Nuts Hobby Shop will hold its own remote-controlled car show and shine inside Siuslaw Middle

School.

Florence Habitat for Humanity will have its dunk tank on location. Coastal Jumpers will have its bouncy house filled with air and ready for bouncing.

Food options will also be many. The Lions Club will be BBQ’ing.

Mo’s and Hangry Habenero will have their food trucks on location.

From 8-11 a..m. come support the Siuslaw Middle School Trap Team at their Hot Cakes and Hot Rods Pancake Breakfast. Pancakes not your thing? How about biscuits and gravy that will be sold to help support the Helping Hands Coalition of Florence. Parking is free.

See RODS page 12

RODS from page 11

There will be music all day from DJ Russ Strohmeyer and, of course, porta potties for all your personal needs.

All proceeds will go towards the support of the Florence Transportation Solutions Program, which is the main goal of the non-profit Rods ‘N Rhodies - assisting local families with automotive repairs to help get their main forms of transportation on the road.

Local groups, like churches, outreach organizations and the Pregnancy and Parenting Center refer individuals or groups with needs to the Rods ‘N’ Rhodies Board of Directors.

“We contact the person and find out what exactly their need is and if they live and work or volunteer in Florence, Mapleton or Dunes City [which is required],” explained Vice President Ross Kroenert. “Once we determine what the problem is we send them to one of four local shops that work with us.”

Those four local shops whose support is essential to the charity are Hoberg’s Auto Repair, Les Schwab Tire Center, Shervin’s Tire & Automotive and Tony’s Garage.

“The shops provide us with an estimate,” Kroenert continued. “Gary sends an email to the other six members. If we all vote to make the repair we tell them to proceed with the work. They send us the invoice. No money or check goes to the individual. We deal directly with the shop. We pay for it and they drive home with a safer car.”

According to Kroenert the repairs the group typically deals with are tires, brakes, water pumps, starters — things that wear out.

“We don’t get into rebuilding an engine, or, if a car is in a wreck, we don’t cover things like body shops or wreck repair,” Kroenert explained. “We want to give a little financial assistance to help keep people’s main form of transportation safe.”

Since its founding in 2018 the group has helped 24 families with over $15,000 worth of repairs.

These repairs are funded by the production of two car shows, the Rhody Days Car Show & Shine in May and the Rods ‘N’ Rhodies Old Town Invitational Car Show in September. The group also receives grants and donations to help with funding.

For more information go to rodsnrhodies.org.