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Washington Evening Journal
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Cars celebrate loved ones and communities
Two popular Henry County car shows will remember loved ones as return this year
MT. PLEASANT — Two staple car shows in Henry County are already gearing up for another season full of opportunities for car lovers to connect over their passion and remember loved ones.
Both the JR Hewitt Memorial and Trenton car shows will return with a variety of unique vehicle entries in just four months.
The JR Hewitt Memorial Car Show will return to Winfield Aug. 4 for the eighth year following its namesake’s passing in November 2016. This show honors the memory of longtime Winfield resident JR Hewitt who took over the car show in Winfield in 2011 and proceeded to grow it from 23 entries to 150 in only five years.
After his passing, Hewitt’s family felt that carrying on the car show in his memory was a “great way to do something he always wanted to do.”
Last year the car show gave numerous awards for the top three in seven different date categories, a two-wheel drive truck category, and a four-wheel drive truck category. Awards also went to the top two motorcycles and top Rat Rod.
Other awards went to the Car Guys of SE Iowa Internet Choice, Family Choice, Best in Show, Participants Choice, Best Interior, and Best Engine.
JR Hewitt is also remembered as the show organizers began a scholarship fund in his memory in 2019 with funds from the car show’s 50/50 raffle. The scholarships stay in the community and are awarded to Winfield-Mt. Union seniors. His family appreciates the opportunity to love and continue to grow the show and the scholarship fund as a way to give back to the community he loved.
To support this fund and purchase 50/50 tickets contact Tami Harzke via her personal Facebook or through the JR Hewitt Memorial Car Show page.
While not as old of a tradition as the JR Hewitt Memorial Car Show, the Trenton Car Show will return the same weekend on Aug. 3 for its sixth year. Despite fewer years in operation, last year’s show brought in more than 150 vehicles. The roots for the Trenton Car Show also go a bit deeper than six years.
According to one of the event organizers Steve Sammons, the Trenton Angels, a car club that now hosts numerous community activities, came from an older angels club that started in the 1950s. With roots like those, it is not surprising that the Trenton Car Show, like the JR Hewitt Memorial Car Show, also honors those that came before them.
In the beginning the Trenton Car Show did not give out any awards and just focused on enjoying the cars and company in Trenton Park. By the third year, however, Trenton Angels decided to add the Fallen Angels awards. These awards are presented to the car owners based on selections made by the families of former car club members that have passed away.
Last year, the group even awarded a long-haul award to Kole Hudson for traveling from Kentucky to attend the Trenton Car Show with his 2016 Plum Crazy Purple Dodge Hellcat.
Both car shows give these small Henry County communities opportunities to come together, enjoy one another’s company and share in a love for not only cars, but the memories of those no longer around.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Ward@southeastiowaunion.com
