SALISBURY — No doubt there have been a lot of firsts in the history of the Salisbury-Rowan Choral Society.
Saturday’s first-ever Karaoke Car Show blended favorite cars and trucks and favorite songs, plus food and fellowship.
Mollie Ruf, president, said the inaugural event did not draw as many vehicle owners as had been expected, but was a success even so.
“We were looking for a unique way to raise money,” said Ruf, as music played from a nearby tent while guests and car owners walked and talked among the rows of vehicles.
The car show and karaoke singalong took the place of the usual spring patrons’ fundraising campaign, Ruf said.
This year, the cost of sending out mailings asking for donations was too great for the amount of money that would be raised, Ruf said.
The event, held in the Church Street parking lot across from the Rowan Public Library main branch, drew what Ruf called “a good crowd” from late morning through early afternoon.
Proceeds go to support the choral society, which has as many as 40 participating members at different points in the year, Ruf said.
Car owners from around Rowan County and elsewhere participated.
Patty Kirk, event organizer with the Choral Society, said the idea was to combine things one might see during a spring day at the beach.
“Who hasn’t dreamed of cruising along by the ocean with some awesome music playing in the background?” Kirk said.
Thirty-four cars and trucks registered for the event, Kirk said.
Prizes went to the best vehicles in each class, including some that Kirk said were really unique.
Among them was the 1960 Austin-Healey 3000 coupe owned by Dick Palmore, of Salisbury.
Palmore and his son, Alex, showed the car, which Dick said he won in a poker game in 1974.
“It’s got an inline six, 175 horsepower, two-barrel side-draft carburetors,” Palmore said.
In other words: fast.
Alex Palmore said he and his father wanted to be part of the event and show off the car, which they had restored from the ground up a few years ago.
“We love helping Salisbury musicians whenever we can,” Alex Palmore said. “We enjoy this town quite a bit.”
Kirk said the Austin-Healey was a standout. “There’s a lot of love in that car,” she said.
Some came a long way to attend.
Trae Larkin and his wife drove from Bristol, Tenn., in their 1976 Corvette Stingray.
The Larkins have friends in Salisbury, Trae said. “We love it. All the time, back at home, we attend local musical shows. We like to support the local music industry.”
Kirk said the Choral Society plans to put on the Karaoke Car Show every spring.
“We want it to be a mark-your-calendars kind of event,” Kirk said.
Contact Hugh Fisher via the editor’s desk at 704-797-4244.