Helotes hosts 7th annual car show to benefit vets
Those planning to get out and enjoy their classic ride over Memorial Day weekend might think about dropping into the small city of Helotes, just northwest of San Antonio, for the 7th annual Memorial Day Car Show benefitting Operation Comfort.
The event will be held at the Helotes AG Building (12132 Leslie Road in Helotes) and will run from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Monday, May 29. Admission for spectators is free and the event is being hosted by the Dominion Rotary Club.
Last year, the Rotary Club was able to contribute a check for $10,500 to Operation Comfort, which provides support to service members who have been wounded in Afghanistan or Iraq and are receiving treatment at Brooke Army Medical Center (BAMC) and Audie Murphy VA Hospital in San Antonio. While it is a very localized charity, wounded service members from all over the U.S. recover in San Antonio.
“Ken Felty is the guy that started it seven years ago,” said organizer Dave Koppers. “He wanted to do something for Operation Comfort and Wounded Warriors, and that’s how it got started.
“The first four years we had it building up to about 150-170 cars. Then the last two years now we’ve had rain. So we were down to about 60 cars year before last, and then last year a big storm went through about 8:30 a.m. and it only lasted about an hour and a lot of people came later and we got pretty close to 100. A lot of car shows depend on the weather,” Koppers said.
A rain date of June 3 is set aside in case the weather is not cooperative again this year.
There will be aD J providing music at the show, along with refreshments and door prizes. Awards will be given for the top three cars in each class as well as special recognition for awards ranging from “Best Paint” to “Soldier’s Choice.”