Car show nearly triples in size
There was a magnificent turnout for Giltner Daze Saturday with high spirits taking the small showers throughout the day during the second annual Giltner Daze Car Show as well events for all ages.
Compared to last year’s turnout of 55 cars, the attendance had nearly tripled in size for the car show, according to co-organizer Allan Coats.
“The numbers were overwhelming,” Coats said. “I could not believe we got that many cars.”
Glen Nielsen, who co-organized the event with Coats last year, was just as overwhelmed with the large gathering.
“We never expected this many cars,” Nielsen stated. “It’s really good because there’s actually 12 other car shows in the area (on Saturday). We pulled a good share of them here.”
One of the newcomers to attend Giltner Daze Car Show was Doug Ritta of Central City, who showcased his 1994 Ford F-150.
“We saw it on Facebook and had seen there were flyers out, so we wanted to come see the car show and bring the truck down,” Ritta said.
While meeting with other drivers around Main Street, his family also joined in the Giltner Daze celebration. After it rained a second time during the show Saturday afternoon, Ritta’s 5-year-old son Brooks helped his dad wipe down the Ford truck bed. Brooks shared his excitement for the car show. While he wasn’t spending time with his dad on the lawn cars they had placed on the truck bed, he and his sister, Jaxlynn, were having a blast at the attractions held at City Park and getting a bubblegum flavored snow cone.
Among the 135 different trucks, hot-rods and numerous vehicles coloring decades worth of automotive innovations, 45 vehicles and their owners returned to showcase their cars and enjoy the weather and visitors’ intrigue Saturday afternoon.
“We had everything from a semi-tractor to a France fire truck clear down to a Flintstone car,” Coats shared, with the later replicating the vehicle used in 1960s the animated sitcom “The Flintstones.”
Nielsen commented that the variety of vehicles also matched the variety of people who attended the car show.
“There’s a GTO convertible down from South Dakota,” he said. “Some of these rat roads are from Geneva. We’ve had quite a group from the Melon Roasters (Car Club) in Hastings. We’ve got people from Kearney, Sutton, Aurora, all over really.”
In addition to many cars returning, it was a big year for returning helpers, according to Coats, who was just as excited to see them eager to take part in the event.
Danny Oberg, who has helped Knucklehead Garage in Grand Island to promote car events throughout Nebraska such as the Giltner Daze Car Show, returned for a second year to work again as a DJ and announcer for sponsors throughout the event.
“It’s always good to get one under your belt,” said Oberg, who shared Coats and Nielsen’s excitement for unexpected growth of both vehicles and visitors.
“What you will find in the car community, everybody supports everybody else and these guys are in other shows,” he continued. “They are very hospitable to work with. (It’s nice to) come in see how nice they are to you. They were going up and down the street offering donuts or water and that’s something that you want to feel welcomed so my thought is next year is going to be bigger.”
Variety of events
In addition to the large crowd visitors who were excited to see new and returning vehicles, families were thrilled to participate in all the activities offered at Giltner Daze.
Pole vaulting was an all-day event where students in middle school to college from all over the region attended to showcase their speed and strength.
Dan Preissler reported that 30 pole vaulters participated this year, with a steady crowd watching throughout the day.
“We had people from Omaha, Lincoln, Holdrege, Grand Island, we had Giltner vaulters, Aurora vaulters, we had some college students from UNK, Doane and I believe there was one from South Dakota School of Mines,” Preissler said. “We had a pretty good turnout.”
Preissler thanked his wife, Tammie, alongside the Giltner pole vault crew who helped set up and tear down the equipment and Brad and Tracy Schutt for helping make the event possible.
With the major increase not only for the car show, but for the attractions in Giltner Daze, Kathy Nauman, who had attended Giltner Daze since it started alongside her family, commented that this had been the biggest turnout for the community in several years.
“It’s fluctuated over the years. They changed like the time of year (it takes place) and sometimes it’s a parade and sometimes it’s not,” Nauman said.
“So I always have some kind of surprise when I came into town this morning and saw how many people were here. I’m glad to know it’s still going strong.”
A popular event that returned after two years was the blind golf cart course, which was run by Giltner Area Development Corporation secretary Ashley Petersen, who along with the GADC board members, organized Giltner Daze. Being sponsored by Giltner Sate Bank, drivers who successfully drove through the course and parked between the designated barrels had a chance of winning the money with first place getting 50 percent, second place 30 percent and third place 20 percent.
Along with the turnout for the golf carts, Petersen was pleased by the turnout of families playing on the bounce houses, climbing the rock wall and playing with the mini golf set that the GADC had built for Giltner Daze.
“A couple of people went together and built our own mini putt putt that we’re going to keep for the community to use for things like that,” Petersen explained. “We got the clubs, the balls and everything like that. They used it at After Prom and they’re going to use it out of CRC (Christian Resource Center) for their Christian resource camp. Anything else that anybody wants to can rent it out just for fun.”
According to Petersen, Lions Club members, who served food to visitors in the Community Center, provided meals for 400 people since opening up at 11 a.m., which doesn’t include the people who got treats from visiting food vendors or had pizza at Sit N’ Bull Saloon.
While the attractions were a huge hit with families with smaller children, kids also had just as much of a blast exploring and using the playground equipment in City Park.
Luke Happold was giggling his way into the sky as his father Joe pushed him on one of the swings. His father shared that it had been an enjoyable time also for his wife and two other children since they arrived earlier in the morning, eating at the Community Center, playing in the bounce houses and seeing the car show.
“It’s absolutely wonderful,” Happold stated. “It’s a great turnout and it’s probably one of the bigger crowds we’ve seen for a while. (They’re) lining cars up and down Main Street and it’s been a great showing for the old cars. It’s quite impressive.”
On behalf of GADC, Petersen wanted to thank everyone who helped make Giltner Daze a success on Saturday as well as the visitors who supported the car show and other events. She commented that GADC is always looking for members to help out with future events.
“If anybody ever wants to join the GADC and help out or volunteer, we are always appreciating more members and more volunteers for our cars and what we do is raise money for community events like this,” Petersen concluded.