DEWAR, Iowa (KWWL) — Classic cars and motorcycles stole the show in Dewar Sunday, as the small, unincorporated town held its fourth annual car show. 

The idea to host a car show began in 2021 when the town needed help raising money for Dewar Park renovations. Since Dewar is unincorporated and has no tax dollars, any necessary repair funds must come through donations at car shows and other fundraisers.

Through the money the town has raised, it has been able to make repairs to its 100-year-old park, including relocating the tennis and basketball courts and adding a pickleball court for residents to enjoy. 

“We can proudly say that with all the money we’ve raised, we put in a new pickleball, basketball, tennis court,” Julie Youngtum said. “We’ve gotten a new shelter house, picnic tables, electricity, we got a new Merry-Go-Round to replace the town swing set, there’s two new basketball hoops and everything.”

The car show is held annually in memory of Youngtum’s father, Dennis Maurer, who passed away in September 2020.

For 50 years, Maurer owned his auto repair shop called Mauer Repair.

“Two weeks before my dad died, he said we need to get this park cleaned up, Youngtum said. “We’re fulfilling my dad’s wishes.”

The car show featured a variety of cars from all over the Midwest, including states like Minnesota and as far away as Texas.

The weather dampened the number of cars that came through town, but the Dewar Car Show plans to return next year, and they hope to make it bigger and better than ever.