By JONATHAN ZWEYGARDT
Hays Post

Classic cars, trucks, motorcycles and antique tractors will
once again rumble the street of downtown Hays when the annual Thunder
on the Plains Car, Truck and Cycle Show returns to Municipal Park on June 7 and 8.

Last year, the annual event returned to its roots, returning
to downtown Hays and Municipal Park. This year’s ninth-annual event is debuting on a new date after dealing with several conflicting events in the fall.

“September is such a busy time in the city where there are so
many activities going on that we just had a hard time finding a permanent
location,” Jackie Lang, Thunder on the Plains secretary and treasurer, said.
“But going forward, it will always be the second Saturday, the second weekend
of June.”

The event, which brought in 250 cars last year, kicks off
Friday, June 7, with the cruise-in, and the car show is Saturday, June 8.

Everyone wanting to participate in the cruise-in can meet at
Big Creek Crossing before 6 p.m. 

“We’ll leave the mall by 6 p.m., and we do have a police
escort from the mall to Municipal Park,” Lang said. “If people want to come down
to Main Street, they can watch all the cars drive by and then come down to the
park. We’ll have music down there and the barbecue.”

The Lions Club will also sell beer throughout the Friday night and Saturday event.

Registration for Saturday’s show runs from 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. at Municipal Park.

Lang said they have had good feedback from participants and
the community about the event being at Municipal Park and earlier on the calendar.

“We’ve had positive responses, people saying that they think
that the date changes is good,” Lang said. “It’s early in the year, so people
are anxious to get their cars out.”

They are once again encouraging local vehicle owners to get
out their vehicles and bring them to the show, no matter what the condition.

“Hopefully, people will dust off their vehicles and get them
out of the garage,” Committee Member Shelby Doty said. “Some may feel that
their vehicles aren’t good enough to bring to a car show, but there are all years, makes, models (and) conditions. So, we welcome anything.”

Lang said the event has a Project Class.

“If somebody wants to bring out their car that they feel
like isn’t showroom ready yet, but they’re working on it, we like that class,”
Lang said. “We’re making a push to get those cars out there.”

They will give away more than 50 awards Saturday afternoon
including for the Best Paint, Interior and Motor. Cash prizes will be given to
the Best of Show, Car, Truck, Motorcycle and Tractor.

The award ceremony is scheduled to start at 2
p.m. on Saturday.

The registration fee is $30. Anyone who registers by May
25 will get a 2024 T-shirt.

As big as the car show is, one of the group’s accomplishments is the funds raised to be given to those in need
locally.

Thunder on the Plains has raised
more than $100,000 through its annual
action over the last seven years.

Each year they host a live auction. That will start at 12:30
p.m. Saturday this year.

Items included this year are a recliner, pub table, a tool
set and a lot of gift certificates.

One of the big items this year is a 1955 Chevy couch made
from the tail end of a 1955 Chevy.

Mark Lang, Jackie’s husband, passed away unexpectedly in
December. Mark started working on the couch. After he passed away, a group came together to ensure the couch was finished for this year’s
auction.

They are also selling raffle tickets for a 48-inch propane grill donated by Olham Sales in Mark’s memory. The tickets are $50 and can be purchased online.

All auction items will be on display during the car show, and
anyone is welcome to participate in the auction. 100% of the proceeds from the
auction will go to Make-A-Wish.

Knowing the region’s need for
Make-A-Wish children and Mark’s affinity for the charity, the group wanted to partner to
raise funds for the nonprofit organization.

“Mark was an integral part of the car group,” Doty said, “so
we wanted to do this in his honor, as well as helping some local families.”

The couch, grill and many other auction items are on display inside Big Creek Crossing at the old Hallmark Store location.

Lang said there are three local children who are waiting for their wishes to be granted.

“Our donations, our funds are going to be going to the local
kids, and that’s what we specified to them when we partnered up with them,” Lang
said.