For Immediate Release Media Contact: Pam Jones or Marjorie Beenders
April 14, 2010 Phone: 573-636-8282 « Email: pam@tbwgroup.net
Magic Dragon Street Meet Brings “American Graffiti” To Life
at Central Missouri's Lake of the Ozarks
Lake of the Ozarks, Mo. – Between the Golden Oldies music and the hundreds of incredible cars, trucks and motorcycles on display along the Historic Bagnell Dam Strip, visitors to the 22nd annual Magic Dragon Street Meet Nationals Car Show, presented by O’Reilly Auto Parts, are sure to feel like they’re on the set of “American Graffiti.” The event will be held April 30-May 2; hours will be 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. Friday; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Sunday.
The Magic Dragon Street Meet, the largest open class car show in Central Missouri, welcomes all makes, models and years of cars, trucks and motorcycles. Admission will be free for the more than 10,000 spectators expected. “Based on the fast pace of early registrations so far, we expect nearly 1,000 street rods, customs, trucks, street machines, lead sleds and motorcycles from all over the United States,” says Magic Dragon Street Meet Chairperson Alan Sullivan. Last year more than 850 vehicles were registered.
Those who wish to have their vehicle judged will appreciate convenient “drive-through judging,” 8 a.m.-5 p.m. on Saturday only. Entrants will be judged in more than 40 classes for domestic and import vehicles, along with choice and specialty awards such as best supercharged, best interior, best paint/graphics and best engine compartment. First place and runner-up awards will be given in each car, truck and motorcycle class. Winners will be announced at the awards ceremony at noon on Sunday.
One Grand Champion winner will receive a large trophy and $200 cash for the best car, truck or motorcycle in the entire show as determined by the judges. Last year’s Grand Champion winner was a 1969 Chevy Camaro RS/SS owned by Dan LaBonte of Osage Beach, Mo., who won the same honor in 2008 for his 1967 Pro-Max Vennon Nova SS. The Camaro will be featured on the official 2010 Magic Dragon Street Meet t-shirt this year. Other specially designed “Dragon-Wear” t-shirts, hats and sweatshirts, featuring the Magic Dragon Street Meet logo, will be available for the first time this year.
Daybreak Rotary will offer a red-hot 2010 Chevrolet Camaro, provided by Ron Hulett Chevrolet in its fifth annual Magic Dragon Street Meet Auto Raffle. The car will be on display at the Main Stage, located at Luby’s parking lot, behind the “big lemon” on the Strip, and the drawing will be following the awards ceremony on Sunday.
A 95-mile scenic cruise will take place Friday morning, and the popular Friday Night Fever Cruise will start at 6 p.m. and travel from Bagnell Dam over Highway 54 to Business 54 and back down Bagnell Dam Boulevard to the Strip.
The Make-n-Take model activity will take place at 10 a.m. Saturday, at the White House in the center of the strip, where kids will assemble and take home a Camaro Concept car model free of charge. A coloring contest also will keep kids busy at the event.
New this year, all show bikes will be on display at the Main Stage between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Saturday. “People really enjoy seeing these cool bikes,” Sullivan says. In addition, area fire fighters have been growing mustaches just for the first annual “Fire Fighter Mustache Shave Off” that will take place at 1 p.m. Saturday at the Main Stage. Visitors will be asked to vote on the best, worst and novelty mustaches during this entertaining event! Also on Saturday at 10 a.m. and again at 2 p.m., the Lake-area Firefighters Association Local 3987 will sponsor “Cut Up A Car,” demonstrating how firefighters remove passengers and safely stabilize a car after an accident.
Throughout the show, vendor booths and swappers will offer car parts and accessories, door prizes will be given away and well-known DJ Leo Case will spin classic oldies throughout the event at the Main Stage. “We want to encourage vehicle owners and visitors to support the terrific businesses up and down the Strip,” Sullivan says. The Historic Bagnell Dam Strip is a lively mile of diverse shops, attractions and restaurants.
Traffic will be diverted from the show area to a safe alternate route from 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Saturday, and 6:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. Parking will be available at each end of the Strip and a free shuttle service will transport visitors from the parking lots to the show area.
The registration fee for entering a vehicle in the show and having it judged will be $30. Participants may pay online or at the event. Early registration will be held 4:00-7:00 p.m. Thursday, April 29, at the Heritage School Building. Unregistered vehicles will not be allowed in the show area.
“With hundreds of beautiful cars parked along the Strip and golden oldies playing in the background, the Magic Dragon Street Meet truly is a scene right out of ‘American Graffiti,’” Sullivan says. “We invite everyone to bring the whole family out to see all these neat vehicles and enjoy a great day at the Lake of the Ozarks,” Sullivan says.
Magic Dragon Street Meet sponsors include O’Reilly Auto Parts, Central Bank, First National Bank, Missouri Eagle LLC, 1150/97.5 KRMS, LO Profile Magazine, 93.5 Rocks, 101.9 The Wave, KOMU-TV, Mid-Missouri CW, Summer USA, Hawken Paint & Body, the Lake Today, 97.9 The Coyote, KS95, Vacation News, Lake TV Channel 32, Lake Area Chamber of Commerce, City of Lake Ozark, Lake Ozark Fire Protection District, Lake Ozark Police Department, Eldon Firefighters Association, Lake Area Fire Fighters Association Local 3987 and Christina Motorcycle Association.
For more information, or to download registration forms or register online, visit www.magicdragonstreetmeet.com. And for details about discount lodging during the Street Meet, as well as Lake-area dining, shopping and attractions, call the Lake Area Chamber of Commerce at 573-964-1008 or 800-451-4117, or visit www.lakeareachamber.com . The Lake of the Ozarks Convention & Visitor Bureau also has complete information at 800-FUN-LAKE or online at www.funlake.com.
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