The car show planned for this summer in Brookfield has a new date, Aug. 23, a new name, the Road Warrior Car and Bike Show, and likely a new location.
Organizer Chris Bray said the date has been moved to Aug. 23 from earlier in that month so that country-rock musician Chris Higbee can attend to perform an acoustic set.
The show had been planned for Brookfield Township Community Park, but organizers meeting Jan. 26 with township trustees and officials with Brookfield Youth Baseball and Softball Inc. decided it might be better to look elsewhere.
They settled on the Brookfield school property at 614 Bedford Road, and school Supt. Toby Gibson, who did not attend the meeting and was reached separately, called holding the show at the school “a great idea.”
“I’m a car guy,” Gibson said. “Any way that we can support the community and create a community event, I’m all for it.”
Gibson added he will take the idea to the school board when more details are worked out.
The park’s issues included the ball league’s request that no vehicles be displayed on the ball fields to prevent damaging the surface or the drains underneath; the inability of organizers, who do not plan to preregister vehicles, to predict how many cars and motorcycles will come; and the fact that a likely main display area, the green space in the back of the park, holds water during rainy periods.
Bray said he had targeted the park after discussions with township Trustee Ron Haun and learning that the trustees would like to see more activity at the park.
John “Night Train” Obermiyer of the Second Brigade Motorcycle Club, which would put on the motorcycle portion of the show, suggested the school property because it has a large, paved driveway that wraps around the building; lined parking spaces; and open green areas for other activities. He added that Tiffany Banquet Center, which is across Bedford from the school, could be asked for permission to use its parking lot for overflow parking.
Meeting participants also talked about the pros and cons of other township locations, but agreed to pursue the school first.
In other matters, Bray said he was looking into securing insurance and possibly creating a nonprofit corporation. He also said Church Boys Racing of Bristolville, which specializes in Chevy Novas, has agreed to display cars at the show.
The attendees also talked about sponsorships, admission fees and other ways to raise money.
Bray initially said he would like to raise funds for the park and the restoration of the Brookfield Fire Department’s first truck, a 1949 International, but now also is talking about giving something to the school.
Gibson suggested raising money for a flashing school zone sign to better alert drivers of the lower speed limit on Bedford Road in front of the school when school is in session.
Obermiyer said he also wants to donate funds to veteran’s groups.
