The 18th annual Thunder on the Plains car show will roll into the Levelland City Park on August 16 and 17.
“Nothing’s really changed,” said Thunder on the Plains member Cody Poage of the schedule. “It’s a great way to give back to the community and we have it rain or shine.”
The weekend will kick off Friday night at the South Plains Best Western. Registration will begin at 5:30 p.m. Vehicle owners can register for the poker run and the car show for $30. For those who register on Saturday for the car show, the price will be $35.
The poker run begins at 6:30 p.m. and ends at 7:30 p.m. Participants in the poker run compete for a cash prize with 50% of the pot going to Thunder on the Plains and 50% to the winner. Competitors drive to five different stops during the run and blindly pull a poker chip with a different number at each location. The one with the highest total from the chips wins.
“Last year’s poker run is probably the best one we’ve had,” Poage said of the 2023 turnout. He added that organizers remarked if the poker run keeps growing, it may need to get extended from an hour so everyone can make their stops. “It’s just a lot of fun to do.”
The poker run is followed by an open cruise from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. as drivers take a tour around the downtown square and Avenue H. The cruise brings the community together with some bringing lawn chairs to sit and enjoy.
All vehicles are free to join up with the cruise at no cost unless they want to take part in judging that night for a small fee of $10 which can be purchased at registration on Friday at the Best Western. Several awards will be handed out during the cruise for those who register.
The fun continues on Saturday, August 17 at the city park from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. where all spectators enter for free. In addition to the car show, guests can visit a variety of vendors to pick up tasty treats and cool gifts as well as take part in other events.
Kids can compete for bragging rights and trophies in the Hot Wheels race along a specially made track. Racers can bring their own car from home or buy one on site for $1. The only requirement is that it is actually a Hot Wheels car to fit the track. Racers compete two at a time. Winners get back in line for another round while the fallen get a popsicle or candy. The top three take home trophies.
“We saw [the Hot Wheels race] several years ago at another car show,” said Poage, adding it seems to draw in new kids every year to make for lively competition.
Adults meanwhile vie in a burnout contest at noon and is safely moderated by members of the fire department. This year, the burnout contest will conclude with a King of the Hill competition which includes the top three finishers. All three King of the Hill participants are assured at least $100. First place will receive $350, second place will receive $200 and third place will receive $100.
The event will also include the Rockin’ record fling, where people can lob LPs the furthest for cash prizes.
All the fun leads up to the presentation of 18 car show awards picked by participants.
“Everybody that joins the show is given different classes to judge,” Poage said. “You just don’t judge your own class [you’ve entered].”
Classes include: Best Paint, Best Chevrolet, Best Ford, Best Mopar, Best Engine and more. The trophies winners take home are truly unique with Best Engine crafted every year from car parts and Best Paint also handmade to fit the category.
There’s also a People’s choice class chosen by anyone who would like to grab a form and vote.
“It changes from year to year,” Poage said of the vehicles on display, saying sometimes there are more trucks, sometimes more Fords or More Chevys. “It’s a good, strong group that comes out. Last year, we probably had more new people than in the past and some with new cars.”
All of this helps go to the fundraising efforts of the weekend as events help local organizations like Meals on Wheels, the Wallace Theater, Toys for Tots and the rotary Club’s donation of bicycles to students with perfect attendance.
The funds also go toward Thunder on the Plains’ South Plains College scholarship, which helps pay for local students to pursue an education in automotive or auto body degrees.
“We’re really close to having that endowed,” said Poage. “it’s taken several years, but once it’s endowed, that will go on. There can be a kid 20 to 30 years from now enjoying that scholarship.”
He added that the endowment may open the door to additional scholarships and guarantees helping future students. Spectators and drivers get to help this happen while having a lot of fun the third weekend in August.
For more information on the car show or to enter, call Cody Poage at (806) 549-3270 or find Thunder on the Plains on Facebook.