The 26th annual DARE Care Show to benefit the Sedalia Police Department's DARE program was held April 2 in downtown Sedalia and show founder Bob Hiller couldn't be happier with the turnout on a cloudless, but windy day.

"It was actually (originally) just a race car show,' said the former driver, known as Race Car Bob. But about five years into the event, Hiller decided to open it up to those with custom cars and street rods. "If you can ride it, race it, drive it, like displaying it, bring it," he recalled. "And we've grown from there. And what a great turnout today, I mean, I haven't heard the car count, don't care. All I worry about is the people who are here."

Hiller was preparing to hand out 50 trophies at the show, which included 45 to car owners and five to motorcycle owners. "And I'll be honest with you, I wish I had a trophy for every care here, because they deserve it," he said.

Two plaques were reserved for two car owners who have attended the DARE Car Show for at least 15 years in a row, held at Second and Osage. "So yeah, I'm pretty proud of what this (show) has done. Every penny we raise today will go towards the Sedalia DARE program, Hiller said, adding that "we have no expenses, because of the support of the community. So at the end of the day, if we raise $10,000, we give them $10,000 (to DARE). I think last year, we raised $11,045." Over the last three years, the event has raised a total of $35,000.

"The Sedalia Police Department is very, very thrifty with their money, they don't waste it. We even put money in an escrow account, and for the next 30 years (with 26 remaining), there is a $500 DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) scholarship guaranteed for the DARE program," Hiller said. "So I'm pretty proud of what we've done."

The event also included a silent auction, a live auction and a pie auction, as well as several pedal cars on display. Visitors to the car show voted for their favorites by placing money in plastic containers attached to the vehicles. A total amount raised for DARE will be announced at a later date, Hiller said.

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