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It's Happy Days At The 38th Annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Rod & Custom Car Show

Monticello, Iowa--The wave of nostalgia that has hit the country over the past few years will be on display at the 38th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Rod and Custom Car Show at the Monticello Berndes Center, February 24th and 25th, in Monticello, Iowa. In addition to the hot rod cars and motorcycles that will be on display, two of the stars of the famous television show "Happy Days" will also be in attendance. Erin Moran who played "Joanie Cunningham and Anson Williams who played "Potsie Weber" will be the featured attractions at the show. Both "Joanie and "Potsie" will be at the show Saturday from 1 to 5 P.M. and again for 7 to 10 P.M. and on Sunday from noon until 4 P.M. and from 5 to 6 P.M. This will give fans plenty of time for autographs and pictures with the two stars. Happy Days was one of the most popular and longest running television shows in the country when it aired on ABC for 1974 to 1984. A total of 255 episodes were shot and "Joanie" and "Potsie" became famous world wide as Richie Cunningham's sister and his best friend respectively. The two will appear at the show a year after Cindy Williams and Paul Le Mat from "American Graffiti" were the star attractions. "The fans loved seeing the stars from this great movie", said Galen Muller, a spokesman for the show. "Cindy and Paul were great last year and with the popularity of 'Happy Days' we're expecting record crowds this year to see 'Joanie' and 'Potsie' ". "It'll be the first indoor car show for them and we're really glad to have them at our show".

Indoor hot rod car shows began back in 1948 when Wally Parks, the founder of the National Hot Rod Association staged the first such even at the Los Angeles Exposition Armory. The Monticello show, which is in its thirty-eighth year, is one of the longest running shows of its kind in the midwest. The fact that it features both cars and motorcycles is one thing that sets it apart from a lot of other shows, and the addition of superstars like "Joanie" and "Potsie" is just another one of the unique aspects of the show. "The combination of cars and stars has proven to be a great part of the show" Muller said. "The fans love to see all the great custom rods that are on display, both two and four wheels and the fact that they get to see and be photographed with some of the legends of great shows like 'Happy Days' makes it even more special".

The show itself will feature a great new selection of custom cars, hot rods, motorcycles, street machines, race cars and trucks that will all compete for the coveted Budweiser trophies which will be awarded for the thirty-first consecutive year. Hardee's, which has been involved with the show for over two decades, also presents cash awards to the winners in a variety of categories, including everything from the "Best Rod" to the "Best Custom" and the "Best Motorcycle" among others. A total of over $1,200.00 in cash prizes was awarded last year. Another popular feature, the "Peoples Choice Award" also returns this year. "The fact that the fans get to choose their favorite car and motorcycle has become one of the most popular attractions at the show", Muller said, "It gives them the opportunity to voice their opinion and when the winner is announced it's always one of the highlights of the weekend". In addition to the guest appearances of "Joanie" and "Potsie" visitors will be also entertained by the 3-D Sound disc jockey Dave Palmer, Magic Mark the Balloon Guy and more. And for the 22nd consecutive year there will also be a model car contest as part of the weekend's activities.

The show, which is a great family outing, encourages families to visit by offering free admission to children twelve and under when accompanied by a paying adult. Everyone is urged to bring a canned food item that will be donated to Four Oaks, a group that helps children and families throughout the eastern Iowa area. "Everyone who brings a canned food item will get $1 off admission price", according to Muller. "Over the years our visitors have donated close to 5,000 canned food items and it's just our way of giving something back to the community".

The 38th annual O'Reilly Auto Parts Rod and Custom Car Show will be held in the Monticello Berndes Center (formerly the Youth Center Building) on February 24th and 25th at Monticello, Iowa. Show hours are Saturday , from noon to midnight and Sunday from 8 A.M. to 8 P.M. Trophies, cash awards and special presentations will be presented on Sunday at 7:30 P.M. Admissions is $9 for adults and $2 for children twelve and under unless accompanied by an adult and there is free parking at the center.