Car club raising money to help Greene County kids as they combat childhood cancer

The founding members’ cars that started the All American Muscle Car Club. From left, the cars of Andrew Perkins, Ryan Owen, Doug Hensley, Alex Taylor and Aaron Hale. Not pictured, Adon Hudson.

courtesy photo

What started out with six Greene County muscle car afficionados has become, one year later, a global group boasting over 3,200 members from the U.S, Canada, Germany, Australia, China and Saudi Arabia.

And it’s all for the love of Greene County kids.

The All American Muscle Car Club, started by locals Andrew Perkins, Aaron Hale, Alex Taylor, Ryan Owen, Doug Hensley and Adon Hudson, plans to raise funds to help combat childhood cancer with a show scheduled for Sept. 15 at Humphreys Park in Linton.

Called “Show Off for the Kids,” this gathering of gearheads will donate all proceeds to Dawson Brown, Carson Albright, Madi Moore and Savannah Boone, four local children currently battling cancer.

“No child should have to spend their childhood fighting for their lives,” said Perkins. “We hope to give these kids back a piece of what cancer has taken from them, and to give their families as much help as we are able.”

The club most recently appeared in Linton’s Freedom Festival parade, in 19 muscle cars gleaming with American pride. One of them, a Dodge Challenger driven by Kim Deal, carried guest of honor Dawson Brown.

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Two club members, Joe Savarese from Calabash, N.C. and Robert Reid, from Denton, Texas, will travel 783 and 853 miles, respectively, to attend the event, both bringing their muscle car entries.

Robert Reid of Denton, Texas will arrive in style in Linton for the show.

The benefit car show will begin with registration from 9 a.m. to noon, with judging at 1 p.m. and awards at 3 p.m.

Registration is $15 and motorcycles, trucks and even unfinished, or “in-progress” cars are welcome.

courtesy image The Club’s event banner.

The first 50 to register will receive dash plaques and custom-made trophies will be awarded for Best in Class, Best Motorcycle, Best Rat Rod, Club Participation, Furthest Traveled, Kids’ Choice, People’s Choice, Club Choice, Top 25, Best 4 x 4, Best Import, Most Unique, Above and Beyond and Best of Show. In addition, trophies will be awarded to the top two in the categories of 20’s and 30’s, 40’s and 50’s, 60’s and 70’s, 80’s and 90’s and 2000 to Present Year.

There will be a raffle, door prizes and a 50-50 drawing. Live music will be provided and event t-shirts will be available for purchase for $20.

Food vendors Fat Daddy’s and Kingfish will offer food for purchase and attendees may enjoy the park’s amenities, including a playground and kids’ splash pad.

The date of the event, Sept. 15, is significant for at least one of the four Greene County youth who benefit from what the club can provide.

Sept. 15 is World Marrow Donor Day, a significant day for Linton’s Madi Moore.

On Aug. 31, Moore underwent a stem cell transplant using donated bone marrow containing hematopoietic stem cells donated by a young woman in Europe.

“I think it’s such an awesome group,” said Moore. “There are so many kids out there fighting cancer and other illnesses, and groups like this are such a great support for them. For me, that they are directly helping me, I just want to say thank you. I also want to thank the whole community for their support and their prayers. This will be a great show and a great way to support the community’s kids.”

Moore’s mother, Tera Orman, said the actions of the All American Muscle Car Club and the actions of the many people in the community who have expressed their support have touched their hearts.

“When you go through something like this with your own child, it’s so overwhelming,” she said. “You just want your child healed and whole. When you see an entire community, and groups like this one, it tells you there are good, loving people in the world, and especially in this community.”

For Linton’s Joe Boone, father of Savannah Boone, who is currently in remission from brain cancer, the assistance offered by the club means a lot more than mere dollars.

“We, as a family, are very humbled that these fine people are doing this for these kids who have battled cancer, and some who are still fighting that battle,” Boone said. “It is wonderful for them to hold this during the month of September, which is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”

Prizes are promised to be plentiful at the event, Perkins said.

“I am going to going around to people to ask them about their Facebook cover photos,” Perkins said. “I put a challenge on our Facebook page. If they can show me their cover photo is the ‘Fight Like a Kid’ image I posted, they are gonna win a $50 prepaid Visa card, just like that.” Winners of the Visa cards are welcome to keep them or donate them back to the cause.

Other prizes have been provided by a multitude of sponsors, including but not limited to Linton Sporting Goods, Lakeside Body Shop, Autozone, Advance Auto Parts, TS Boyd Grain, Shad’s Signs, Hale Automotive, Jax Wax, Halstead Forestry, 812 Vapes, Rick Crynes Auto Detailing, Skinner Towing Service, J & M Recycling, Backstreet Pizza, Top Guns, Clabber Girl, Dugger Auto Sales, Owen County State Bank, Thompson’s Motorsports, Pep Boys, Elmer Buchta Trucking, Hi-Lift Jack, Puddy tatt’s House of Ink and 360 Products, among many others.

Perkins himself will be interviewed Sept. 11 by Tom McClanahan on WTWO’s Live at Five broadcast.

The City of Linton is donating the use of shelter buildings at the park for the event.

Public parking for the event will be towards the back of the park, nearest the Roy Clark building and A.M. Risher Pool, and the East entrance will be utilized for the duration of the show.

Anyone wishing to donate water, ice or coolers for the event is urged to contact the group on social media or call Perkins at 812-512-2714.