By Jim Newell
Review Editor
LAKE ORION — Classic cars will line the streets of downtown Lake Orion on Saturday for the Golling Buick GMC annual classic car show benefiting the Lake Orion Police Association.
Golling and the Lake Orion Police Association co-host the car show, which usually features around 200 classic vehicles – trucks, hot rods, muscle cars, sedans and antiques – the Lake Orion police officers, at least 100 cruiser awards and music from Master of Ceremonies, Rockin’ Ronnie.
And while everyone lets the good times roll at the car show, the real beneficiaries are Orion area families – that’s because the show is a fundraiser for the Lake Orion Police Association’s Kids & Kops and Shop with a Hero programs.
Through registration fees, donations and raffles, car show organizers raise money to help the police association with the Kids & Kops fun programs.
“We’re hoping to make a couple thousand dollars for the police association,” said Golling Buick GMC event organizer Bill Kokenos. “We usually get a pretty good walk-through crowd, too. I’m happy with what we get.”
The car show runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sections of Broadway and Flint streets will be closed during the show, as will the municipal lot on Anderson Street.
Registration for anyone who would like to enter their classic car in the show is from 8-10:30 a.m. to be eligible for judging in a multitude of categories. After 10:30 a.m., entries will not be eligible for judging. A trophy presentation is at 1:30 p.m.
Contact Golling Buick/GMC at 248-693-5900 to be a part of the car show.
The car show raised $2,250 for LOPA in 2020, despite the pandemic. In 2019 and 2021, the car show raised more than $4,000. Kokenos hopes to beat the record for the number of cars in the car show – and setting a new fundraising record would be great, too.
“We want the kids in the area to have the best Christmas they can with what the police association can do, given what they can raise. Working with the Lake Orion Police Association is great. These guys are just fantastic,” Kokenos said.
Kokenos said that one of the goals in organizing the car show was to showcase the downtown, support the police association and help promote local businesses.
“We’d love to have everyone come out and support us and the downtown businesses. Some businesses are going to have specials at their stores,” Kokenos said.
To donate to the LOPD’s programs, visit lakeorion.org for contact information, or call 248-693-8321.