For Brad Jans, cars are a family thing.
Jans’ interest in cars began with his father, Dale Jans. Brad attended car shows with his dad and brother, Brian as a child.
Now the three will enter vehicles in the Eighth Annual “Tearin’ Around in Tea” Car Show Saturday. Brian Jans is entering a 1968 Lincoln Continental. Dale Jans will enter his 1967 Ford Mustang. Brad Jans will put up a 1969 Chevy Impala, which he purchased a little more than a year ago.
The show runs from 4-7 p.m. on Main Street and includes 27 categories for cars, trucks and motorcycles. A few categories include foreign and custom motorcycles, imported class cars, modified pickups 1979 and older. There is also a Mustang class for the Ford autos built from 1964-1973.
Awards will be given to first, second and third place and “Best of Show” winners in the car, truck and motorcycle divisions. Fun awards like “Who Drove the Furthest” will also be given.”
Last year, 106 cars were registered, making it the largest car show the group had, car show co-chairman Susan Benney said. She expects that many, if not more, to register this year.
“It always depends on the weather,” she said.
So far 12 have pre-registered, but that’s typical. Most register the day of the show. The cost for pre-registration is $12. The day of the show registration will be from 1-3 p.m. and cost $15.
Jans’ Impala was actually built for the television show “Monster Garage” on TLC. A fan of the show and cars, Jans said he knew he wanted the Impala and found it on EBay when it came up for sale.
He did some minor maintenance work to the car – adding shocks to give it a smoother ride.
Jans’ first car, however, was a 1966 Ford Galaxy his uncle bought and helped him fix right after high school. Jans also has a 1954 Chevy 210, a two-door sedan, which he’s currently working on.
Restoring a car takes time. Jans has been working on his 1954 vehicle since 2006. He’s completed the framework and replaced the rust panels.
“It’s still a long ways from done,” he said.
Many car enthusiasts work on their vehicles during the winter, but there is work that needs to be done in the summer, especially if the car is being driven, Jans said. He spends about an hour a week on his Impala whether it’s washing it or changing the oil.
“People really put their hearts into (their cars),” Jans said. “Some have one absolute dream car and others collect them.”
Last year was Jans’ first at the Tea show. Although he didn’t win a trophy, he said he enjoyed that it’s a local show.
“I live and work in Tea, and it’s nice to support the community,” he said.
The proceeds from “Tearin’ Around in Tea” will go towards the industrial arts program at the Tea Area High School.
“There’s always something going on for band or sports and not a lot for the industrial arts program. Our committee thought that this was a good (program) to raise for money for,” Benney said.
Last year, the event donated nearly $1,000 to the Tea Historical Society to fix up a 1937 four-door sedan.
Last year was also the first time the car show committee had the funds available to make a donation to community projects. Benney said previously all the money earned went directly to the city.
“Now that we’re getting a little bigger we can have a little extra registration money come in,” she said.
Music and door prizes will be part of the car show, and the Tea Steakhouse and O’Toole’s Bar will sponsor a street dance at 9 p.m.-1 a.m. featuring the Randall Zwarte Band.
The car show is the kick-off event for Teapot Days. The carnival, Ma and Pa Teapot crowning and other festivities begin June 18. For a schedule of Teapot Days, log on to www.teasd.com.
As for Jans, he hopes to inspire a fourth generation of car enthusiasts with his now 17-month-old daughter. She attended her first show when she was four months old.
Jans’ daughter might not be able to change rust panels or paint the exterior, but she does know how to say car, Jans said.