Local ministry to host car show

Published 10:00 am Tuesday, October 15, 2019

VALLEY — Local ministry Missiles for Christ is hosting a car show at King Auto Corner Saturday, Oct. 19, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Locals are invited to show their cars, trucks and motorcycles.   

“It’s going to be a big event,” said Billy Knight, general manager of King Auto Corner. “I’m really excited about it.” 

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The show’s featured guest will be Sonny Shroyer, who played Deputy Enos on The Dukes of Hazzard. He will be signing autographs for a fee.   

The entry fee is $25 for the first vehicle, $15 for each additional vehicle and is due on the day of the event. Trophies will be awarded for best car, best truck and best motorcycle.   

On display will be replicas of several vehicles from Smokey and the Bandit, which have been signed by members of the cast. 

Scott Willingham, owner of Scott’s Towing in Lanett, is bringing the autographed cars for display. He said the signed replicas would include a Smokey 1977 Trans Am and a Buford T. Justice 1977 Pontiac LeMans, both signed by the late Burt Reynolds, who played Bandit. A big rig like the one in the movie will also be on display. It’s an 18-wheeler signed by John Schneider of The Dukes of Hazzard. Schneider also signed a copy of the General Lee that will be at the car show. The event will also feature what Willingham calls “the Walking Tall car.” Willingham said he met the celebrities at World of Wheels events and got them to sign the cars.

The event will include live music by Southern Highway Band, a gospel and country group. Big Momma’s Ice Cream will be there, as well as a food truck from Jon Boy’s Smoke House.

Partial proceeds from the event will go to local children whose parents may not have money to buy Christmas presents. In years past, the ministry has primarily given bikes to kids but as Willingham’s wife, Jaime said, “You can only give so many bikes.” 

This year, they will be working with the Christian Service Center in Lanett to find out specific needs for Chambers County kids.   

Missiles for Christ will be distributing the funds. It’s a ministry started by Willingham to tell others about the perils of addiction. He’s a recovering addict himself and feels God called him to speak about addiction to those who need healing.   

The ministry’s name comes from a talk Willingham once gave, where he told the group, “God is using me as a missile.” He was corrected afterward, that what he meant to say was “vessel.” But a friend thought it was a meaningful accident, and the name stuck. 

For more information about the car show, call (706) 501-8311 or (706) 773-1808.