Pulling over for Wings and Wheels

With its car show, live music, beer garden, vendors and family-friendly activities, the Monroe Police Department's Wings and Wheels Car Show benefiting Special Olympics has something for everyone ' all while raising money for a great cause. -á -á

Coordinated by Monroe Police Officer Derrick Lether, the event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 10. The community celebration is being hosted by First Air Field, located north of the Evergreen State Fairgrounds, on the west side of 179th Avenue Northeast in Monroe. Sponsored by Monroe's Big Box Outlet Store, the free event will feature a show-and-shine for vehicles, motorcycles and airplanes, trophies, prizes, raffles, vendor booths, a beer garden, food trucks, live music and activities for kids, including inflatables and games.

In addition to raising money for Special Olympics and honoring its athletes, the event remembers those lost during the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. It also celebrates the onset of football season, which kicks off the next day.

Parking and admission are free for spectators.

"There are still lots of opportunities for the community to get involved,GÇ¥ Lether said. "We have plenty of space available in the show-and-shine and would like to invite all local gearheads to join us.GÇ¥

Lether said all vehicles are eligible, including trucks, motorcycles, jeeps, classic hotrods and airplanes. Prizes will be awarded in 10 different classes, including Best in Show, Best Stock, Best Custom, Best Motorcycle, Best Import, Best Domestic, Best Truck and Best SUV.

There will be a 9/11 Award given for the most patriotic vehicle and a Chief's Choice award hand selected by Monroe Police Chief Tim Quenzer.

The Monroe Chamber of Commerce is sponsoring the beer garden, which will feature craft brews from locally operated alehouses Dreadnought Brewing and Twin Rivers Brewing.

Wings and Wheels will showcase live music by local band Hard Knocks "n' Country, which features former Monroe Police Officer Mike Lisenby on lead vocals, Brad Cotton on lead guitar and Doug Miller on drums. The bass player is Tim Fernley, founding Queensr++che vocalist Geoff Tate's son-in-law.

Free activities will be available for kids, including inflatables donated by Monroe's FunRent Inflatable Rentals.

"We want to encourage families to come out and spend the day enjoying classic cars and live music while raising money for a great cause,GÇ¥ Lether said.

Participation in the show-and-shine is $20. Local businesses are invited to donate items to the raffle, with proceeds benefiting Special Olympics. For more information about Wings and Wheels, visit www.facebook.com/events/1063359193699506 or contact Lether at-á dlether@ci.monroe.wa.us.