Rockathon rocks on

Up to 75 cars are expected when the Valley Cruisers Car Club and the Town of Gardnerville host the '50s Rockathon Car Show and Swap Meet, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday at Heritage Park. The annual event features cars, a swap meet, music and food.

Street rods, classics, muscle cars, sports cars, kit cars, low riders and trucks are welcome for a $10 entry fee. There's no need to preregister. Sign-ups are allowed the day of the event.

Hot dogs and drinks will be available for sale by Chuck and Mary Baldauskas to benefit their daughter Stella Baldauskas, 24, who was injured March 9 in an off-road accident near Las Vegas. She suffered a broken back and has had extensive surgery.

Award plaques will be given at the Rockathon and picked by judges who are representatives of the some of the organizations that benefit from the Valley Cruisers' fundraisers such as the Carson Valley Community Food Closet, Douglas County Sheriff's Search and Rescue and Family Support Council.

"It's real informal. There's no classes. They just pick a car they see that strikes them," said Valley Cruisers member Bill Thomas. "Anybody and everybody can win."

Thomas is the owner of a silver and blue 1956 Ford F-100 truck that won an award for modified trucks at last weekend's Big Mama's Show & Shine car show at Lampe Park.

"It's got a Chrysler engine and it's very custom," he said. "It took a year and a half of work and we just finished it. It's very fast."

Last weekend's car show and the predicted good weather should be inspiring to classic car enthusiasts.

"We're hoping for a big crowd," said Thomas.

Booth spaces for car-related parts and accessories are $10. Information, Charles Hill, 265-0548, or Bill Thomas, 267-1511.