- November 4, 2024
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East County's Arthur Matney was showing off his 2020 C8 Corvette at the Knights Car Show. "It's the most awesome car I've ever had," he says.
Photo by Jay HeaterPalmetto's Kelvin Etchison stands next to the distinctive fins of his 1959 Cadillac Deville at the Knights Car Show.
Photo by Jay HeaterKelvin Etchison says his 1959 Cadillac DeVille is like a time capsule that preserves history.
Photo by Jay HeaterBradenton's Pete Tolhurst sits behind the wheel of a 1964 Corvette. He bought the car in 1979.
Photo by Jay HeaterLakewood Ranch's Chris Carnevale stands in front of his 1965 Corvette Sting Ray he was showing at the Knights Car Show.
Photo by Jay HeaterProceeds of the Knights of Columbus Car Show Nov. 2 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church go to the St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. Last year the Knights donated $15,000 from the show.
Photo by Jay HeaterIt was easy to see what's under the hood at the Knights of Columbus Car Show Nov. 2 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch.
Photo by Jay HeaterBraden Woods' Steve Aiena "completely rebuilt" his 1937 Ford, which he has owned for 18 years.
Photo by Jay HeaterSarasota's Tim Fischer says he bought his 1941 Chevrolet pickup because his father had one like it when he was a kid.
Photo by Jay HeaterTim Fischer's 1941 Chevrolet pickup was one of only about three trucks at the car show.
Photo by Jay HeaterLakewood Ranch's Elliot Labanauskas, 16 months, might be showing cars of his own in the future, such as Carl Oberg's 1972 Corvette. He was visiting the Knights of Columbus Car Show Nov. 2 with his parents, Alexandra and Lukas Labanauskas.
Photo by Jay HeaterThe sixth annual Knights of Columbus Car Show Nov. 2 at Our Lady of the Angels Catholic Church in Lakewood Ranch was more about stories than cars.
The approximately 120 cars that decorated the parking lot at the church were a conversation starter, and then the stories flowed.
Every owner of a car at the show had his or her own story, and then those who came to enjoy the various classics would offer a few stories of their own. All the proceeds from the event benefitted St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.
A fun story was told by East County's Arthur Matney, who was showing his 2020 C8 Corvette that has a 6.2-liter V-8 engine that produces 490 horsepower.
Matney was asked how fast he had driven his prized car. He said he had gotten it up to 125, all by himself in the middle of the night on a deserted central Florida highway. Matney laughed and said there were no witnesses. Then he launched into a story.
"I was driving one day when a police officer drove up alongside me," said Matney, who figured he might be in trouble. "Then the cop gave me the thumbs up."
Mike Mahan of the Knights of Columbus loves hearing all the stories, but the best one regards their donation to St. Jude when the proceeds are counted. Last year it was $15,000.
"This (event) is close to my heart," Mahan said. "I dealt with cancer in my late 20s. When I think of kids going through it ... man. It's a stressful situation."
This year's entries were down a bit from 2023 and Mahan believes many of the car shows have less entries due to the recent hurricanes.
