- May 23, 2025
-
-
Loading
Loading
Lloyd Wallace showcases his car to Rick Coyne.
Photo by Ian SwabyWillie Kreiiling and his son Billy Kreiling of Sarasota pose with their 1966 Pontiac GTO, alongside Joe Russo of Bradenton, with his 1981 Pontiac Trans Am.
Photo by Ian SwabySarasota's Kian Ayers, 5, sits in a 1945 Willys MB Jeep from World War II, owned by Dale Aylward of Parrish. His mother Marcy Ayers said he has a fascination with military history, which began after he saw the purple heart of her grandfather Edwin Payne, who was wounded in Vietnam.
Photo by Ian SwabyCaptain Dana Anderson, vice president of the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund, poses next to the 1925 Dodge Brothers Touring car owned by his father John Anderson, who died in June and had been coming to the show since the 1970s.
Photo by Ian SwabyAndy Thompson talks with his friend Michele Kennedy as she cleans off her 1998 Pontiac Trans Am.
Photo by Ian SwabyNoah Cochran, 11, looks at the 1947 Buick Super Sedanette owned by Wayne Stephens.
Photo by Ian SwabyA series of Thunderbirds line the car show.
Photo by Ian SwabyA 1970 Pontiac GTO owned by Kevin Ingle of Lithia, Florida
Photo by Ian SwabyThe 1998 Pontiac Trans Am owned by Sarasota's Michele Kennedy.
Photo by Ian SwabyThe Morton's Firehouse Chili Cook-Off is one of the major ways the Sarasota Firefighters Benevolent Fund raises money each year for its mission of helping firefighters and their families in times of crisis.
However, the other important event is the Devereaux-Kaiser Collector Car Show, said Captain Dana Anderson, vice president of the fund.
The 54th annual show, held April 27, brought together what Anderson said was about 400 cars, at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.
The event showcased vehicles 25 years and older and celebrated the 70th anniversary of the Thunderbird.
Sarasota's Wayne Stephens, who has been coming to the show for 40 years, called it "probably the best show in Sarasota for the year," stating he also hoped for more public awareness of the event.
Anderson said the participation in the show has increased since the fund began managing it in 2019. He said with more events in Sarasota today — it doesn't reach the peak of around 1,000 cars it once did at Sarasota Square Mall, but said he would hope to see it do so.
Stephens noted the attendees, including kids, were enjoying the experience.
"It's like a bowl of Skittles with all the different colors and everything," he said.
