LETU Automotive Society Hosts 33rd Annual Car Show

Over 70 new and vintage automobiles will be on display

LONGVIEW, TX, Feb. 12, 2009 -- Over 70 classic, new model and dealership cars will be on display at the 33rd annual LeTourneau University Automotive Society Car Show Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 28 and March 1 at the Maude Cobb Exhibition Hall in Longview, Texas.

Trophies will be awarded in a variety of categories including: Best Engine, Best Truck, Best Street Rod, Best Pony Car, Best Muscle Car, Best Original, Best Motorcycle, Best Sports Car (domestic), Best Sports Car (import), Best Paint, Best Display, Best Interior, Auto Society’s Choice and People’s Choice. Trophies from the show are unique and all handmade by Auto Society members.

“We had about 1,500 people come out last year, but we are projecting about 2,200 this year,” said Sean Momsen, president of the LETU Automotive Society. “People love cars. Many of our older cars bring a sense of nostalgia as people remember their ‘good old days.’ And the show is a great opportunity to get a look at some brand new dealership models, as well. A lot of people like to come out because it’s fun, affordable and it benefits missions.”


Doors open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 5 p.m. on Sunday. Tickets are $5 for adults and $2 for anyone with a student ID, including high school and college students. Children under 12 are admitted free. Tickets are available at the door. Proceeds from the event support charity and ministry work.

Momsen said part of the fun of the car show is the wide variety of vehicles.

“We’ve had everything from supercars like a Ford GT all the way to off road trucks with two and a half ton Rockwell axles on them. Old Corvettes in mint condition, 1957 Chevys , old Barracudas, Dodge Vipers. We even had an AMC Pacer one year. We have a variety of everything.”

Momsen said last year the event provided more than $3,000 in proceeds donated to support missions. “We hope to increase that this year,” he said.

A new twist to the car show this year will take place on Saturday at 2 p.m when a ticketed door prize will be awarded: Chick-Fil-A will be give away a free year of meals.

On Sunday at 4 p.m., the car show trophies will be awarded, along with five scholarhships to LETU students to enable them to participate in the LETU Spring Break mission trip of their choice. LETU is sending nearly 20 teams of students to minister in places in the U.S. and Mexico.

The LETU Automotive Society has been around since the late 50’s as a group who share a common interest in cars and Christian fellowship. It was originally called the LeTourneau Knights. In the mid 60’s, the club changed its name to the LeTourneau University Automotive Society.

The first car show held in 1976 was a show of mostly member’s cars and projects that they wanted to show off and was held in the original Auto Society building. Since then, the car show had been held in the university’s Assembly Building on the LETU campus, but now has grown so large that it is held at the Maude Cobb Convention Center.