Monti in Motion car show set for this weekend

     The Sixth Annual Monti in Motion downtown car show and cruise will take place this weekend, Saturday, June 9 in Monticello.

     Cars will be lined up along E. First Street from stoplight to stoplight, the intersections of First and Cedar and First and Main.

     The event begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. At that time, participants will head out of town for an hour cruise through southern Jones County. The cruise route will end at Teddy’s Barn & Grill in Amber, where the cars will be parked.

     Registration is $5, and those who pay the fee will receive $5 in Monticello Chamber Bucks, to be used at participating member businesses. Registration will be held at a new location this year, inside the downtown pocket park (between Monticello Carpet & Interiors and Grand China).

     The food court will also be held inside the pocket park, with the Eagles Club and Ice Cream Island serving throughout the day.

     As First Street fills with cars and trucks, side streets will be closed off: Sycamore, Maple and Elm. Motorcycles will be parked and displayed on S. Sycamore Street, with tractors in the REM Electric parking lot (Elm Street).

     New this year at Monti in Motion is the addition of participation awards. Only registered participants are eligible for awards. The awards presentation will be held at around 2 p.m.

     This is the first year Monti in Motion has handed out awards. “The committee has been talking about it for years,” said City Administrator and Monti in Motion committee member Doug Herman. “People choose to go to car shows for the awards; they like to be awarded for the care and effort they put into their cars.”

     Herman said the introduction of awards also makes Monti in Motion more attractive for participants.

     Some of the awards will be chosen by the event sponsors. For instance, Stephen Motors will pick the best Monticello Chevy; Freese Motors will award the best Jones County Ford.

     The Best of Show awards will be chosen by city leaders: police chief, mayor, Monticello Express, Chamber of Commerce, and Rotary Club. Those awards include: BOS Chevy and BOS Pontiac, just to name a few.

     Some awards that will be chosen by county participation: Jones, Delaware, Dubuque, Jackson, and Linn. Those would include the best Chevy, Ford, Mopar and Truck in the select counties.

     There are also non-county awards, which will be selected by the Monti in Motion committee.

     The awards mimic that of a license plate, and were made by Iowa Prison Industries.

     There will be no public or participant voting for the awards. (Motorcycles and tractors are not eligible for awards, but if they register, are eligible for fair tickets.)

     Registered car participants are also eligible for a raffle. Prizes include two concerts tickets for each show at this summer’s Great Jones County Fair (Jason Aldean, Luck Byran, and Kid Rock).

     Throughout the event, there will be chances to take part in a 50/50 raffle for participants and the general public.

     Monti in Motion is a Monticello Chamber-sponsored event. Committee members include: Chamber Director Jan Hoag, Chamber President Monica Gray, City Administrator Doug Herman, Quinn Phelan, and Steve and Donna Leytem.

     Proceeds from Monti in Motion will benefit the Chamber and the Monticello trial project.