TOPEKA (KSNT) – A huge car show featuring classic vehicles and military planes is coming back to Forbes Field in south Topeka this fall.
Car Show on the Tarmac promises guests the chance to enjoy a unique Midwestern car show that offers a mix of both planes and all sorts of exotic and classic vehicles in the early days of October. People can choose to participate, entering in their own vehicles, or simply enjoy the sights.
Rob Goodrich, an organizer for the event, told 27 News this will be the fifth year for the car show. He said he’s seen everything from unrestored classics to more exotic vehicles appear at the show over the past few years.
“We have had so many amazing, beautiful cars that have come out in the last five years,” Goodrich said.
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Goodrich said 2024 was the best Car Show on the Tarmac so far with more than 250 cars and more than 500 walk-ins being featured. He said last year’s event pulled in more than $10,000 in cash.
“What makes this a unique experience, and a great fundraiser is, the walk-in people pay admission to the museum and they get a free car show,” Goodrich said. “The Car Show participants pay to get into the car show and get a free museum admission.”
Participants can bring in their classics, hotrods, imports, trucks, lowriders, customs and motorcycles to the show for others to check out. Meanwhile, the museum will wheel out some of the resident military planes to add to the fun.
“You can never go wrong with mixing planes and cars!” Goodrich said. “To see everything together on the tarmac and now, the new runway that was just redone last year, it is an amazing event.”
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Car Show on the Tarmac at Topeka’s Combat Air Museum in 2024. (KSNT Photo)
Goodrich said the event had humble beginnings but is now recognized as one of the biggest car shows in the Midwest and the largest in Topeka. Attendees also can grab a bite to eat or something to drink at one of the seven food trucks that are scheduled to attend.
“There wasn’t a lot of people that even knew the museum was out here at Forbes, and now it’s the biggest car show in Topeka,” Goodrich said. “It’s the efforts of volunteers, Forbes field, and the public that make this a great event! To see parents, grandparents, and volunteers show kids of all ages how things work, what things do, and why you do it, its just awesome to see.”
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The fifth annual Car Show on the Tarmac is currently scheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 5 at 7016 Southeast Forbes Avenue. Adults over the age of 18 will have to pay $4, children and teens between the ages of five and 17 will have to pay $3 while those who are five-years-old or younger can get in for free. Military service members who have their cards can get in for $3.
“The important thing that our show promotes, is to bring the community together and offer the best of both airplanes and show vehicles,” Goodrich said. “A clean atmosphere that is both safe and educational. There is a great gift shop the museum offers along with local vendors and car show shirts and magnets to purchase. Everything is for the museum and it will always be that way. Come out, enjoy and don’t be afraid to ask questions, we all love to show off our rides!”
You can learn more about the event by checking out the listing on Facebook or by heading to the Combat Air Museum’s website. Pre-registration to enter your vehicle into the show is open from Aug. 21 to Sept. 19 at the cost of $20 with the added value of free admission to the Combat Air Museum. Goodrich said there is no limit of pre-registered guests.
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