EARS & GEARS

For years, EARS supporters have suggested we formulate an annual fund raising event for EARS that was more family orientated to compliment our annual semiformal adults only benefit held every May. So when EARS director, Charlie Sammut's fellow car show enthusiasts suggested putting together a Car Show / Family day at the new Vision Quest Ranch Event Site, we were all over it! With the incredible help of the Salinas Valley Classic Chevy Club, and many special sponsors, we’ve seen three VERY fun and successful events and can’t wait for the next one!



Be sure join us at our 2008 EARS & GEARS Family Day & Car Show on July 6th

*Please Help us spread the word by clicking below to print our flyers to share with others... thanks-you*



			*Space is limited so register quickly by clicking left to download a PDF flyer/registration form. Just print and fill it out and mail to EARS.*

July 1st, 2007 was the date of our fourth annual EARS & GEARS Family Day & Car Show

Our show this year saw record attendance with over 150 cars. We raised a record breaking $15K to help support the elephants. It just gets better and better every year, this year having the benefit of our all new 10,000sq.ft. special event site tent! We can’t thank the many who attended and the volunteers who help us pull it off enough. We couldn’t do it without them.


	Of course, it’s always all about the elephants at this show ~ as it should be.




	And no one elephant is better at making new friends than our very own Butch.




		A donation of our very own custom BBQ from AGR Welding Services in Salinas made our event that much more spectacular this year!



		Dining under our brand new incredible 10,000 sq. ft canopy.


	And what’s a BBQ without the best staff of BBQ’ers and volunteers in the kitchen that an elephant could ever ask for...???


	The view from the Butch Cam this year was better than ever - EARS director and trainer, Charlie Sammut had the best seat in the house!


	Above: Jim Ward wins the Best of Show Honors with his ‘32 Ford Roadster while Meredith Cruz takes “Elephant’s Choice” award with her pink Caddy from EARS volunteer Joe DiMaggio and EARS President, Kenny Beck.


	The animals weren’t the only “exotics” at the show!!!


	July 2nd, 2006 was the date of our 2006 EARS & GEARS Family Day & Car Show Our show this year saw record attendance with over 140 cars. We raised a record $12K to help support the elephants. It was without a doubt a HUGE success. We can’t thank the many who attended and the volunteers who help us pull it off enough. We couldn’t do it without them.

		Emails and letters once again are pouring in to prove that our show is unlike any other and those who attended don’t want to miss another. Be sure to check back for dates of our 2007 event.




		Special Thanks to Mike Horsely for donating the art work and the event t-shirts - this will make THREE years in a row. YOU ROCK MIKE!


	A view from the helicopter compliments of Ken and Gab Adelman...

Corvettes and Mustangs face off - a bit of fun that was well received by all that contributed GREATLY to the show. Rumor has it that the competition could bet a bit more intense next year...???!!!

”Butch” posing with our friend, sponsor and key vendor, Dotseths Speed and Performance/Parts Pro. (Owners John & Joe)

Butch helping DJ Karen & Co. spin the tunes. Elephants give the word “nosey” a more intense meaning!

Bus Driver Tina Sammut driving the shuttle bus to and from spectator parking - a dream she had that was easy to make come true.

Many say, “the shows only as good as the cooks” which guarantees our success!!! They are THE BEST!!!!

A view from the top of Butch. We call it the “Butch-Cam”


	Shots from the “Butch-Cam”.

We are always inventing new competitions to make our event different. This year, Dotseths Speed and Performance sponsored the Spark Plug Challenge, a time event to change a set of spark plugs blind folded and guided by a wife, girl friend, or buddy, or friend.

THIS WAS A BLAST and a must do for next year only next year, we might try to build a motor!




		Hey, they both agreed she was faster at it than he was...



		What are they looking at??? Whey the Dumbo Drop of course. Never did an elephant pooping mean so much to so many. Two lucky winners won $300 for buying the right square. Poop really does happen - eventually!






					What’s and EARS & GEARS without our vintage fire truck and back-hoe competition. Special thanks to John and Janis Waltman and Paul T. Beck Contractors for making those two things happen for the third year in a row.


	And of course as always, some VERY special cars and bikes!!!




		Once again this year, the PT’s were out in force making a GREAT showing. These folks are just too cool.

			2006 BEST OF SHOW


	Check out our 2005 event ....


	JULY 9TH - 2005 WAS THE DATE OF OUR SECOND ANNUAL EARS & GEARS FAMILY DAY AND CAR SHOW. OUR MANY SPECIAL EVENTS AND ENTERTAINMENT MAKE THIS A VERY SPECIAL DAY FOR YOU AND YOUR FAMILY, EVEN IF YOU’RE NOT INTO CARS. WE GUARANTEE IT! Check it out...




		Special thanks to Jim Cheatham and Verticare Helicopters.


		A view from the helicopter...

			A view of the Helicopter...




		The chopper rides are just one more thing that make our show different than so many others.




		Our Pachyderm of Ceremonies, “Lisa”. After all, what’s an elephant sanctuary fundraiser without an elephant???




		A very special visit from a very special man. Jim Kelly’s friends know the effort he put forth to be here today and we can’t thank him enough for doing so. This event would not have taken place with Jim and Zandra Kelly’s help!


	...and special thanks again to John and Jannis Waltman for loaning us their vintage ‘53 MACK Fire Truck again this year. The kids never stop loving or riding on Fire Trucks.




		This year, the old girl saw a visit from a younger model brought compliments of our friends from Salinas Rural Fire.




	Can we ever stop thanking the cooking crew enough??? The tri-tip was OUTSTANDING!!!


	A thankless job...


	A young hotrodder...


		This is one show no one can ever say suffered from a lack of awards !!!


		A very special thanks to Tony and Tina Sammut and Tony Sammut Development of Salinas for a very special donation of a very special jump house to use at our EARS events. Most of the kids spent the ENTIRE day inside our new toy.


	Besides the rockin tunes donated by DJ Karen & Rocking Caddy Daddy, other activities included hubcap Frisbee competitions, back-hoe bucket brigade competition, horse shoe and volleyball tournaments and more....


	Special thanks to EARS volunteer, Maia Davidson for wearing the silly elephant suit all day and Paul T. Beck company for letting us beat up their back-hoe.


	... and those are just the adult games... The kids had their own agenda including an all day cake walk, sack races, face painting, bean bag tosses and more...

Question: What are all these adults waiting so feverishly for ???

Answer: This elephant (Butch) to poop in the square they purchased to win a bunch of money in our “Dumbo Drop” 50/50 raffle ...

Ah, a winner...


	... and of course, the cars...




		Some very special trucks were shown this year(top) - one that hauled a very special race car (right) - Thanks Buddy




		Special thanks to the car clubs that attended the show. They really did contribute to our numbers. The PT Cruisers were out in full force as well as the Monterey Peninsula Corvette Club. The show couldn’t even happen without the incredible efforts of the Salinas Classic Chevy Club.

This Year’s

BEST OF SHOW


	Check out our 2004 event ....




		Over 130 participants entered cars in the event with a total of over 400 people in attendance. The weather held out in our favor and a good time was had by all - many asking us to guarantee a repeat performance next year.


	EARS’ President Kenny Beck and Forest the monkey “monkeying” around... (Ken’s on the left...)


	Automobile vendors and sponsors played a major roll in the success of the day and there was certainly no shortage of awards for participants!








			“Forest”, always the ladies man...


Entertainment for kids and adults included fire engine and helicopter rides, a horseshoe and sand volleyball tournament, a back hoe agility contest (compliments of Pault T. Beck Contractors), face painting, dance demonstrations, a live radio remote (compliments of Ron Stevens and Wolf House Radio Group), music, BBQ, and LOTS OF ANIMALS compliments of Wild Things and EARS. All things said and done, the event raised over $10,000 for EARS and a GREAT time was had by all. We are all ready planning next years events and working out the bugs from this year's to make 2005 even more SPECTACULAR!!!


		Special thanks to John and Janis Waltman for lending us their 1953 Fire Engine for all to enjoy...





	Special thanks to Jim Cheathem for his time, talent and HELICOPTER!!!


	Be sure to check out our Gift Shop - there are event T-Shirts still available from all year’s events.