30th Sedalia DARE Car Show Raises Over $15,000

“Race Car” Bob Hiller presented a $15,038 check to the Sedalia DARE program last night at the start of the Sedalia City Council meeting.

The money was the result of the 30th annual DARE Car Show held last Saturday around the Municipal Building, 2nd and Osage. The event drew 161 entries to the downtown Sedalia area on a breezy, but warm, sunny day.

“It's the best car show we've ever had,” Hiller said Saturday, adding that last year's event had to be canceled three days before the event due to COVID. “That was the first time we've ever had to cancel.”

The car show also included a pie action and a silent auction of donated items from local businesses. A total of 60 awards were given out to the winners of the car show at 2 p.m. Votes were tabulated by how much money each entry received in a Country Crock butter tub attached to each vehicle.

“Everything was donated,” Hiller noted. “We had no expenses. Whatever we make, goes to Sedalia DARE.”

He added that a total of 452 hot dogs, 450 bags of chips, 1120 water bottles and 678 cans of soda were handed out during the DARE car show. All food was donated.

Hiller credited help from the Elks Lodge, Starline Brass, Turner Heating & Air (Bob & Joy), Mark Allen and Rick from City Safe & Lock, and others. He added that the Hayden Foundation will donate $5,000 to the program next year.

Hiller founded the car show 30 years ago, in which the first show generated 12 entries and $200, and he noted Monday night that his race car has helped generate over $175,000 for DARE programs here and other locations.

Hiller also pointed out that Sedalia has the number one DARE program in Missouri and is ranked in the top three in the nation.

Sedalia Police Chief Matt Wirt and DARE officers Rodney Collins and Brad Beard accepted the $15,038 check Monday night to applause from the Council and staff attending the meeting.