The Wheels of Time Street Rod Association announces its 44th annual Rod & Custom Jamboree at Macungie Memorial Park Aug. 25-27. Proceeds benefit more than two dozen charitable organizations and scholarship programs. Special features this year include the following:

• Henry and Sue Wilts Dorney Park Speedway Memories

• Old Time Plow Boys antique farm equipment and tractor show

• TV show cars featuring The Nightrider and the Red Barron

• America on Wheels display

• Tribute to veterans with information booth

• Rusty Frank and his Vargo Dragstrip Willys pickup

• S and W Race cars

The Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree includes over 1,500 street rods and custom cars, 1993 or older. Car registration is available at the show. Visit their website for registration forms and details.

Each vehicle is an individual creation representing American innovation and creativity and is a unique expression of performance and style by its owner. Coveted Wheels of Time awards are given each year to 20 participants’ cars at the show. National Street Rod Association Vehicle Safety Inspections are also conducted free of charge during the show.

The street rod and custom car hobby is a unique part of American culture and draws millions of participants and spectators to events all across the country.

The Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree is one of the largest all-volunteer events in the nation and each year approximately 20,000 spectators and participants attend the show.

Over the past 20 years an average $40,000 is given each year to local charities and the Wheels of Time scholarship program for young adults.

To date, over $1,300,000 has been donated to local community organizations, over 300 scholarships have been awarded and hundreds of pints of blood have been given to the Miller-Keystone Blood Center. The bloodmobile will be on site Aug. 27 for donations.

Wheels of Time members have also provided countless hours of community support with cars for parades and events, volunteer hours at fire companies and support for those in need.

Other show highlights include Valve Cover Racing, our famous Teeter Totter, bingo, Women’s World and entertainment for the kids. The huge flea market and women’s crafts area has 200 vendors, plus a car corral with dozens of cars for sale. The beautiful Macungie Park offers many good food vendors, swimming pool and a playground for the kids.

The annual Friday night cruise will return for the first time in two years. It will be open to the first 150 show cars that sign up on Friday at the show. This has been a longtime favorite of the community.

The route for this year is modified to eliminate Emmaus. Emmaus could not get enough staff and volunteers to man all the intersections. At 6:30 p.m., cars will leave the Allen Organ lot behind the factory and head south on Route 100, turn left on Buckeye Road, turn left on Route 29 (Chestnut Street) then turn north on Cedar Crest Boulevard, turn left on Lower Macungie Road, turn left on Willow Lane and back to Route 100, turn left back to Macungie Memorial Park.

This year, live bands will play at the Wheels of Time Rod & Custom Jamboree each night. Friday’s entertainment for the evening 7-10 p.m. will be the band “Flirtin With The Mob.” The “Allentown Hobo Marching Band” will entertain the crowd Saturday afternoon. Saturday evening’s band and dance entertainment 7-10 p.m. will be by “Flamin Dick and the Hot Rods.”

Many other activities are going on throughout the weekend through the efforts of the Ladies Auxiliary. Bingo and a gift basket raffle will be held Aug. 25. On Aug. 26 and 27, a basket auction, bingo, crafts and guessing games are planned.

The show opens each day 7 a.m. There is an admission charge; attendees under 16 are free. Nonperishable food items to donate to local food banks would be appreciated.

The annual raffle this year is dedicated to the memory of Doug Gaumer. Raffle tickets will be available at the main tent area. Wood Naturally has been a generous sponsor for many years in donating the use of all the sheds at the park.

Event details, schedules and site maps will be available at www.wheelsoftime.org. and on our Facebook page @ Wheels of Time.