Lynch revs it up to host 20th motorsports show

By Jennifer Eisenbart

Staff Writer

For Lynch Superstore General Sales Manager John Fischer, the annual motorsports show at the dealership has been a labor of love.

“I grew up with racing,” said Fischer, who is readying for the 20th year of the show, which will be Saturday, May 11. What started out as strictly race vehicles has now evolved into the “Lynch Motorsport Jamboree and Custom Car Show.”

It will run from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“We’ve had anything from remote-control cars to monster trucks and jet rockets,” said Fischer Tuesday. “It’s kind of transitioned a bit from more than just race cars to classic and custom cars.”

Fischer said the transition from strictly race cars has a lot to do with local short tracks closing over the last several years.

“It’s made it more difficult to come up with local cars to show,” Fischer explained. “That’s where we started transitioning.”

The show has always drawn a good crowd – and a good mixture of cars. Fischer said, depending on the weather, the show could get upwards of 100 cars.

One half of the lot at the dealership will be cleared for the cars and visitors to the show.

In addition to local racecars and drivers, the show has also had just about every major NASCAR race vehicle at the show, including those of both Dale Earnhardt Jr. and Sr., and Jeff Gordon.

This year, the show is going to have a racecar driven by Davey Allison. The car was one of the few Chevys driven by Allison, and was driven in tribute of Alan Kulwicki, who died in a plane crash in 1993.

March 31 of this year marked the 20th anniversary of Kulwicki’s death, and Allison himself died in July of 1993.

“It’s a company that we’ve used before,” said Fischer of getting the show cars from NASCAR. “They were able to get this one restored and ready for the show this year.”

Local cars and racing vehicles will also be on hand, along with the men and women who drive them.

“If you can race it, we allow you to show it,” Fischer said.

There will also be an M&Ms NASCAR simulator. Visitors can get a first-hand experience of driving a race car.

Also at the show will be a replica of Lightning McQueen – the show-off race car from the Disney/Pixar hit “Cars” – for children.

“It’s like a miniature race car that kids can get their picture taken with,” Fischer said. There will also be ticket giveaways to Road America and the Milwaukee Mile, as well as other local tracks.

Fischer added that the show will partner with WBSD – the Burlington High School radio station – to sell food and drinks. Proceeds will go to the radio station.

There is no cost for the event, though food and drink will be available for purchase.

Fischer made a point of mentioning that Mike Babitz will be helping with the show. Babitz used to run the “Let’s Go Racing” motor show at the former outlet mall in Kenosha.

“We’ve kind of joined forces over the last few years,” “It’s kind of helped us make the show even better. He helps out quite a bit.”