Davis Park will be ready for next week’s Car Rally

LAKE LANDSCAPING personnel were busy Tuesday planting trees and plants at the newly revitalized Davis Park.
Cairo City Manager Chris Addleton said Tuesday he is confident the park project will be completed by next Friday, May 11.
“We’ve got some good weather to work in and all that remains is putting in the irrigation and the planting of trees and plants. The sidewalks and brick pavers are done. We will be through by the 11th,” Addleton said.
Crews with Lake Landscaping were busy Tuesday planting trees and installing the new irrigation system.
The park now features new restroom facilities and a covered pavilion that rally organizers said they are looking forward to using next weekend.
Interest in this year’s rally is also building with 118 participants preregistered as of Tuesday.
“We will continue to receive entry forms right up until next Friday. I am expecting a record turnout,” Cairo-Grady County Chamber of Commerce Executive Vice President Jennifer Majors said Tuesday.
“We are really excited about all of the work done at Davis Park, and we appreciate the city making sure the work is complete in time for this year’s rally,” Mrs. Majors said.
This year’s rally features the Dodge Challenger, models 1970-1974 and the 2008 SRT8 edition.
Stallings Motors is the featured sponsor for this year’s rally, which will kick off next Friday night at 6:30 p.m. with a BBQ supper for participants served at the Grady Cultural Center.
The ever-popular gaslight parade will hit the road at 8 p.m. and there will be food and drinks offered for sale. Immediately following the parade of participants will be the popular street dance on South Broad Street. Entertainment will be provided by the “Just Us” band. The dance is sponsored by CNS Cable & Internet.
In addition to the Dodge Challenger, vehicles 25 years or older are permitted in the rally.
On Saturday morning, the Cairo Kiwanis Club will treat rally participants to breakfast at the Grady Cultural Center and at 9 a.m. the Antique Auto Poker Rally gets underway.
Rally participants will tour much of Grady County along a 43-mile route with a scheduled pit stop at Turkey Creek Community Club. Community club members will treat participants to refreshments and drinks.
The antiques, classics and street rods will go on display at Davis Park at 10 a.m. Saturday and as poker rally participants return, those vehicles will also be on display.
The chamber will host a hamburger cookout for rally participants beginning at noon and prizes will be awarded during a ceremony at 2 p.m.
Prizes for Best Mopar, Best GM, Best Ford, Best Foreign Car, Best Modified Car, Oldest Car and Best Feature vehicle will be awarded.
Trophy sponsors,in addition to the chamber and Stallings Motors, include Thomas of Cairo, Classic Consoles, Moore Motors, T&S Motorsports, and the Cairo Antique Auto Museum.
Following the awards presentation, Wayne and Rosa Ann Hadden will open the doors of their Cairo Antique Auto Museum for participants to tour.