Published: July 06, 2009 12:07 am      

Auto Fair

Someone will drive home in a new automobile from this year’s Friends of Coal Auto Fair.

The three-day event will be July 17-19 at the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA Paul Cline Memorial Youth Sports Complex.

Ramey Ford of Beckley is donating a 2002 Ford Explorer Sport to be given away during the first intermission at the July 18 concert. YMCA CEO Jim Gilchrist said this is the fourth year Ramey Automotive has been a major sponsor of the fair.

“There will be no charge to get on the grounds this year, and you do not have to be present to win,” Gilchrist said. “Just come and sign up before 5 p.m. on Saturday and your name will be entered in the drawing.”

There will be no raffle or tickets sold.

Keith Tyler, assistant general manager of Ramey Automotive, says Ramey is always glad to help Friends of Coal with the event.

In addition to the giveaway on July 18, there will be a burn-out stock car competition from 2 to 4 p.m., an assimilation mine with 12 rescue teams coming in for a competition, a helicopter dropping miniature Chick-fil-A cows with parachutes and a carnival from Tennessee giving away bikes and prizes.

The main event is an evening concert featuring Taylor Made, Chris “Abby” Abbondanza and headliner Randy Owen. The three-hour show will begin at 7 p.m. with the Army’s Golden Knights parachute team and end with a fireworks display at 10 p.m.

“It’s going to be a great event. Get your tickets early,” Gilchrist said.

The Friends of Coal Ladies’ Auxiliary will also have a booth set up for the third year. It wants to collect items for Beckley troops that have been sent to southwest Baghdad. Joy Stokely said all donations will go to the West Virginia C Troop 1/150 Squadron based out of Glen Jean.

“We are going to collect items and send care packages to them,” Stokely said. “The soldiers need eye drops, toilet tissue, Spam or Treet, bug spray with DEET, powered drinks, hot sauce, beef jerky, cans of nuts, potted meat, mustard, summer sausage, pepperoni links, baby wipes, sunblock, socks, Germ-X, local newspapers and magazines, jelly and Ramen noodles. We will accept anything that is non-perishable.”

Gilchrist said there will also be a big surprise happening around 1 p.m. July 18 and an announcement will be coming soon.

Tickets for the concert can be purchased at Marquee Cinemas in West Virginia and Wytheville, Va., or at the Beckley-Raleigh County YMCA.

For additional information, visit www.friendsofcoalautofair.com.

— E-mail: cclark@register-herald.com