The Third Annual Jaden Quick Memorial Car Show will kick off at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Travelers Point Distillery, 400 E. Madison St. in Kirklin, to celebrate the legacy of Jaden Quick and help fund the Jaden Quick Memorial Scholarship.
Registration for the car show begins at 9 a.m. All vehicles must be registered by 11 a.m. with awards to follow at 2 p.m. The car show does not require an entry fee, but participants are asked for a free will donation toward the scholarship.
The car show will be accompanied by access to the Travelers Point Tasting Room for classic cocktails from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., food from J’s Lobster Truck throughout the day and live music from Hunter Wainscott from noon to 3 p.m.
The memorial events began with a motorcycle ride in honor of Jaden Quick, and Jason Moore, car show organizer, elected to entertain talks about launching a car show in Kirklin to keep his memory alive within the community and raise funds for the scholarship every year.
“Jaden was a car person and really liked old cars and stuff,” Moore said. “That’s kind of how we decided on a car show, and that’s how that came about. The first year it was little, then it got a little bigger. It keeps trying to grow, so it’s something we hope to do for many years if we can keep interest.”
Moore stated that the first year of the car show in 2020 acquired 41 entries, and the second year saw 53 entries. As the third year kicks off on Saturday, the event is expected to continue its growth.
“We take any cars available,” Moore said. “It can be your car that you drive on the street or it can be a classic or whatever. We’re not going to reject anybody from being able to join us.”
Moore stated that the car show has begun to become a staple of Kirklin every year with entries from across the region. An award was previously given to the vehicle that traveled the furthest to attend, which was awarded to an individual that traveled 78 miles for a one-way trip last year. This year, awards will be granted for “Best of Show,” “Best Underhood,” “Best of” various makes and models and more.
Moore expressed that the car show is a place for people to explore different variations of new and classic cars, but the main goal of the car show is to memorialize Jaden Quick and fund the scholarship. Moore stated that the event has raised around $3,000 for each car show with entry donations, business donations and more.
“The main reason we have it is because all the money that is raised goes to the scholarship fund,” Moore said. “We don’t keep any money. Everything we do, we pay for, and then everything else is donated.”
Moore stated that the continued support and growth of the event will help further the scholarship’s reach for many years to come at Clinton Central.
“We have a goal to try to raise at least a couple thousand dollars,” Moore said. “The scholarship gives out $1,000 a year. We’re trying for that to continue for several years.”
Kimberly Quick, Jaden Quick’s mother, expressed that when her son passed away during his senior year of high school, the community rallied around her family and began planning events such as the motorcycle ride and the car show while her son began the scholarship fund. The fund provides $1,000 every year to a senior from the Clinton Central football team.
“It means everything to us,” Kimberly Quick said. “It’s great that we can do the scholarship every year, but to me, the car show is about having one day to remember Jaden. For everybody to do it and everything they’ve done, it means everything to our family.”
Kimberly Quick encouraged the community to attend the event this year to support the cause and celebrate Jaden Quick’s legacy in Kirklin and Clinton County.
“We hope everyone comes and supports it and has fun,” Kimberly Quick said.
The event kicks off on Saturday, Sept. 23 at Travelers Point Distillery in Kirklin at 10 a.m.