Murphy Last summer, Jeff and I hit the road for a day full of horsepower, chrome, and good vibes at the 77th Annual Duncan Aviation Charity Car Show in Lincoln, Nebraska. If you’re a car enthusiast—or just someone who loves a great community event—this one’s a can’t-miss. And trust me, it lived up to the hype, even if we nearly melted in the process.
We rolled into Lincoln early Saturday morning, coffee in hand and cameras ready. The sun was already blazing, no clouds in sight, and we quickly realized we were in for a scorcher. But the coolest part? The whole event was staged on a legit flight tarmac at Duncan Aviation. Picture this: hundreds of cars lined up on smooth asphalt where planes usually roll, their paint jobs glinting under the relentless sun. It felt like a scene from a movie—vintage rides stretching out against a backdrop of hangars instead of your typical parking lot. Hands down, that unique vibe was the highlight of the day.
Jeff, being the motordroid that he is, made a beeline for a pristine ’69 Camaro SS parked near the edge of the tarmac. The owner popped the hood, and we spent a good 20 minutes drooling over the V8, swapping stories, and pretending we weren’t sweating buckets. Meanwhile, I couldn’t stop snapping pics of a cherry-red ’57 Bel Air—those tailfins screaming nostalgia. The heat was brutal, though. With no cloud coverage to cut us a break, we were melting faster than a popsicle in a microwave. Still, the cars were worth it—every restoration was a masterpiece, down to the last polished bolt.
The show wasn’t just about the cars or the tarmac, though. It’s a charity event, and Duncan Aviation nailed the feel-good factor. Proceeds went to local causes, which made scarfing down those BBQ sandwiches and funnel cakes taste even sweeter—though we guzzled water like it was our job. Music rocked the air, some classic tunes to match the vibe, while folks of all ages wandered the rows, from kids gawking at lowriders to retirees reminiscing about their glory days.
By afternoon, we’d trekked the whole show, chatted with a dozen owners, and added a few dream cars to our lists—all while feeling like we were roasting alive. The awards ceremony wrapped things up, with Best in Show going to a sleek ’32 Ford hot rod that had everyone nodding in approval. As the sun finally eased off, we stumbled back to the car, sunburned, sweaty, but grinning ear to ear.
