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Street Machine Nationals wrap up successful weekend in Du Quoin

As the owners of Rat Fink Enterprises packed up their performance car art at 7 p.m. Sunday to pull out of Du Quoin they said they go to several of the Family Events shows.

And, to them, this year's Street Machine Nationals at the Du Quoin State Fair was the best of them and most well attended.

Nearby, two Du Quoin State Fair security employees were locking up the south gate to the fair and called it "great weekend" without a major incident on the grounds of the fair.

Mayor Guy Alongi watched the Saturday night cruise through downtown Du Quoin from the front corner of city hall and said it is a good event for Du Quoin and that recipients were both glad to be here and respected the town.

"I think the weekend went better than planned. There were very few incidents in town. There was absolutely no trouble with the Street Machines. It's the type of event we need and attracts the kind of people we want."

"There were a couple of local incidents, but they didn't involve the street machines," he said.

He said, "We need to work on some welcome banners and things like that for next year's show."

By some estimates the crowd was slightly smaller than last year, but more enthusiastic. The weather cooperated throughout the weekend with a small shower on Thursday as the show unfolded.

The car show had an international flavor to it with visitors from Perth, Australia. Colin Gobby called Du Quoin a beautiful community and said the car show was a perfect fit.

The show also brought together the nation's premier aftermarket automotive vendors.

Automotive Technology students from Southern Illinois University (SIU) will be offering a Hot Rod Hospital during the General Tire Street Machine Nationals at the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds this June 26-28, 2015.

SIU automotive technology students offered a Hot Rod Hospital at the show.

From needing compressed air to inflate a tire, to borrowing a socket or line wrench to make an adjustment, if a ride needs assistance, participants could bring it to the SIU Automotive Technology Hot Rod Hospital where they found a cadres of support to help keep them rolling.

SIU students also offered an automotive technology award competition for participants. The special award focuses on the integration of technology to a vehicle as voted on by the students. The honor was handed out by SIU students during the awards ceremony held on Sunday at 3. p.m. to this year's winner. The newspaper will publish all of the winners in the coming days. The show has one more year left under its current contract and Indianapolis-based Family Events will seek another multi-year contract.