ASHEBORO--Classic car enthusiasts and their families have an opportunity to really go wild when the Street Rod Safari returns to the North Carolina Zoological Park from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, April 18.
Held on the grounds of the state's highly acclaimed natural
habitat zoo, the Street Rod Safari combines wild wheels with wildlife in a unique automotive event. Nearly 300 beautifully restored cars are expected for the show with entries from as far away as Florida and New Jersey. For 1998, the eligible model years have been expanded by a decade to include cars manufactured through 1972. This will allow many of the classic "muscle cars" to be entered in the show for the first time.
The fifth anniversary version of the Street Rod Safari is being
sponsored by the N.C. Zoo, Greensboro radio station WKRR-FM Rock 92, and the Chatham Street Rod Association of Siler City, N.C., with support from dozens of area corporate and retail operations.
While street rod enthusiasts and hundreds of other zoo visitors wander through the outstanding collection of cars displayed in the zoo's 12-acre African picnic area, spouses and kids can sneak away to visit with attractions of the furry, finned and feathered variety.
The zoo's 300-acre African exhibit region is home to giraffes,
zebras, elephants, rhinos, gorillas, lions, chimpanzees and a host of other exotic creatures exhibited in spacious habitats that replicate their wild environments. The 200-acre North American region adds polar bears, sea lions, alligators, grizzly bears, red wolves, Alaskan seabirds, bison and many other exciting creatures to the wildlife show.
Another attraction for visitors attending the Street Rod Safari
will be On the Wing, an exciting educational program featuring eagles, hawks, falcons, owls and other birds of prey in live demonstrations of their natural flying and survival behaviors. On the Wing is being presented daily from March 14 through May 14 in the Zoo Amphitheater located just a few hundred yards from the car show.
In addition to the cars and the animals, participants in the 1998
Safari can listen to classic rock and roll music provided by a disc jockey and enjoy food served on the grounds. "Rock 92" personalities will also be on hand broadcasting live.
Car owners entered in the show will be eligible for awards as well as valuable prize drawings, including a brand new, 350 cubic-inch, Chevrolet engine. A variety of vendors from pin striping booths to custom wheel and parts dealers are also expected to be on hand.
The awards will be presented to the top 25 cars in the show based
on voting by participants and sponsors. Proceeds from the rod run go to the North Carolina Zoological Society, the nonprofit support organization for the zoo, and help support the zoo's efforts in wildlife conservation, research and education. The Street Rod Safari has already raised more than $10,000 for these programs.
For Street Rod Safari information or entry forms, contact Rod Hackney in the zoo's Marketing Office at 336-879-7204, Dale Testerman with the Chatham Street Rod Association at 919-742-5242, or write to Street Rod Safari, c/o N.C. Zoo, 4401 Zoo Parkway, Asheboro, N.C. 27203.
The zoo is an agency of the N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources.
Return to Press Release Page.