Largo Rotary Club Car Show a Hit (PHOTOS)

The weather didn't really cooperate, but the inaugural Cruisin' The Park charity car show hosted by the Rotary Club of Largo was still considered a success by those involved.

Early rain helped keep some participants from attending the show, but that didn't stop those who did come from having a good time at the Ulmer Park event.

"It was a good turnout considering all the rain we had early," Largo City Commissioner Woody Brown, who's also a Rotary Club member, said later in the day. "A lot of people turned around when they saw that rain this morning."

"But we sold all our food, we ended up with about 50-60 cars, and all the car owners said they loved the setting," he added. "So I'd say it was a success."

Indeed walking along the rows of hot rods and cool classics, everyone we spoke to said they enjoyed the event regardless of the weather.

Many participants traveled great distances in order to take part in the club's first car show, proceeds from which were going to the Rotary's Camp Florida.

"I heard about it through word of mouth, thought I'd come up and check it out," Bryce Cowan of Apollo Beach said. 

"The show's been good," he added. "Just wish the weather could've been better."

(Check out the video of Cowan's hydraulically lowered pickup truck above.)

Rain didn't prevent C.K. Mills of Odessa from bringing his pristine cherry red 1933 Ford Coupe to town.

He said he's entered the classic coupe in around 75 car shows, and he's won roughly 70 trophies.

"I saw an ad for the show in a car magazine and decided to come over an enter it," Mills, who took five years to build his prize-winning car, said.

"It's been good so far, there's been a steady flow of people despite the weather."

Rotary officials did say they plan to move the event to the spring next year to avoid the threat of rain as well as the oppressive heat and humidity.

They hope the change of seasons will help their second car show be even more successful than the first.

"For a first year event, this has been great," Rotarian Paula Cryer said. "We feel by moving it to March next year, the turnout will be even better."