[04/02/02]A 2,000-car hot rod show is unlikely in Vicksburg this year, but backers say it is still a possibility in the fall of 2003.

Ron Zuetlau and Homer Jennings, founders of ProMotion Publications, visited Vicksburg in February and met with a group of elected officials and representatives of the hospitality industry.

They wanted to make Vicksburg the site for a hot rod show sponsored by their magazine company. Their first event drew 2,500 of the show vehicles to Cherokee, S.C., last year and their second is upcoming in Davenport, Iowa.

“We had originally thought to shoot to have something in Vicksburg this fall,” Jennings said in a telephone interview Tuesday. “I don’t think we should do that because it will be very difficult for the (local interests) to raise money to do their job in such a short time and I don’t think we would have enough time to get the word out.”

Their Alabama-based company publishes Southern Rodder and Northern Rodder with a combined circulation of 100,000.

In February, they proposed having the show here in August and said they thought they could bring as many as 2,000 to 2,500 hot rods and 4,000 to 5,000 people to Vicksburg for a three-day weekend. They told the some two dozen local people they needed about half of the $200,000 budget from local sources in cash and in-kind services.

Mayor Laurence Leyens and Curt Follmer, senior vice president and general manager of Rainbow Casino, expressed interest. Leyens said it would be up to the private sector to do most of the work.

Jennings said getting the show this year would have required immediate action by locals. That hasn’t happened, and he said he believes a date in the fall of 2003 will be better for all concerned.

“We want to do it right,” he said.

Lisa Nosser, sales and marketing manager of the Vicksburg Convention and Visitors Bureau, said most businesses had already set budgets for 2002 and large contributions just would not be possible.

To help gauge interest among the owners and operators of hotels, motels, casinos, beer and soft drink distributors and other businesses and individuals who may be interested in helping, Nosser has sent out 80 questionnaires. She asked that the forms be filled out and returned as soon as possible.

The forms sent out ask questions such as the month and year locals would prefer; if the business or organization is interested in being a sponsor; and at what level a business or organization might be able to provide financial support among others.

Nosser said once the responses are back she had received four as of Monday afternoon she plans to set up another visit from Jennings and Zuetlau.

She also said by the time the two show promoters return they will have put on their show in Iowa in May and information on that event will be available.