Organizer Lee Tischer and his cast of volunteers have been racing to get ready for the 13th and final Rods and Reels Rod Run, an event that raises money for Dollars for Scholars, this Saturday at the fairgrounds in Skamokawa.

“It’s bittersweet,” Tischer said. “I never dreamed that it would become the event that it has. Every room is filled. Vista Park is pretty much full. A group from Bremerton rents the whole hotel. They have reservations for 30 at The Duck Inn on Friday night. On Saturday they usually stop at the brewery and order pizza from Sharon’s.”

The first year, there were a total of 175 cars. The number of participants has grown every year, and as of Saturday, 210 cars had already been preregistered for the big event this weekend.

There will likely be a lot more by the time Saturday rolls around.

“This is the largest number we’ve ever had preregistered,” Tischer said. “Everybody wants to come celebrate.”

Tischer announced last year that 2018 would be the last year for Rods and Reels. There won’t be any time for sadness, if he has his way, people will come and have fun and enjoy what they’ve done, what they’ve been able to do the past 13 years.

“I’d been going to car shows for years,” Tischer said. “I tried to take the best out of all them. I wanted to keep it old fashioned, that's why we’ve never allowed vendors. It’s about the cars and raising money for Dollars for Scholars. We’ve kept it simple and people liked that.”

Tischer may regret telling this reporter a little story about how he keeps the weather so nice for the event each year.

“We’ve had pouring rain on Friday and soakers on Sunday,” he said. “People ask what I do. I jokingly tell them that I do a little dance around the house in the skivvies.”

“The neighbors don’t appreciate it,” he laughed, “but it’s worked.”

Tischer estimates that Rods and Reels has raised about $200,000 for scholarships over the past 13 years. They have been able to give $10,000 in scholarships to Wahkiakum seniors each year.

“Car owners are pretty cool people,” he said. “I have a round up donation line on my entry forms. They order an extra meal, or an extra shirt, and they’ll have rounded up an extra $100.”

And, he said, while the car owners are a generous group, the sponsors have been “over the top.”