On June 8, 2013 the Lions Club of Willow Grove hosted its thirty-third annual “Cool Cars in the School Yard” vehicle show located at the Upper Moreland School Campus in Hatboro, Pennsylvania. The show featured visits and award presentations by local Miss America pageant title holders and an Elvis impersonator who rocked and rolled the crowd throughout the day. Attendees and registrants had a unique opportunity to check out vehicles of all makes and models and to strut their stuff in the school yard to benefit the Lions Club’s ongoing efforts to raise money for the blind and visually handicapped.

Strutting her stuff to surpass the popularity vote for top fifty vehicles and claiming the event’s “Best of Show Award for Custom Car” was Nicole Schatten, owner of a 2010 Grabber Blue Mustang ironically named “Allura- The Blue Lion”. This was Nicole’s first show since returning from a car accident in early May and the Lions Club could not have picked a registrant more deserving of the trophy, for she truly demonstrated the club’s ideals of strength, courage, and tireless dedication to a cause.

Not letting her accident deter her from attending events and donating to charitable causes, Nicole’s Blue Lion Mustang was the center of attention for its immaculate shine and endless list of modifications including Pypes true dual exhaust conversion, Pypes shorty headers, Steeda tubular lower control arms, BBK cold air intake, Cervini stalker front end kit stage three with LED lighting, Raxiom black projector headlights, Raxiom smoked aero tail lights, GT500 rear diffuser, 18” AMR wheels in matte charcoal, custom grabber blue and black leather seats, and much more.

When asked how it felt to take the top award after the recent accident, Nicole commented, “This car is not just a car to me. I refer to her as my ‘darling girl’. Part of me is in that car. As my husband once told me, she has a soul- a soul I have given her. I firmly believe that a part of my father is in her. He may not be able to be with me anymore physically, but he is always in my heart and I am reminded of him every time I look at Allura. Winning awards is nice and I am glad other people think she is pretty and deserving. Coming back to the show scene with my girl and taking a top award is great but honestly, it was the support of my family and friends in the month of down time after the accident that really matters. I felt lost at shows without her but it was important to go and support my family members and the various charitable causes that depend on show participants to raise money. The best award for me is to have my girl at a show, period.”

For those looking for a unique car show experience, miss the days of hanging out in the school yard, and would like to kick back to some classic rock and roll tunes- grab your shades, call your friends, and contact the Willow Grove Lions Club to attend the next “Cool Cars in the School Yard” vehicle show.