The Cars for Autism vehicle show April 11 in Pevely drew well and raised money for an autism support group, organizers said.
Sarah Doggendorf, founder and leader of the STL Stangs Mustangs car club, said the event held along Pevely Main Street drew good crowds. The STL Stangs and the city of Pevely teamed up to hold the event. In 2025, the STL Stangs put on Cars for Cancer, a similar car show for a different cause.
“We had hundreds of (spectators),” Doggendorf said. “We had 149 registered cars. We raised about $4,000 we’re going to donate to Action for Autism, an autism support group based in Fenton.
“The money we raised was from entry fees, raffles and a 50-50.”
Pevely officials closed off a portion of Main Street for the show.
“It was perfect,” she said.
The show was open to all types of vehicles, not Mustangs alone, and drew people from a broad region.
“We’ve got all kinds of cars,” Doggendorf said. “A lot of people travel for car shows, especially for a cause like this.”
Kim Rivera of St. Peters, came with her husband in their 1999 Corvette.
“One of our friends was, like, ‘Hey, it’s going to be a pretty big car show – you should come on down,’” Rivera said.
Dave Baer of Barnhart displayed his 1956 Checker cab to the event. The cab is for fun, not for giving taxi rides, he said.
“People do try to hail me for a ride,” Baer said.
Andy Hixson, the Pevely city administrator, said he welcomed the STL Stangs coming to Pevely with the car show, particularly since he has a child with autism.
“It is an event near and dear to my heart,” Hixson said. “We have a nice day. We’re expecting a good crowd.”
Pevely Mayor Steve Markus also attended the event and appreciated it.
“It’s nice to have something like this in town,” he said.
Doggendorf said she wants Cars for Autism to return next year on about the same weekend and at the same place.
“We plan to do it every year here in April,” she said. “April is Autism Awareness Month. We’ve had nothing but positive (feedback). I’d say it was super successful.”