TURNER – Engines rumbling. Planes buzzing overhead. The smell of freshly cooked fries in the air. A flier reads “Welcome to Kora Shriners Car Show & Fly In.”

The local chapter of the Masonic group held their fourth annual car show this weekend at Twitchell’s Airport in Turner. The event began Saturday evening with an hour long car cruise through parts of Auburn and Turner. The Shriner’s motorcycle club led the caravan of 50 show cars, which arrived at Twitchell’s at 6:30 for a pig roast and music from “The Not For Hire Band.”

The band, which has played the event in past years, “won’t accept payment,” said Dan Carroll, chairman of the Shriner’s car show committee.

Carroll spent hours organizing the event with a team that included Shriners, volunteers and his son, Dakota. The money raised will benefit the Kora Shrine Temple of Lewiston.

Major festivities kicked off Sunday, when hundreds of car lovers gathered at the airport to show off and ogle the many unique vehicles. Based on previous years, Carroll estimated that around 300 cars were brought in for the show, which gives prizes for the top vehicles in several categories as well as a grand prize for best of show.

Robert and Nancy Russell of Dresden exhibited their customized 2003 Chevy Silverado. The truck – adorned with American flags, POW decals, and “In dedication to our armed services” emblazoned behind the cabin – is a way of showing thanks, say the owners. The vehicle became a special memorial, the Russells said, after their nephew was killed in Afghanistan. The truck has won two “best in show” titles at other shows.

“We did 20 shows last year in Maine and Florida,” said Bob Norwood. He and his wife Carol have owned nearly a dozen Volkswagens, but for this year’s show, they brought their powder-blue 1971 Beetle. “The shows are a lot of fun,” Norwood said. “You meet a lot of neat people.”

And then there are the vehicles. Categories included 4×2 and 4×4 pickups, foreign cars, and pre-1935 hot rods. Several auto-related vendors were at the event, selling rare car parts, tools, services, entire cars and motor bikes.

“I’m going to have all these,” said 6-year-old Icek Pelletier, stretching his arms wide to show all the cars he’ll one day own. Trevor Bovert, who came with his friend Icek from Auburn, liked the Cameros and Corvettes.

The winning cars in each category were announced at 2:30 p.m. This year’s best of show award – voted on by attendees – went to John Forman of South Portland for his 2-door 1940 Ford.

At the end of the day, Carroll described the event as a success. “The whole weekend’s been positive,” he said. “A big thanks goes to Twitchell’s” and “to the community for coming out and supporting us.”

After three years of running the car show, Carroll thinks he will soon move on to organizing other Kora Shriner events. What’s around the corner. Carroll says to keep your eyes open for “Fez-stock.”