A hearty crowd of families visited the Augusta Regional Airport, Saturday morning, for its fifth annual Meet A Machine event.
From 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., kids and their families had an opportunity to learn about various vehicles and machinery, including those that help make the city run smoothly.
Lines of curious kids—and parents—built up before displays and demonstrations of tactical law enforcement vehicles used by Richmond and Columbia County’s sheriff departments, construction vehicles, rescue vehicles, airplanes and fire engines.
Project Freedom Ride, an animal rescue nonprofit that transports dogs once they’ve been adopted, had a van full up pups camped out for children to see, along with resources about the organization.
“They invite us out here every year to come,” said Jeff McConn, who founded the Project Freedom Ride while stationed in Texas. “We normally pick up the dogs from some of the shelters around Augusta and South Carolina… meet up with rescues in Texas, load up the van and then drive to wherever we can go.”
The 3MC Car Club of Augusta had a drag car—specifically, a Dodge Challenger designed to look like the main character in the Disney animated movie “Cars” —on display for kids to hop in, survey the interior, honk the horn and take photos.
“A lot of people don’t get to often see a sports car up close,” said Corey Anderson with 3MC Car Club. “It’s also a good experience of seeing what Lightning McQueen is like on the inside.”
The entirety of the proceeds of the Meet A Machine event go towards the Children’s Hospital of Georgia.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering business for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com.
