Tires squealed as two tiny Shriners Indy cars and a golf cart raced around in circles late Saturday morning in the parking lot at Primrose Retirement community.
The tassels atop the drivers’ fez hats flapped in the wind.
The little cars raced back and forth in front of the facility as they zoomed past men grilling hamburgers and hot dogs.
For back-to-back years, the community has partnered with the Shriners to do a fundraising event, according to Primrose Executive Director Brandon McIntire.
The event featured not only the mini cars, but the Missouri River Bottom Band — made up of Shriners and supporters — a barbecue (hamburgers, hot dogs and brisket) and a dunk tank, McIntire said.
“The main part of the event is the dunk tank, where my residents will pay a dollar to be able to dunk the executive director, or some other department heads,” he said. “Last year we raised almost $600 for the Shriners. Coming from a small community like this that has just under 100 people, that’s a pretty good turnout.”
He said the event raised that total $1 at a time — each softball throw to dunk one of the administrators cost a buck.
“I’ve got my dollars!” announced Ronda Gross, a resident at Primrose Retirement Community. “I’ll definitely try (to dunk McIntire). I wouldn’t pass that up for the world.”
Gross said she appreciates the barbecue was raising money for Shriners — who are committed to making a difference in the world. Money raised Saturday was expected to go to Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
U.S. Army Col. (ret.) Ben Dennison, a resident at Primrose and the facility’s ambassador to the Shriners, has kept Primrose connected with Jefferson City Shriners, McIntire said.
Dennison said he’s an ambassador for the Shriners Moolah Temple in St. Louis. He has a brick in the wall of fame in the temple, Dennison said.
“Our club has come to like this place because this place relates to them,” he said. “This is the third time they have come here.”
Dennison said he’ll turn 87 this week. He said Primrose holds lots of events for its residents and he’s glad to be there.
Another veteran, Gus Heisler, sat outside for a few minutes, watching the Shriners cars, then slipped back inside for lunch.
“It’s kind of noisy,” Heisler said. Besides, he added, “I look for a little air conditioning now. That makes it much easier.”
He said he was in Paris for about six months during World War II.
“I wasn’t old enough to do any fighting,” the 96-year-old said. “I knew how to type. That’s where I ended up — typing. That was a pain in the neck.”
Heisler said long life is in his genes — his grandparents on both sides all lived into their 90s. He’s got five cousins who are older than him, Heisler said. The oldest is 102 and the next is 101.
Evelyn Baur, the community president, said the barbecue was fun.
“It’s a beautiful day! I wouldn’t like it too much in mid-July,” Baur said. “We’re all looking forward to the dunking booth. I think there are some people here who would like to dunk a few staff people.”
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: About 50 residents eat outside Saturday afternoon during the Primrose Retirement Community and Shriners club barbecue. The community hosted the event to entertain clients and raise money for Shriners Children’s Hospital in St. Louis.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: The Missouri River Bottom Band entertains as people eat Saturday afternoon during the Primrose Retirement Community and Shriners club barbecue. The band is made up of Shriners and their supporters.
Joe Gamm/News Tribune photo: Mary Winter, center, visits her mother, Cyrilla Doerhoff, left, as Orvella Wright interacts with them Saturday afternoon during the Primrose Retirement Community and Shriners club barbecue. Wright said she’s like the baby in the room with Doerhoff, who celebrated her 100th birthday in February.