This past weekend turned out to be a busy one. I managed to get in four events over four consecutive days. During those four days, my car was exposed to monsoon-like rain storms twice!
Thursday
It all start with my usual Thursday evening hangout at Der Dutchman in Plain City, Ohio
I didn't get there until after 6 PM because I had to pick my car up from Esoteric Fine Auto Detailing in New Albany, Ohio. The car was there for installation of perfectly illegal window tint. Let me just say the drive from New Albany to Plain City in rush hour traffic is not a pleasant experience.
By the time I arrived at Der Dutchman, there was a significant number of cars already parked on the other side of the fence.
The combination of perfect weather and rain the week before worked together to help set another attendance record. The cruise-in registered 169 vehicles beating the previous record by 22 cars! Nineteen of the 169 were first timers.
To thank everyone for coming out and setting a new record, the restaurant raffled off two $30 gift cards to the restaurant and gift shop instead of the usual one.
Wayne Nisly, host of the cruise-in, is shooting for 200 cars on September 20. If you're free that evening, stop by Der Dutchman. Wayne has promised FREE ice cream for everyone if the cruise-in meets that goal.
Friday
I spent Friday evening at Jack Maxton's ALL Chevy Friday Night Cruisin'. The show was originally scheduled for the previous Friday but was postponed a week because of weather.
The band the British Invasion was originally scheduled to play the August show but couldn't make the rain date. The Van-Dells were available and filled in without missing a beat (pun intended).
Maxton registered 172 vehicles during the evening. The featured cars this month were the Full Size Pre '54, Full Size '55-'57, Full Size '58-'64, and Full Size 65 and up.
One full size Chevy at the show that blew my friend and I away was Ron Hoeft's 1967 Impala SS 427.
Ron is the original owner. He sold the car to his cousin when he went into the Navy in 1968. He bought it back from him in 1977.
The car has undergone a frame-off restoration. The glass, body panels, and interior (except driver's seat and carpet) are all original.
Ron told us his car received 996 out of a 1000 points at one of the major national shows. The only thing the judges could find wrong with the car was the rear bumper off-center by about an eighth of an inch. The car is an absolute beauty! It looks every bit as good as the day it was driven off the show room floor.
Best of Show for August went to the 1939 Chevy "Gasser" belonging to Steve Thackara.
The car was featured in a June 2015 article on Hot Rod.com. I believe Steve said he has owned the car less than a year.
Saturday
Saturday morning it was off to Westerville, Ohio for the 15th Annual Blendon Senior Center Car Show.
I did this show two years ago and remember it being a nice, smaller show.
This year the show registered 53 vehicles. What made it so unusual was the $200 and $100 CASH prize being offered for Best of Show and the runner-up to Best of Show.
The show also offered door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. Hot Dogs, bratwursts, chips, and drinks were available in the Senior Center cafeteria. The food was free, however, the center was accepting donations for the food if you wanted to make one.
The show attracted some really nice cars. Here are few that stood out.
His and Hers '57 Chevys 
'69 Camaro SS 
2008 Mercedes Smart Car 
1936 Ford Model A 
1928 Ford Model A 
1947 Buick Roadmaster 
Inline 8 cylinder engine in the Roadmaster 
1969 Camaro SS 
1953 Studebaker Starlight II 
1972 Dodge Charger SE 
1967 Chevy Chevelle SS 
1968 Pontiac GTO Convertible 
This Lamborghini wasn't registered in the show, but it added a nice touch none the less.
Besides Best of Show and runner-up Best of Show awards, the Senior Center also presented 25 "Favorite" trophies.
The awards presentation was the quickest and most unusual one I've experienced to date. Rain was on the way so I understand the rationale for getting the ceremony done as quickly as possible so everyone could get on the road. To speed things up just the car number of the winners were announced. Everyone came up to award table all at once to pick up their award. No owner names or vehicle descriptions were announced. The whole ceremony took less 5 minutes. I was able to find out what cars received the runner-up Best of Show and Best of Show.
The runner-up award went to a 1952 Cadillac Coupe Deville owned by Jeb Pallone.
The Best of Show winner was the 1969 Yenko Chevelle (yes, it is a real one) belonging to Mark Rupp.
Gary's Yenko was the Best of Show winner when I participated in this show two years ago.
Sunday
The final event of the weekend was the Cruise the Fort Car Show held at the Fort Hayes Campus in Columbus, Ohio.
This is the second year for the show which has Rife's Autobody as a primary sponsor. Proceeds from the show support the WCBE 90.5 FM radio.
Three bands, Terry Davidson and the Gears, Zoo Trippin', and Change it Up Charlie, provided "live" music throughout the event.
Trucks from Niki's Street Eats, Aloha Streatery, and Graeters Ice Cream were on site offering food and refreshments.
The show registered around 50 vehicles. This was an all class show. The $10 registration fee automatically entered every vehicle in the running for Best of Show and Fan Favorite. It also included entry into two classes of the owners choice. For another $10, cars could be entered in two additional classes up to a max of six classes.
Judging was done on a points system based on specific criteria for each class. I counted no less than seven judges looking over the cars. (Are you listening other shows!) The judges were assigned to specific classes.
Awards were presented to the first and second place vehicle in each class.
Here were the first place winners.
1st Place 40's/50's / Best Custom Restoration - 1955 Chevy Bel Air 
1st Place 60's/70's - 1978 Chevy Corvette 
1st Place 80's/90's - 1984 Pontiac Trans AM 
1st Place 2000 and up - 2017 Camaro ZL1 
Best Muscle Car - 1965 Ford Ranchero 
Best Paint - 1966 Chevy Chevelle 
Best Import / Best Restored Original - 1955 Sunbeam Alpine 
Best Original Unrestored / Best One of a Kind - 1990 Air Stream Classic 
Best In-Process - 1979 MG Midget 
Fan Favorite - 1957 Chevy 150
The Best of Show award went to John Rindfuss and his 1955 Sunbean Alpine.
If you hadn't noticed, some vehicles received more than one award while others were left out. My advice to the organizers is to spread the "love" around and stick with one award per vehicle. The best way to get cars to stop coming to your show is to get a reputation for giving cars multiple awards.
Other than the nitpick regarding multiple awards, I thought it was a very nice show. I really liked having the different categories. I thought the judges did a fair and thorough job looking over the cars. There was ample food and beverage choices, and it was refreshing to have "live" entertainment instead of DJ playing oldies. Overall I'd give the show a solid B+.
Reports from Other Shows
Meet Chip Foos at Rabid Customs
On Saturday afternoon BASF and Rabid Customs out of Canal Winchester, Ohio sponsored a meet and greet with Chip Foose.
Seventy-five people from around the area were invited to display their cars at the event.
There was a best paint award selected by Chip Foose. An opportunity to win a customized Chip Foose drawing, and a chance to see Chip Foose do a paint demo.
Here are some of the cars and scenes from the event. I'm sure you'll quickly recognize many of the cars.
Many thanks to Jeff Shankle for taking and sending the photos.
Culp Lake
Culp Lake near Springfield, Ohio held their 11th annual Show and Shine on Sunday.
The show attracted 168 vehicles this year.
It turned out to be another show where the participants voted for their favorite vehicles.
This 1967 Chevy Chevelle was voted Best of Show.
I was told the the Cruisin for Children at the Buckeye Ranch registered 244 vehicles. Awards were presented an hour early because of the heat,
Oh, and as far as the downpours, I got caught in the first one on I-270 on the way home from the Blendon Senior Center show. The second one on Sunday while my car sat in the driveway of my parents house following the Fort Hayes show. Keeping a car clean this weekend was tough.