I managed to get two car shows and a football game in over Labor day weekend. I also got a little wet on Sunday.
Zucchinifest Car & Motorcycle Show
I started the weekend off with the Zucchinifest show on Friday evening at Fortress Obetz in Obetz, Ohio.
This was my first trip to the stadium. I failed to read the directions to the complex posted on the Festival's website and instead relied on Apple Maps to get me there. Big mistake! Apple maps insisted I enter the stadium from Williams Road, however, the Williams Road entrance was temporarily closed. The only way into the stadium was from the Alum Creek Drive entrance. Between Friday rush hour and holiday traffic, construction on I-71, and driving up and down Williams Road for 20 minutes, it took almost an hour to get to the stadium when it should have taken a little more than 30 minutes.
Once parked and my blood pressure back down to normal, Fortress Obetz turned out to be a pretty nice venue for a car show. The amusement rides and food vendors for the Zucchini Festival were setup in the parking lot outside the stadium while the car show took place inside around the main bleachers.
The show was hosted by Dan "Boots" Longenette and the Auto Smarts team. The final registration number was 125 vehicles. I probably counted another 25 cars that showed up but didn't register.
Two of the cars that didn't register belonged to our good friends, Jeff and Pam Shankle. On the drive over from Milford Center, Jeff's 1971 Pontiac GTO decided to snap a bolt on the alternator bracket. Jeff and Boots displayed a level of mechanical ingenuity never before seen at a car show to secure the alternator so Jeff could make the 40 plus mile drive back home. I'm not sure but I think a little chewing gum might be stuck in there.
The Awards
The awards presentation
As a result, the award presentation was delayed roughly 30 minutes until the band finished their set thus making the presentation happen in the dark.
Auto Smarts Picks:
1930 Ford Pickup
Owner: Ralph Carle
1953 Chevy Tin Woodie Wagon
Owners: Mike & Gretchen Simonski
1966 Chevy Biscayne
Owner: Dave young
2010 Chevy Corvette
Owner: Bob Fox
1955 Chevy 210 Wagon
Owner: Jerry Davis
2000 Ford Mustang GT
Owner: Tucker Long
1967 Chevy Chevelle
Owner: Jay Ritchey
1969 Ford Ranchero
Owner: Chuck Hood0\o
1967 Ford Mustang
Owner: Drew Hayes
1957 Chevy Bel Air
Owner: John Cordell
Ford Sedan
Owner: Freddie Jacobs
1935 Chevy 3 Window Coupe
Owner: Ralph Shillingburg
1965 Ford Mustang Fastback
Owner: Lonnie Wallace
1956 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Jeff Grindrod
Bike Trophies
2017 Indian Roadmaster
Owner: Richard Burris
Big Dog Chopper
Owner: Raymond League
1055 Mustang Delivery Cycle
Owner: Jeff Reindl
Top 20
1956 Ford Victoria
Owner: Don Marcum
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Owner: Yours Truly
1969 Chevy Camaro SS
Owner: Ray Shaffer
1939 Ford Tudor
Owner: Larry Conkel
1960 Chevy Corvette
Owner: David Moys
1941 Chevy Pickup
Owner: Dennis Mowry
2017 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport
Owner: Jim McGruder
1955 Chevy Bel Air
Owner: Joe Schutt
1964 Ford Fairlane
Owner: Michael Bullock
1986 Ford Mustang
Owner: Tommy Oliver
1933 Plymouth Sedan
Owner: Jerry Davies
1970 Dodge Coronet Convertible
Owner: Dave O'Brien
1963 Chevy Nova
Owner: Donnie Loeffler
1969 Chevy Camaro
Owner: J D Martin
1969 Dodge Superbee
Owner: Dan Jurgens
1982 Jeep CJ7
Owner: Rick Johnson
1968 Chevy Camaro SS Convertible
Owner: Steve Beals
1958 DeSoto Firedome Sportsman
Owner: Rod Scott
1966 Pontiac GTO
Owner: Dave Howes
Best Import
2001 Acura Integra GSR
Owner: Robert Willis
Jegs Pick
1963 Oldsmobile F-85
Owner: Scott Gilliland
Favorite Rat Rod
1971 Ford F100
Owner: Jennifer Helton
Boot's Pick
1966 Cadillac Deville
Owner: Jonathan Stacey
People's Choice
1965 Chevy Malibu SS
Owner: Brian Montoney
Mayor's Choice
1959 Chevy Impala
Owners: The Turners
Council's Choice
1956 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Connie Spangler
There were two Best of Show awards because the Ohio Machine Lacrosse team signed a contract with Auto Smarts Radio at the beginning of the season to purchase the trophies. After suspending operations for the 2019 season, the club still honored their contract to buy the trophies.
Best of Show (Ohio Machine Lacrosse Trophy)
1948 Buick Roadster
Owner: Scott Trogolo
Best of Show (Zucchini Festival Trophy)
1962 Chevy Bel Air Restomod
Owner: J. Nutter
Dublin Rotary Club Classic Car Show
On Sunday, the Dublin, Ohio Rotary Club A.M. held its first-ever classic car show.
The Club reserved the Darby and Upper Indian Run parking lots behind the J. Liu Restaurant for the show.
Vehicle registration was $10. There were door prizes and a 50/50 raffle. All proceeds from the show went to the Dublin AM Rotary Charitable Foundation which supports local charities and community projects.
Jason Nester DJ'd the event. Jason had, in my opinion, one of the best playlists I've heard all season. As you know, by this time of the year I'm just a wee bit tired of hearing '50s and '60s music. It was refreshing to listen to some different songs that were a little more current.
Unfortunately, halfway through the show rain decided to spoil what was turning out to be a pretty good first-time event.
Even though the awards were moved up an hour because of the weather, about two-thirds of the 112 cars that registered for the show had gone home.
The AWARDS
The Rotary Club presented trophies for the Top 30 picks
Here are the Top 30 Winners:
2011 Chevy Corvette
Owner: Don Wuestenberg
1953 Chevy 3100 Pickup
Owner: Rich Robins
1938 Buick Special
Owner: Torrence
1951 MG TD
Owner: Dan DiThomas
1955 Chevy Nomad Station Wagon
Owner: Marianne Bedell
2017 Honda Civic Type R
Owner: Carly Nicholakis
1961 Volkswagon Beetle
Owners: Mark & Debi Garrett
1960 Chrysler 300F
Owner: Steve Beard
1957 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Paul Keinath
1968 Dodge Pickup
Owner: Jason Stoner
1962 Chevy Pickup
Owner: Kevin Martin
1968 Volkswagon Karmann Ghia
Owner: Richard Rambo
1966 Chevy El Camino
Owner: John Woods
1976 Porsche 914
Owner: Brian Mulherin
1929 Ford Model A Roadster
Owner: Don Davis
1967 Chevy Chevelle SS
Owner: Jack Huber
1961 Chevy Corvette
Owner: Scot Erenpreiss
1964 Chevy Impala SS
Owner: Scott Haring
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Owner: Yours Truly
1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible
Owner: William Erlenbach
1970 Buick GS
Owner: Gene Zoll
1970 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible
Owner: Rick Levine
1933 Ford Roadster
Owner: Ron Hale
1962 Chevy 409 Bel Air
Owner: Pete Lieb
1964 Plymouth Belvedere
Owner: Mike Hermann
1967 Mercury Cougar
Owner: Ronald Keister
Motorcycle Award
2010 Harley Davidson Road King
Owner: Trent Banks
Import Pick
2017 Honda Civic Type R
Owner: Carly Nicholakis
Sponsor's Picks:
WoodHouse Day Spa (two picks)
1952 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Paul Keinath
1961 Volkswagon Beetle
Owners: Mark & Debi Garrett
Johnson's Real Ice Cream
1938 Buick Special
Owner: Torrence
Shannan Stover Allstate Insurance and Toy Barn
2017 Chevy Camaro ZL1
Owner: Me
ACHAFR Rotarians
1968 Chevy Camaro
Owner: Andy Keeler
Best of Show
1955 Chevy Nomad
Owner: Marianne Bedell
Final Thoughts On the Show
You may have noticed that six car owners, myself included, received multiple awards. This is a big "no, no" in my book. Number one, it's a good way to alienate owners so they don't come back next year. And number two, it's kind of embarrassing for the person receiving more than one award. At least it is for me.
I spoke with one of the Rotary Club members after the show and strongly suggested they coordinate their judging next year so that it's one trophy per vehicle. I told him the more they can spread the "trophy love" the more likely their show will grow in attendance.
The other issue, which I'm sure we could debate for years, is the act of being present to receive an award. Some feel that those who stuck it out during the two rain showers should be rewarded for their
Anyway, I'll cut the Rotary Club some slack on both issues since it was their first show. The positives definitely outweighed the negatives.
Other Area Shows and Cruise-ins
Der Dutchman had another big Thursday Evening. The Cruise-in in Plain City, Ohio registered 200 cars. An amazing 34 of the 200 were first-timers to the cruise-in.
The cruise-in is starting to attract a higher-class of cars. In attendance this week was a 2018 Jaguar R, a Rolls Royce, a Bentley, a 2000 Porsche 911 and Ferrari. Throw in a 1963 split-window Corvette and a Chevy S-10 pickup with a tri-five Bel Air paint scheme and you've got quite a mix of cars.
Our good friend, Frank Sanborn,
And finally, the cruise-in is shooting for a goal of 300 cars on September 12. That's just one week from this Thursday. If you're free that evening, come on out to Der Dutchman and set a record.
Cruisin' For Children at the Buckeye Ranch was moved this year to Ashville Park in Ashville, Ohio because of construction at the Buckeye Ranch.
The show registered 147 vehicles. A red pickup truck from the Dayton area took the Best of Show award.
More than 200 cars turned out Saturday for the 13th Annual Mad River & NKP Railroad Museum's Classic Car Show in Bellevue Ohio.
The 2nd Annual Mechanicsburg, Ohio First Responders Car Show registered 204 cars on Saturday.
Jeff Shankle and his 1936 Plymouth Business Coupe took a Top 20, Pastor's Choice, and Best of Show awards on Sunday at the 17th Annual River Rally held at The River Church in a Barn. The church is located just north of Delaware, Ohio on Route 42. The show registered 62 cars this year.
Not sure what was in the air on Sunday, but it seemed to be the day for cars to receive multiple awards.
And Finally, a couple of friends made the drive over to Springfield, Ohio for the inaugural Ohio Masonic Home Car Show. Dick "Hot Dog" Ryman was the show's DJ.
My friends said there were close to 300 cars at the show. Very impressive for a first-time event.
The show gave out 50 "Favorite" trophies along with some custom made special awards.
Whew! That's it for this week. These four day Holiday weekends are a killer when it comes writing up a report. If you have any information on the Canal Winchester or West Jefferson shows, please feel free to post it in the comments section.
Next weekend looks to be another big one for events with all the first of the month shows and cruise-ins on tap. Look for another long report next week.
GREAT JOB KIM and yes I was a little embarrassed to win Multi awards as well.THANKS again KIM for a GREAT report
Thanks Jeff! As always, your and Pam's help reporting for this website is greatly appreciated.
We were also at the River Rally on Sunday and I won Top 20 and People's Choice. I agree that it was a little embarrassing to win multiple awards when there were a good number of really nice cars there. That being said, it was still a fun show...until the rain arrived just as everyone was leaving.
If you notice, one of the banners on the home page is from the River Rally. I attended the show from 2015 through 2017. The 2015 show had specific church members judge the cars. The show turned to people's choice judging in 2016 and 2017. I stopped attending after 2017. I didn't like fighting the long, wet grass clippings. And the lack of shade was another negative. Last two years I attended shows much closer to home.
We got rained on twice at the Dublin Rotary show. Fortunately, it stopped before the show was over. Nothing worse than driving home in the rain.
I'm assuming they must have gotten complaints about the grass in the past because the pastor came around to introduce himself and mentioned they tried their best to get as much of the grass picked up as possible. It wasn't terrible, but I definitely would have preferred the show cars parking on the pavement.
Well, at least they recognize the grass clippings are an issue. I don't know how Der Dutchman does it. I was told they cut the grass every Thursday morning if it's not raining. In the six years I've been going to the cruise-in, I don't think I've brought a single blade of grass home with me.
Kim...
I attended another show Sunday, not the River Rally. I highly suspect many left the Rally show upset and will not return cause of the multi winners. I for one would not return and had I received 3 awards I would have walked back and returned one and insist it go to the next runner up. There are way too many cars out there that deserved to get an award and never got one.
I completely agree with your last sentence. As I wrote in my report, spreading the "trophy love" ensures that people will come back to your event the next year.
Thanks Kim for covering the Dublin AM Rotary car show. I appreciate the comments and criticisms.
It’s always good to get an unbiased opinion and we will take them into consideration.
You did a great job of photographing and listing the winners. I had forgotten about the double-trophy issue and ironically criticized other shows in the past for doing the same. Lou
Thanks Lou! I think the ingredients are in place for a darn good event each year. Just need to clean-up the multiple award issue.
Kim,
I am a past president of the Rotary Club of Dublin AM. Thank you so much for reviewing our show and for your advice regarding the trophies. Here's hoping you and all those who participated in our inaugural event will come next year and bring their friends.
Dwight
My Pleasure. I think the Dublin Rotary car show demonstrated lots of potential for a first ever event. Just need to work out the double award issue.