Maxton, Mario, Sunbury, and James Dean

I've got lots to report on from the weekend.  For the sake of time, I'm going to use a little different format this week.

Jack Maxton

Date: 9/28/2018

Location: Jack Maxton Chevrolet, Columbus, Ohio

Registered Vehicles: 183

Comments:  After postponing three out of four shows this season, the final Friday Night Cruisin' couldn't have asked for better weather.

Country music artist Simba Jordan provided this month's "live" entertainment.

During the evening a Mustang and this white Cadillac some how managed to make it past the police officer guarding the front entrance.

Rumor has it the bands have already been booked for the 28th year of Jack Maxton Friday Night Cruisin'.  I'm already looking forward to next year's shows.

Maxton's Favorites, DJ's Choice, and Best of Show Winners:

Maxton's Best of Show

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Mario Knapp

Date: 9/29/2018

Location: Quaker Steak and Lube, Columbus, Ohio

Registered Vehicles: 112

Comments:  On Saturday, The 5th Annual Mario Knapp Memorial Car Show was held at Quaker Steak and Lube.  All proceeds from the show went to benefit the Childhood Cancer Family Connection.

Mario drove a Chrysler 300 so the show had a decided Mopar flavor to it.  A large number of Mopar clubs from around Ohio participated in the event.

Not sure what it is about Mopar owners, but they do like to give their cars a theme.

Here's a 2011 Dodge Challenger with a Cleveland Cavaliers theme.

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"The Green Monster" theme

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"Night King" theme

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And Ghost Busters theme

Even some Ford owners were not to be out done.

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The show used "People's Choice" judging, which as you know, is not my favorite.  But unlike the All About Autism show I attended in August, car owners where handed a single voting ballot at the time of registration.  The top of the ballot already had the registration number marked on it.   Instructions explicitly stated that voting for your car would automatically disqualify the entire ballot. This seemed a good way to kept people somewhat honest in their voting.

The event did not skimp on plaques and trophies, which were custom made by Shaun "Big Dawg" Saunders of the C-Town Cruisers.

There were awards for some very unsual categories.  These included:

• Farthest Distance
• Best Trailered Vehicle
• Best Engine
• Best Stance
• Best Wheels
• Best Presentations
• Best Paint
• Best Exhaust
• Best In-Car Entertainment
• Best Interior
• Best Lighting
• Best Make Out Vehicle
• Best Getaway Vehicle
• Best Beach Vehicle
• Best Off-Road Vehicle

Besides the people's choice judging, my only other complaint with the show is that it went 45 minutes longer than advertised. The burn outs as cars left, however, made it worth sticking around.

Here are some of the big winners from the afternoon:

Sunbury

Date: 9/30/2018

Location: Sunbury Kroger Plaza, Sunbury Ohio

Registered Vehicles: 239

Comments: Beautiful weather on Sunday greeted everyone at the 29th Annual Sunbury Lions Club Country Cruise-In.

I arrived around 9:20 AM and a good portion of the black top areas were already taken up with cars.  Organizers were directing cars to park on the grass lot adjacent to the Walnut Grill.  The goal was to get four lines of cars on the grass.  The back third of the lot was still wet from rains earlier in the month.  The grass looked like it hadn't been cut for several weeks. Cars that drove through the back part of the lot looked like they had just been off-roading.  There was mud and grass all over their tires and wheel wells.  Several owners were so upset they immediately left and didn't register.  I refused to park on the grass for fear of damaging the front splitter on my car.  After seeing the mud and dirt on those cars that drove through the lot, I'm glad I did.

The Lions Club really needs to come up with a better solution for parking, especially with more than 200 cars in attendance.  It's a big parking lot. I can't see why it couldn't be split in half.  Reserve the front half for retail parking and the back half for the car show.  Leave the grass lot for the canopies.  Just my two cents.

Other than the parking, the show was the same as it has been for the past several years.  There were craft vendors, door prizes, 50/50 raffle and music provided by Brian D'A'mico. A church service was held at 10 AM for anyone wishing to attend.

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One unique aspect of the show is that it offers separate awards for cars 2000 and newer. I wish more shows would consider doing something similar.

All told, the Lions Club gave out 80 awards. 

One of those awards came from Dr. Doug Hudoba, DDS of Premier Dental of Ohio.  Dr. Hudoba picked his choice for the cleanest car in the show.  This year's winner was the 1971 Chevy Chevelle belonging to David Zitko. The award was in the shape of a toothbrush and included $150 worth of discounted dental work.

Best in Show Awards

Best in Show Sponsor's Choice - Matt Bale

Best in Show Car: 1955 Chevy Bel Air - Owner: Bob Eurez

Best in Show Street Rod: 1939 Ford Coupe - Owner: Rodger Stull

Best in Show Truck: 1948 Chevy Pickup - Owner: Steve Andrix

Best in Show Most Original/Unrestored: 1956 Chrysler Newport Windsor - Owners: Dan & Gloria Varner

Best Full Size Chevy: 1962 Chevy Impala - Owner: Skip Lawell

2000 and Newer Award Winners

• 3rd Place - 2017 Corvette Grand Sport - Owner: Rick Frye
• 2nd Place - 2017 Corvette Grand Sport - Owner: Tony Holland
• 1st Place - 2014 Ford Shelby Mustang GT 500 - Owner: Bill Troyer

James Dean & Ducktail Runs

Our good friends Jeff and Pam Shankle, and Frank Sanborn attended the James Dean and Ducktail Runs in Fairmount and Gas City, Indiana this past weekend.  They were kind enough send to lots of photos from the weekend.

The James Dean Run saw 2573 cars while the Ducktail had 2208.  Jeff's 1951 Ford Pickup received awards at both events. Congratulations Jeff!

I'm going to close this week's report with cars and scenes from the weekend in Indiana.

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