Two episodes of showers failed to dampen the 9th Annual Dave Gill Summer Car Show. Fortunately, the last half of the show stayed rain-free so the roads were relatively dry for the drive home.
The Cross Flags Corvette Club helped host the show at Dave Gill Chevrolet on East Broad Street and Hamilton Road in Columbus, Ohio. Music was provided by C. S. Sound. Poppy's Roadside Diner provided food and refreshments.
Everyone who registered a car was automatically entered into a drawing at the end of the show for a 4K Samsung TV.
Speaking of registration, the show registered 90 vehicles. The weather forecast kept registration down to about half of what it has been in previous years.
At 12 noon the show "officially" kicked off with a color guard, the Pledge of Allegiance and singing of the Star Bangled Banner. Rex Kilgore drove all the way from Bucyrus, Ohio to sing the National Anthem. This was a great way to start the show.
AWARDS
Dave Gill Chevrolet and the Cross Flags Corvette club presented Top 80 award plaques and eight "specialty" awards. Here's are few of the Top 80 winners:
2019 Corvette Grand Sport - Owner: David Schrake
1967 Camaro SS/RS - Owner: Mark Lester
2011 Camaro SS - Owner: Mark Lester Jr
1966 Chevelle - Owner: Steve Haverick (Car is numbers matching)
1947 Pontiac Streamliner - Owner: Ron Scherer
1977 Corvette - Owner: Jamie Miller
1969 Mustang Mach 1 - Owner: Angie & Royce Hardesty
2014 Corvette Stingray - Owner: Tony Bozeman
2008 Dodge Viper Convertible - Owner: Bill Chandler (8.4L V10 engine)
1998 Pontiac Trans Am - Owner: J. Underwood
All Electric 2014 Fiat 500E - Owner: Bret Rice (80 mi range)
SPECIALTY AWARD WINNERS
DJ's Choice
SuperCharged 1955 Chevy Bel Air - Owner: Jeff Shankle
Ladies Choice
1934 Ford 3 Window - Owner: Jay Weaver
Favorite Corvette
1969 Corvette Convertible - Owner: Quentin Sayer
Favorite Ford
1970 Ford Torino GT - Owner: Chris Kraner
Favorite Mopar
1970 Dodge Cornett 500 - Owner: Dave O'Brien (152,000 original miles)
Favorite GM
1947 Buick Super Convertible - Owner: Mike Gibson
Favorite Veteran
1969 Pontiac Firebird Convertible - Owner Dan Kirchner
Dealer's Choice
1942 Pontiac Streamliner - Owner: Clement Thun
FINAL THOUGHTS
This was my first Dave Gill Chevrolet show. I would give the show a solid A. There was amble parking, good music from C. S. Sound, and plenty of awards and prizes. The opening ceremony was a fantastic way to pay tribute to the men and women who have served our country. My only minor complaint was there could have been a second food truck. At times the line to order food was long and the truck ran out of some items before the show was over. (I really was in the mood for a fried bologna sandwich but had to settle for a pretty good tasting cheeseburger).
Had an interesting conversation with one of the Dave Gill sales people as myself and several friends were packing up after the show. The sales person told us this would be the last Dave Gill show of this type. According to him, next year's show will be for electric vehicles only. The rationale for the change is that a show featuring classic cars is not generating sales for the dealership. The automotive future is electric cars and therefore having an all-electric car show would generate excitement for those kind of vehicles as they hit the market. The sales person claims Chevy will introduce an ALL electric car for 2022 that will have a range of 440 miles and can be fully charged in 10 minutes.
The take away I got from the conversation is not that electric car's aren't the wave of the future, but rather it's a signal that the end of classic car shows as we know them is coming. Just some food for thought to leave you with.
" a show featuring classic cars is not generating sales for the dealership.". I thought car shows were fund raisers for good causes not to generate sales for a dealership or store. Classic car shows have been around for a long time. Many have large attendances. Arthritis show 1200, Good Guys 6,000 and many other shows having attendance of 100-600 cars. I love to show my car, enjoy the comradery with others and help a good charity. Cross Flags Corvette Club puts on a great show and perhaps should consider another location for their show.