I managed to do two cruise-ins and two "judged" shows this week.
The first cruise-in was, of course, Der Dutchman on Thursday evening.
The threat of severe weather kept attendance down this week. Still, the cruise-in managed to register 80 vehicles. Ten of the 80 were first-timers.
The Ford Falcon was the unofficial "featured" car this week.
Wayne held the raffle drawing for cookies, pies, cakes, and gift card an hour early because radar showed rain on the way to Plain City. Fortunately for
St. Elizabeth Parish Festival Car Show
The first "judged" show was the St. Elizabeth Parish Festival Car Show. The Parish is located off of Sharon Woods Blvd. in Columbus, Ohio. The festival is a two-day event (Friday and Saturday) with the car show on Friday.
This was my first time participating in the show. I understand that in years past it was a much larger show with more than 100 cars in attendance. After a slow start, the show ended up with 44 registered vehicles.
I was a little surprised to see only three cars above the year 2000. The three included my car, a 2016 Corvette Z06, and 2004 Cobra kit car. There was a late model Mustang that drove through the parking lot around 5 PM and left. I began to wonder if the show had a reputation for being for older cars only. My car picked up one of the favorite awards and the Cobra received one of the special awards so there didn't seem to be a bias against late model cars.
Speaking of awards, the Parish presented 28 total awards - 25 "Favorite" and three "special" awards. The special awards included Pastor's Choice, People's Choice and Best of Show.
Besides my car, here are some of the other "Favorite" winners:
1971 Oldsmobile Cutlass
Owner: Frank Caputo
1937 Ford Convertible
Owner: David Bratton
1962 Chevy Pickup
Owner: Kevin Martin
1954 Chevy Bel Air
Owner: Stefano Andrix
1957 Chevy Bel Air
Owners: Mike & Debbie Purcell
1957 Chevy Bel Air Convertible
Owners: Mike & Debbie Purcell
1971 Buick G-SX
Owner: Jeff Fortner
1967 Chevy Nova SS
Owner: Larry Evans
1961 Corvette Convertible
Owner: John
1963 Pontiac Bonneville
Owner: Dan Varner
1934 Ford Cabriolet
Owner: Phil Traylor
1993 Corvette
Owner: Richard Adkins
Special Awards
Pastor's Choice
1960 Chrysler 300
Owners: Neal & Janice Thomas
People's Choice
2004 Ford Cobra Kit Car
Owner: Nick Zeyen
Best of Show
1928 Ford Model A
Owner: Mark McGlove
Cars and Coffee at Lennox Town Center
Saturday was my Father's 91st birthday. My family had a small party planned for him at 5 PM so I had to do something that finished early in the afternoon. All the shows in the area were at least a 30-minute drive and advertised their award ceremonies around 4 PM or later. That left me with the two Columbus Cars and Coffee in the morning as my best options. I ended up picking the cars and coffee at Lennox Town Center
It has been more than two years since I was last visited the parking area on a Saturday morning around the AMC Theater at Lennox Town
There were well over 100 vehicles at the peak of the morning.
Two cars that really caught my attention were a yellow Packard convertible and a beat-up 4th generation Camaro drift car that went by the name "Door Hunter".
If you're looking for cars not normally seen at most shows or cruise-ins around the area, look no further than the Saturday morning cars and coffee at Lennox Town Center. For me, it has yet to disappoint.
Auto Smarts Radio Cruise & Ride at Eldorado Scioto Downs
My second judged show of the week took place at Eldorado Scioto downs in south Columbus.
This was my first Pepsi's Auto Smarts Radio Cruise & Ride show of the season. Originally scheduled for August 24th, the show was rescheduled to Sunday (August 11).
The combination of good weather and the only "open" show in the Columbus area contributed to a higher than expected number of registrations. You know you have good participation when you have to go to photocopied window/dash plaques.
The final registration count ended up being 120 vehicles.
Dan "Boots" Longenette and the Auto Smarts crew presented 40 awards.
Auto Smarts Picks:
1963 Chevy Impala SS
Owner: JoePri nce
1959 Chevy Biscayne
Owner: Jeff Tolley
1934 Ford 2 door Sedan
Owner: Fred Jacobs
1969 Chevy Camaro RS
Owner: Jeff Davis
1963 Studebaker Hawk GT
Owner: Gary Allwine
1956 Ford Crown Victoria
Owner: Don Marcum
2003 Ford Mustang
Owner: Larry Bickers
1965 Oldsmobile 442
Owner: Mark Valentine
1988 Ford Mustang GT
Owners: Al & Beth Hammond
1984 Chevy Monte Carlo SS
Owners: Harry & Bonnie
1936 Oldsmobile
Owner: Mike Courtright
1971 Volkswagon Bug
owner: Malcom Ramey
1930 Ford 5 Window Pickup
Owner: Ralph Carle
1965 Chevy Impala
Owner: Pam Shankle
1937 Chevy Pickup
Owner: Craig Fleming
1956 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Connie Spangler
1966 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: Jerry Oreste
1957 Chevy Bel Air
Owner: Curtis Hardaway
1931 Ford Pickup
Owners: Bob & Patty Spillman
2014 Dodge Charger
Owner: Jason Ash
1950 Chevy 3100 Pickup
Owner: Dale Pearce
1940 Army Plymouth
Owners: Seth & Sammy Peyton
1991 Chevy Corvette
Owner: Marc Cropper
1970 Dodge Super Bee
Owner: Bruce Tipton
950 Studebaker Pickup
Owner: Cathy Tipton
Jegs Picks:
1966 Chevy Chevelle SS Convertible
Owner: Mike Bates
1972 Ford Gran Torino Sport
Owner: Ronnie Justice
Not Pictured: 1975 Chevy Monte Carlo - Owner: Jeff Whitney; 1966 Ford Mustang: Owners: Dennis & Cookie
Pepsi Picks:
1971 Chevy Chevelle
Owner: Daryl Newby
1969 Chevy Corvette Convertible
Owner: Quentin Sayer
1965 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible
Owner: Steve Schaeffer
1970 Dodge Coronet 500
Owner: Dave O'Brien
1932 Ford 5 Window Coupe
Owner: Gus O'Day
Best GTO
1971 Pontiac GTO
Owner: Jeff Shankle
Best Modern Muscle
2017 Camaro ZL1
Owner: Yours truly
Best GM
1935 Chevy 3 Window Coupe
Owner: Ralph Shillingburg
Most Unique
1956 Mercury
Owner: Marvin Salyer
Best Ford
1965 Ford Thunderbird
Owner: John White
Best 50's Cruiser
1947 Buick Super
Owners: Mike & Sandy Gibson
Best Mopar
1973 (All Original) Plymouth Duster/Twister
Owner: Jackie Hiles
Best Modern Mopar
2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat
Owner: Terry Smith
Best Modern Ford
2014 Ford Mustang Saleen
Owner: Jason Noble
Best Mustang
2010 Ford Mustang 427R
Owner: Bob Jordan
Best Chevy Corvette
1969 Corvette
Owner: Craig Grunkemeyer
Best Tuner (aka Import)
1974 Volkswagen Thing
Owner: David Jahn
Most Radical
1986 Chevy Monte Carlo
Owner: Rusty Brown
Best Camaro
1968 Camaro SS
Owners: Rich & Tami Hamlin
Street Machine
1969 Dodge Dart GT
Owner: Dan Kirk
Best Engine
1968 Chevy Chevelle
Owner: Andrew Van Ert
Best Paint
1969 Chevy Camaro
Owner: Deryl Seward
Best Interior
1932 Ford 3 Window Coupe
Owner: Nick O'Day
Best Truck
1961 Chevy Apache
Owners: Alan & Mary Slater
Just Because We Like It
1974 Chevy Corvette
Owner: Harry Ables
Best Chevy
1962 Chevy (409) Bel Air
Owner: Pete Leib
Boots Pick
1978 Chevy C-10 Pickup
Owner: Larry Osborne
Tri-Five Pick
1955 Chevy
Owner: Gene Whetsell
Manager's Pick
1962 Chevy Pickup
Owner: Kevin Martin
Best of Show
1969 Chevy El Camino SS
Owner: Dane Conley
Overall I'd give the Auto Smarts Eldorado Scioto Downs show a solid A. There were lots of great cars. Lots of different award categories. And Jim McGruder did another great job as DJ.
My only minor complaints were the distance to the food and restrooms, and no trash cans in the parking area. A snack cart showed up around noon which I took advantage of twice. Otherwise, a great show.
Other Weekend Shows
Pepsi's Auto Smarts Radio Cruise & Ride at the Nazarene Church in Obetz, Ohio on Saturday attracted 40 cars.
Best of Show went to Craig Strauss and his 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS.
The Open Car Show for Wounded Warrior Project at the Big Walnut Grill in Sunbury, Ohio registered 164 vehicles on Saturday.
I also received a report that more than 340 cars showed up for the Hot Summer Nights Cruise-in held in downtown Bellefontaine, Ohio on Saturday evening.
This concludes this week's report. Next Saturday (August 17) will be the busiest Saturday for events this season. Check back for the Upcoming Events post for a list of all the shows on tap for this week.