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Category: Car Shows

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car Shows & Motorcycle Events | August 17 – 23, 2026
Featured car for August 17 - 23, 2026: 1969 Chevy Nova - Owner: Ed Wilson
1969 Chevy Nova - Owner: Ed Wilson

We enter the third week of August once again with a full schedule of events every day of the week. Unfortunately, the weather hasn’t been very cooperative for car shows the past two weeks. Let’s hope the pattern shifts to something a little drier and less humid.

Things start off relatively quietly on Monday and Tuesday before the schedule kicks into high gear on Wednesday and Thursday. Motorcycle enthusiasts have plenty to choose from midweek, with bike nights scattered throughout Central Ohio, while the weekly cruise-in schedule remains just as busy.

Saturday is once again the big day with more than 21 events on the schedule. Chillicothe alone has three shows scheduled, while Delaware and Grove City each have multiple events. Sunday closes out the week with another full slate of car shows, cruise-ins, and motorcycle events spread across Central Ohio.

As always, check the individual event listings before heading out, especially if Mother Nature decides she isn’t finished messing with us yet.

Monday (August 17th):

Tuesday (August 18th):

Wednesday (August 19th):

Thursday (August 20th):

Friday (August 21st):

Saturday (August 22nd):

Sunday (August 23rd):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

No Der Dutchman Cruise-In to report on this week. Heavy rains earlier in the week saturated the fields, leaving them far too wet to host Thursday’s cruise-in.

Pharisburg UMC Car Show and Cuisine:

Shaun “Big Dawg” Sanders and the C-Town Cruisers started the weekend off on Friday by helping to host the Pharisburg United Methodist Church Car Show and Cuisine north of Marysville.

Along with the car show, attendees enjoyed a meal from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m. and vintage songs performed by Chuck Magill. The show drew 34 cars, with the Best of Cruise award going to Yancy Smith and his 1972 Chevy Nova.

Here are a few photos from the show taken by Jeff Shankle. Jeff also debuted his new-to-him El Camino at the show.

Vance Outdoors Classic Cruise-In:

This year’s Vance Outdoors Classic Cruise-In to raise money for Honor Flight Columbus and Honor Flight Tri-State turned out to be a soggy affair. Heavy rains earlier in the week left the grass field rather mushy for parking, and off-and-on rain showers Saturday morning certainly didn’t help. Despite the less-than-ideal conditions, hosts Dan “Boots” Longenette and the Auto Smarts Radio Cruise and Ride team still managed to register 71 vehicles.

The drawing for the golf cart, which people purchased raffle tickets for throughout the season at Auto Smarts Radio car shows, took place at noon. This year’s lucky winners were David Bratton and Lou.

All told, an impressive $79,000 has been raised for Honor Flight this season.

Everyone who registered a vehicle received a trophy sponsored by Vance Outdoors as a way of thanking them for their support of Honor Flight.

There were also several “Special” Awards presented at the end of the show, along with large trophies for the Vance Outdoors Pick, Honor Flight Pick, and Best of Show.

Here are the "Special" Award winners:

  • BECAUSE WE LIKE IT: 1985 Chevy C-10 - Bill Wharton
  • AUTO SMARTS PICK: 1956 Mercury - Jan Hauger
  • MODERN MUSCLE PICK #1: 2005 Corvette - Mark Enyart
  • MODERN MUSCLE PICK #2: 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - Kim Hawksworth
  • MODERN MUSCLE PICK #3: 2021 Chevy Camaro - Dennis Call
  • BOOTS' PICK #1: 1973 Chevy Chevelle - Rick Newsome
  • BOOTS' PICK #2: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am - Jay McCallister
  • BOOTS' PICK #3: 1957 Chevy Bel Air - David Elliott
  • BEST IMPORT: 2010 Honda Accord - Anibal Arroyo
  • BEST MOPAR: 2020 Dodge Challenger - Josh Drake
  • BEST TRUCK: 1972 Chevy C-10 Stepside - Doug Glassburn
  • RADICAL TRUCK: 1959 Chevy El Camino - Ralph Carle
  • BEST FORD: 1947 Ford Special Deluxe - Mike Mathews
  • BEST RAT ROD: 1969 Dodge Dart - Rebecca Morrison
  • BEST CHEVY: 1969 Chevy Camaro SS - Mark Evans
  • BEST GM: 1967 Chevy Camaro RS - Bobby Wong
  • LADIES PICK: 1978 Chevy Corvette Pace Car - Frank Deering
  • RADICAL IMPORT: 1993 Mazda RX7 - Joel Charrez
  • VANCE'S PICK: 1970 Ford Torino GT - Chris Kraner
  • HONOR FLIGHT PICK: 1937 Wild Rod Ford - Dave Bratton
  • BEST OF SHOW: 1967 Chevy Corvette - Dale Pearce

Boots presented the awards more than an hour early so everyone could make it home before any more rain moved in. Ironically, by the time it was all said and done, the roads had dried, which was a good thing in addition to all the money raised for Honor Flight.

CONTINUE READING

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car Shows & Motorcycle Events | August 10 – 16, 2026
2026 "Welcome to the Jungle" Cincinnati Bengals decorated Chevy Corvette Stingray belonging to Gregory Johnson.
2026 "Welcome To The Jungle" Chevy Corvette - Owner: Gregory Johnson

As we move into the middle of August, the calendar remains packed with events, especially on Saturday and Sunday, in addition to the many weekly cruise-ins and bike nights throughout Central Ohio. Some of this week’s highlights include the Vance Outdoors Car Show in Obetz benefiting Honor Flight Columbus, the Reynoldsburg Tomato Festival Car Show, the Igniters Rod Run & Car Show in Chillicothe, and the Larry Coolidge Memorial Cruise-In, formerly known as the Powell Cruize-In & Pig Out.

Be sure to check out the complete schedule below, and as always, verify event details before heading out in case of weather-related changes or last-minute updates.

Monday (August 10th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (August 11th):

Wednesday (August 12th):

Thursday (August 13th):

Friday (August 14th):

Saturday (August 15th):

Sunday (August 16th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

It’s amazing how just a few degrees can affect attendance. Last week, with temperatures in the low 80s, more than 500 vehicles filled the Der Dutchman Cruise-In. This week, with highs climbing into the mid to upper 80s, attendance dropped to 279 vehicles. Even so, that’s still a turnout most events would be thrilled to have.

The variety and quality of vehicles on hand were once again outstanding. Here are some of the evening’s highlights, captured through the combined photos of Jeff Shankle and yours truly.

Hosanna Church Car Show:

Thanks to pop-up rain showers that moved through the area Friday afternoon, the 13th Annual Hosanna Church Car Show in Pataskala was a shell of its former self compared to last year. In 2025, the parking lot was bulging with 135 vehicles. This year, thanks to the rain, attendance barely made into the 20s. But as they say in the entertainment business, “The show must go on,” and that it did.

Jeff Tolley’s 1965 Chevy C-10 pickup received the People’s Choice Award, while Dave O’Brien’s 1982 Chevy C-10 pickup was selected Best of Show.

Among the other award winners were Mark and Mary Lester, whose 1967 Chevy Camaro took home the Best of the ’60s award.

Here are some rain-soaked photos Jeff Tolley took at Friday’s show.

CONTINUE READING

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows & Motorcycle Events | August 3 – 9, 2026
This week's featured vehicles is a 1952 Chevy Suburban - Owner: Bobby Pigg
1952 Chevy Suburban - Owner: Bobby Pigg

The calendar doesn’t slow down as we turn the page to August. Another full week of car and motorcycle events is on tap to kick off the first full week of the month, with Saturday once again featuring an outstanding lineup of shows.

One of the weekend’s marquee events is Vettes, Rods, & Classics, long considered one of Central Ohio’s premier charity car shows. This year the show moves to a new date and a new venue, the Gahanna Tech Center, replacing its longtime home at Creekside in Gahanna.

Saturday’s schedule is loaded with other can’t-miss events as well, including Hot Summer Nights in Bellefontaine, Volksfest 35, The Classic Car Show in Commercial Point, and the rescheduled Ye Olde Mill Rod Run & Picnic in Utica. Those are just a few of the many opportunities to get out, enjoy the weather, and spend the day surrounded by great cars, motorcycles, and fellow enthusiasts.

UPDATE: After Mother Nature did a complete 180 from the beautiful weather we enjoyed the previous weekend, several car shows were forced to reschedule. A number of those events have been moved to this coming Saturday and Sunday, making an already packed weekend schedule even busier.

Monday (August 3rd):

Tuesday (August 4th):

Wednesday (August 5th):

Thursday (August 6th):

Friday (August 7th):

Saturday (August 8th):

Sunday (August 9th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

It was another big Thursday evening at the Der Dutchman Cruise-In in Plain City. Thanks in part to the participation of several Corvette clubs, 538 vehicles filled the grounds.

While that was down slightly from the record-setting 561 vehicles the previous week, another milestone was reached with 41 first-time participants attending the cruise-in.

This video montage, created from the combined photos of Jeff Shankle, Bryan Mauger, Tom Lawrence, and yours truly, captures the energy, excitement, and outstanding rides that made Thursday’s cruise-in another memorable evening.

Urbana Knights of Columbus Car Show:

The Urbana Knights of Columbus hosted its 23rd Annual Car Show on Friday evening at St. Mary Catholic Church in Urbana. This year’s show attracted 88 registered vehicles. Tom Lawrence attended the show and shared photos of most of the vehicles on display.

CONTINUE READING

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for July 27 to August 2, 2026
1951 Ford F-1 Pickup - Owners: Annette & Pete Lieb
1951 Ford F-1 Pickup - Owners: Annette & Pete Lieb

This week wraps up another month of the 2026 show season, and the final third officially begins on Saturday. The biggest attraction will undoubtedly be the Mopar Nationals at Darana/National Trail Raceway, along with the many cruise-ins and parties surrounding one of Central Ohio’s premier automotive events. While Monday offers a chance to catch your breath, the rest of the week is packed with car shows, cruise-ins, bike nights, and special events. There’s simply no excuse not to get out and enjoy an event or two this week.

Monday (July 27th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (July 28th):

Wednesday (July 29th):

Thursday (July 30th):

Friday (July 31st):

Saturday (August 1st):

Sunday (August 2nd):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

You know it’s going to be a big evening when you arrive shortly before 4:00 PM, the main field is already full, and two rows of vehicles have formed on the overflow field. And indeed, it was a huge evening, with 551 vehicles in attendance. The turnout was so impressive that even the Plain City and Columbus Police stopped by to check it out.

I don’t think there were ever fewer than 10 people standing in line at the food concession all evening, and Wayne was back in his dress jeans and boots thanks to the cooler temperatures.

As usual, the variety and quality of the vehicles on display were outstanding. Here’s a sampling of Thursday evening’s cars and trucks from the combined photos taken by Tom Lawrence, Bryan Mauger, and yours truly.

Next week is Corvette week with three clubs participating. The long range forecast looks good so expect another big turnout.

Friday Night NAPA Cruise-In:

The first Friday Night NAPA Cruise-In of the season took place in Hilliard on Friday evening.

About 30 vehicles turned out to enjoy pleasant summer weather and good conversation. There was definitely a Mustang vibe, with Fords making up the largest group of cars in attendance. The second most represented brands were Porsche and Corvette, with three examples of each, followed by Dodge with two of its newest muscle cars—one all-electric Charger Daytona and one gas-powered Charger Sixpack.

While the turnout was modest compared to some of the area’s larger cruise-ins, it provided a relaxed atmosphere where participants had plenty of time to visit with fellow enthusiasts and take a close look at the vehicles on display.

Here are a few of the cars that caught our attention Friday evening.

Blackwing Summer Blast Car Show:

The Blackwing Shooting Center in Delaware hosted its annual Summer Blast on Saturday, featuring a car show, a large retail sale, and a raffle with premium prizes. Manufacturer representatives were also on hand to showcase their latest products and answer questions from attendees. Schmidt’s Sausage Haus and Little Ladies Ice Cream provided food and refreshments throughout the day, and every registered show vehicle received a door prize ticket. Proceeds from the car show benefited youth shooting sports.

This year’s show attracted one of its best turnouts, with approximately 115 registered vehicles. The Shooting Center presented 10 specialty awards, including Eye Catcher, Under Construction, Greaser’s Choice, Most Unique, Coolest Drop Top Ever, Ladies’ Favorite, Favorite Truck, Favorite Car, Favorite Engine, and the Blackwing Show Favorite.

Before getting to the award-winning vehicles, one of the cooler sights at the show was a group of five Chrysler 300s that arrived together and parked side by side. It’s not often you see that many first-generation 300s together in one place.

Now on to this year’s award-winning vehicles.

  • EYE CATCHER: 1964 Chrysler 300 - Owner: Moye
  • UNDER CONSTRUCTION: 1950 Ford F1 Panel Van - Owner: DeJarnette
  • CREASERS AWARD: 1955 Chevy Pickup - Owner: Collins
  • MOST UNIQUE: 1968 Hercules Mule - Owner: Parks
  • COOLEST DROP-TOP EVER: 2000 Pontiac Trans Am Firehawk - Owner: Harris
  • LADIES FAVORITE: 1966 Ford Mustang - Owner: Hocker
  • FAVORITE TRUCK: 1953 Chevy 3100 - Owner: Milliron
  • FAVORITE CAR: 1970 Plymouth AAR Cuda - Owner: Ferguson

Not Pictured: BEST ENGINE: 1970 Chevy Chevelle with a 454

And finally, the Blackwing's Show Favorite went to Greg Nobis and his 1951 Hudson Hornet.

CONTINUE READING

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for July 20 – 26, 2026
1985 ASC McLaren Meet Capri - Owner: Rusty Gregg

Along with the usual weekday cruise-ins and bike nights, this weekend is absolutely packed with car shows, cruise-ins, and motorcycle events across Central Ohio. Highlights include the 46th Annual Poor Man’s Nationals on Sunday, along with Heels and Wheels, Battle of the Brands, and the Blackwing Summer Blast on Saturday, to name just a few. Whether you’re into classics, muscle cars, exotics, motorcycles, or modern performance vehicles, there are plenty of opportunities to get out and enjoy the hobby all week long.

Monday (July 20th):

Tuesday (July 21st):

Wednesday (July 22nd):

Thursday (July 23rd):

Friday (July 24th):

Saturday (July 25th):

Sunday (July 26th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

The big news this week was the cancellation of ALL Friday activities at the Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show in Dublin due to an air quality alert from the Canadian wildfires, combined with a dangerously high heat index. I never imagined smoke from wildfires in Canada would be the reason a car show in Central Ohio had to be canceled. Unfortunately, the Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show wasn’t alone, as several other events across Central Ohio were also called off.

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

It was hot Thursday evening. How hot was it, you ask? It was so hot that in the 14 years I’ve been attending the Der Dutchman Cruise-In, Thursday was the first time I’d ever seen Wayne trade his trademark jeans and boots for shorts and tennis shoes.

Still, 182 vehicles ignored the sweltering conditions to attend the cruise-in—a testament to just how popular the Thursday night event has become. Not surprisingly, the parking spots beneath the trees along SR-42 were some of the most coveted real estate of the evening.

Here are some of the HOT cars—literally—from Thursday’s cruise-in.

Columbus Cars & Coffee at 3 Easton Oval:

The corporate version of Columbus Cars & Coffee continued its Season 18 schedule on Saturday at 3 Easton Oval in Columbus.

The event drew more than 130 vehicles during the two-hour gathering, with attendance down slightly, likely due to the number of other automotive events taking place around Central Ohio that day. Despite the lower turnout, spectator attendance was as strong as ever.

A DJ kept the music playing while Good Cafe Easton was on hand serving coffee and breakfast pastries. As always, the event had a distinctly European flavor, with Porsches, Ferraris, Audis, and a host of Japanese manufacturers making up the bulk of the vehicles in attendance. Fewer than a handful of classic American cars were on display.

My favorite car was the blacked out McLaren equipped with a child safety seat—proof that even exotic car owners have family duties.

Here’s a video slideshow highlighting many of the cars from the morning.

Plumwood C.C.CU. Car Show:

The Plumwood C.C.C.U. (Church of Christ in Christian Union) hosted its 17th Annual Car Show in memory of Charles Brewer in London, Ohio, on Saturday. This year’s show drew 37 vehicles. Like pretty much every Central Ohio car show on Saturday, participants experienced at least a little rain.

Tom and Betty Lawrence were there with their 2008 Volkswagen Beetle and took home the People’s Choice Award.

Here are the photos Tom took at the show.

CONTINUE READING

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for July 13 – 19, 2026
1972 Buick Riviera - Owner: Ed Matthews

** The Arthritis Charity Auto Show in Dublin, Ohio is on for Saturday **

It’s another full week of Central Ohio car and motorcycle events. The marquee event this week is the 43rd Annual Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show on Friday and Saturday in Dublin. If you’re looking for what just might be the best bologna sandwich in the country, check out the Waldo Tire Summerfest Car, Truck & Bike Show. And if neither of those floats your boat, there are plenty of other events to choose from.

Monday (June 13th):

Tuesday (July 14th):

Wednesday (July 15th):

Thursday (July 16th):

Friday (July 17th):

Saturday (July 18th):

Sunday (July 19th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

What a difference 10 degrees can make. With Thursday evening temperatures in the mid-80s instead of the mid-90s, attendance jumped from 162 vehicles last week to 295 this week. Even with the cooler weather, people were still looking for any patch of shade they could find—even if it was next to a porta-potty.

As always, the variety of vehicles on display was outstanding. From a Ford GT to an Ineos Grenadier powered by a 3.0-liter BMW engine, there was something for everyone to enjoy. Here are the combined photos from Jeff Shankle, Tom Lawrence, and me from the evening.

Picktown Palooza Car, Truck, & Bike Show:

Even with Goodguys being the main attraction this weekend, there were still plenty of car and motorcycle events taking place around Central Ohio. One of those was the Picktown Palooza Car, Truck & Bike Show, part of the annual Pickerington Picktown Palooza Festival. Hosted by the Rusty Lug Nutz, the show was held in the parking lot at Pickerington Central High School.

There were 95 full-size vehicles in attendance. Add in the 10 pedal cars, and the total came to 105 entries.

The show featured impressive 3-foot trophies for the Top 30, along with 10 Special Awards: Best Chevy, Best Ford, Best Motorcycle, Best Mopar, Best Truck, Best 2000 & Newer, Best Project, Sponsor’s Choice, and Best of Show. The pedal cars also had two awards of their own.

Jim McGruder served as the DJ and once again did an outstanding job spinning the tunes and keeping everyone informed with announcements throughout the day.

The trophy for the Pedal Car Champion was just about as tall as the young winner.

Here are the cars and motorcycles that received the Special Awards.

  • SPONSORS CHOICE: 1958 Chevy Impala - Dr Ron Rogers
  • BEST 2000 and NEWER: 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - Kim Hawksworth
  • BEST PROJECT: Wood Brat Rod - Bentley & Bexley Wilson
  • BEST MOPAR: 1960 Chrysler 300 F - Neal Thomas
  • BEST CHEVY: 1967 Camaro RS - Paula & Bobby Wong
  • BEST IMPORT: Porsche 928 S4 - Joel Roberts
  • BEST FORD: 1966 Ford Mustang - Kathy Hanning & Tom Hatfield
  • BEST TRUCK: 1956 Ford F100 - Bob & Mindy Conrad
  • BEST BIKE: 1945 Famous James Military Motorcycle - Steve Elam

Hi-Way Starz members hauling home some hardware.

The show's Top Award went to Ted Tickle's 1969 Mercury Cougar XR7.

After last Saturday’s excitement at the American Legion Fourth of July Car Show, it was a little anticlimactic when this week’s show got underway without a parade of police cruisers rushing into the parking lot. Fortunately, the arrival of an Ohio State Highway Patrol cruiser added just enough excitement to keep the streak alive.

Congratulations to the Rusty Lug Nutz for putting together a very good car show. Now if they could have just controlled the rain, it would have been just about perfect.

CONTINUE READING

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for July 6 – 12, 2026
2022 Toyota Supra GR - Owner: Daniel Sabillon

It’s GOODGUYS Week! The largest car event of the year in Central Ohio takes place Friday through Sunday. In addition to the show itself, the weekend will feature after-hour parties, cruise-ins, and the always-popular burnouts that attract enthusiasts from across the region.

Also on this week’s schedule is the Bedell’s Hot Rods Shop Auction on Thursday. And if Goodguys isn’t your thing, don’t worry—there are still plenty of other car shows, cruise-ins, and motorcycle events happening throughout Central Ohio this week.

Monday (June 6th):

Tuesday (July 7th):

Wednesday (July 8th):

Thursday (July 9th):

Friday (July 10th):

Saturday (July 11th):

Sunday (July 12th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

To say the Der Dutchman Cruise-In was a little on the hot side Thursday evening would be an understatement. The best way to enjoy the evening was to find a shady tree to park under and pretty much stay put—which is exactly what I did.

Like the previous week, attendance started out slow but picked up around 6:00 p.m. as temperatures gradually became a little more tolerable. Attendance peaked at 162 cars with 19 of those being first timers.

Even with the summer heat, plenty of enthusiasts still came out to enjoy an evening of great cars and good company at Der Dutchman.

Our good friend, Jeff Shankle, made an appearance after his recent ordeal involving a creek and a zero-turn mower. Fortunately, he’s doing well enough to be back at a cruise-in. Here are some combined photos from Jeff and me. Jeff’s phone suffered some water damage during the accident, so he’ll be getting a new one soon.

American Legion Post #144 Independence Day Car Show:

What started out as your typical C-Town Cruisers Fourth of July car show at the American Legion Canteen Post #144 on South High Street in Columbus turned into quite an event around 1:00 p.m.

Many in attendance heard what sounded like a single firework around 12:45 p.m. At the time, most of us thought little of it. A short time later, Columbus police cruisers began pouring into the area one after another in response to reports of a shooting on South High Street and Cotton Mill Street.

According to Columbus police, officers had responded to a report of a woman being attacked by a man. When officers arrived, the suspect allegedly brandished a firearm and opened fire on officers. Police returned fire before the suspect fled into a nearby wooded area, prompting Columbus police and SWAT officers to establish a secure perimeter around the neighborhood, including the American Legion grounds, while they searched for the armed suspect.

Police later identified the suspect as 41-year-old Michael Magyar, also known as “Machete Mike,” and warned the public that he was considered armed and dangerous. The Ohio Bureau of Criminal Investigation responded to investigate the officer-involved shooting.

As a precaution, the car show ended shortly after 2:30 p.m. so law enforcement could secure the area and continue their search. Needless to say, it made for a Fourth of July car show that most of us in attendance won’t soon forget.

As for the show itself, there were 44 vehicles in attendance. Awards were presented for the Top 50, along with special awards for Best Bike, Most Patriotic, Most Potential/Rat Rod, Best Truck, and Best of Show.

American Legion members once again offered a buffet lunch consisting of hamburgers, hot dogs, baked beans, potato salad, pasta salad, and dessert in exchange for a donation to help cover the cost of the meal.

The Best Bike Award went to Silly Willy and his 2005 Honda Shadow 600 Deluxe.

Steve Anderson’s 1995 Chevy G-20 received the Best Truck Award.

Mike Woods’ 1966 Ford F-100 earned the Most Potential/Rat Rod Award.

Kevin Kelly’s 1975 International Harvester loadstar took home the Most Patriotic Award.

Finally, Doug Mullen’s 1934 Ford Model 40 received the Best of Show honors.

continue reading

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for June 29 – July 5, 2026
1951 GMC 150 Pickup - Owner: Nick Cochran

We conclude another month of the season this week as America celebrates its 250th Birthday on Saturday. There are no fewer than 14 car shows, cruise-ins, and bike events taking place across Central Ohio on July 4th, so everyone should be able to find something to enjoy while celebrating Independence Day.

Please Note: Shaun “Big Dawg” Sanders of the C-Town Cruisers let me know that the two remaining shows at The Point on Main Sports Bar, scheduled for July 5th and August 2nd, have been canceled.

Monday (June 29th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (June 30th):

Wednesday (July 1st):

Thursday (July 2nd):

Friday (July 3rd):

Saturday (July 4th):

Sunday (July 5th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

Attendance started out slowly on Thursday evening due to an initial weather forecast calling for showers around 6:00 p.m. Once it became apparent the rain would hold off, attendance picked up steadily, reaching 234 vehicles by the end of the cruise-in. Approximately 32 of those were Cobras participating in the London Cobra Show.

Here are some of the non-Cobra vehicles that Jeff Shankle and I captured during the evening.

Friday at Barrett-Jackson:

I spent a few hours on Friday at the inaugural Barrett-Jackson auction at the Ohio Expo Center. Billed as “The World’s Greatest Collector Car Auction,” the event certainly lived up to its reputation.

There was no shortage of food vendors, exhibitors, and, of course, incredible cars. When you needed a break from looking at the vehicles, Dodge was offering thrill rides in its new gasoline-powered SIXPACK Charger models.

One of the most interesting aspects of the visit was seeing what the cars actually sold for. After each vehicle crossed the auction block, it was moved under one of several large tents where a SOLD sign was placed on the windshield showing the final sale price. Here are a few examples:

  • 1982 Chevy Corvette Custom Coupe - Sold For $17,500
  • 1954 Ford F-100 - Sold For $35,000
  • 1977 Cadillac Eldorado - Sold For $27,000
  • 1973 Chrysler Newport Bluesmobile Re-creation - Sold For $15,000
  • 1953 WILLy's M38A1 Jeep - Sold For $9,500
  • 1958 BMW Isetta 300 - Sold For $25,000
  • 1929 Ford Model A Mail Truck - Sold For $15,000
  • 1977 Chevy Monte Carlo - Sold For $10,500
  • 1963 Chevy Biscayne Custom Coupe - Sold For $27,000
  • 1987 Chevy Silverado 3500 Pickup - Sold For $10,500
  • 1975 Volkswagen Super Bettle Convertible- Sold For $21,000
  • 1979 Buick Regal Custom Coupe - Sold For $10,000

Of course, the main action took place inside the Celeste Center, where the vehicles were auctioned. The large crowd of bidders on the auction floor, combined with the spectators filling the grandstands, made for quite a spectacle. The entire operation ran like a well-oiled machine and was very impressive to watch.

  • Wiping down the cars before going into auction.

Several familiar faces from the Central Ohio car community were involved in the event. Mark and Patty Enyart were selling their 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS, giving me the opportunity to learn how the auction works from a seller’s perspective.

The Meguiar’s booth featured Jim McGruder’s 2020 Chevrolet Corvette.

Members of the Mustang club helped move vehicles through the staging area. Our good friend Phil Spangler was spotted on TV driving one of the auction cars across the block.

Before heading home, I stopped by the Kasich Building, where many of the top-dollar vehicles scheduled for Saturday’s auction were on display. Here are a few of those amazing cars.

It was a fun way to spend a few hours and a great opportunity to experience one of the world’s premier collector car auctions without leaving Central Ohio. Let's hope Barrett-Jackson will make a return visit to Columbus in the future.

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Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for June 22 – 28, 2026
1958 Chevy Delray - Owner: Chuck Kelley

Central Ohio’s summer car season continues at full throttle this week. Headlining the schedule is the inaugural Barrett-Jackson Columbus Auction at the Ohio Expo Center, bringing one of the nation’s premier collector-car auctions to Columbus for the first time.  

The week also features the always-popular London Cobra Show, the London Strawberry Festival and its related bike, car, and Jeep shows, plus the welcome return of the Westgate Park Bean Dinner Car Show. With something happening nearly every day, enthusiasts will have no shortage of places to spend time with friends and admire some outstanding vehicles.

Monday (June 22nd):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (June 23rd):

Wednesday (June 24th):

Thursday (June 25th):

Friday (June 26th):

Saturday (June 27th):

Sunday (June 28th):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

The evening was a little breezy, but otherwise provided great weather for the cruise-in. Attendance reflected those favorable conditions, with 371 vehicles on hand compared to 257 the previous week — an increase of 114 cars. There were also 13 first-time participants this week.

The Pleasant Valley Fire District EMS added a little extra excitement during the evening. Fortunately, the individual who required medical attention was feeling better and did not have to leave the cruise-in.

Two vehicles stood out during the evening. The first was this beautifully restored brass-era Hudson touring car, which garnered a great deal of attention and offered spectators a glimpse into the early days of the automobile.

The second was this heavily modified Chevrolet S-10 street machine, featuring a massive roots-style supercharger, race-inspired interior, and enough attitude to get everyone’s attention as it rolled into the cruise-in.

Next week is the annual London Cobra Show. If the weather is good, the cruise-in could showcase 50 to 60 Cobras during the evening. It’s always one of the most anticipated nights of the season and a rare opportunity to see so many Cobras gathered in one place.

Finally, some sad news to report. Longtime Der Dutchman Cruise-In participant Kenny Davis passed away on Saturday, June 13.

Many of you will recognize Kenny by his white Pontiac, which was a regular fixture near the pavilion each week. He will be missed by his friends and fellow enthusiasts in the Central Ohio car community.

Danbury Car Show:

The Danbury Senior Living Center on Snouffer Road in Columbus hosted its 3rd Annual Car Show on Friday. With near-perfect weather, the event enjoyed its best attendance yet, attracting more than 30 vehicles.

Show participants and residents were treated to live music featuring hits from the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s.

Danbury also provided a terrific lunch that included barbecue ribs, chicken, corn on the cob, potato salad, chips, and a choice of water or soda.

As a thank you for sharing their vehicles with the residents, every participant received a complimentary goody bag.

The combination of classic cars, good food, great music, and beautiful weather made for an enjoyable afternoon for both participants and residents alike.

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7

Published on 7 Comments on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for June 15 – 21, 2026
1967 Chevy Nova - Owner: John Schaeffer

The Central Ohio car scene continues to be red hot for a second straight week. With events taking place every day, mowing the lawn may have to take a back seat to car or bike shows this week. Sunday is Father’s Day, and there’s no shortage of car and bike events for Dad to enjoy.

Monday (June 15th):

Tuesday (June 16th):

Wednesday (June 17th):

Thursday (June 18th):

Friday (June 19th):

Saturday (June 20th):

Sunday (June 21st - Father's Day):

Be sure to check out the Save the Dates for 2026 page for the most comprehensive, best-organized list of upcoming Central Ohio car shows, cruise-ins, meet-ups, and bike events you’ll find anywhere online.

Don’t miss a single event — bookmark it and stay in the loop all season long.

If you'd like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, click the Subscribe link at the top. This is a non-profit website. Rest assured your email address will NEVER be sold to marketers. There's no risk of more spam mail in your inbox if you subscribe.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

The heat got turned up for Thursday evening’s Der Dutchman Cruise-In, and apparently a bunch of Corvette owners got the memo. A total of 257 vehicles filled the lot, including 28 Corvettes ranging from classics to late-model performance machines. Among the highlights was the Top Dog of the C8 lineup and a 1,250-horsepower ZR1X that drew plenty of attention throughout the evening.

Here are more of the cars and trucks that turned out for Thursday’s Der Dutchman Cruise-In despite the oven-like temperatures.

Harry and Mary Wise Memorial Car Show:

The parking lot of the Big Walnut Grill in Sunbury was the site of the 5th Annual Harry and Mary Wise Memorial Car Show. Registration was free, although donations were accepted to support the event. This year’s show attracted 165 registered vehicles.

Among the top award recipients was Annette Lieb, whose Hemi-powered 1962 Dodge Dart station wagon, affectionately known as “Big Booty Judy,” earned one of the show’s Top 20 Awards.

Capturing the coveted Best of Show award was a beautifully restored 1959 Chevrolet Corvette.

Bryan Mauger was on hand to photograph the event and shared these images of some of the cars that participated in the show.

The Heath Taste of Summer Car Show:

If you were in Heath on Saturday, you would have found the Heath Taste of Summer Car Show tucked behind the Walmart. Presented by the City of Heath and the Heath Community Arts Council of the Davis-Shai House, the show attracted 98 registered vehicles.

Dave O’Brien took home some hardware with his 1982 Chevrolet pickup, better known as “Orange Crush.”

The Hi-Way Starz Car Club was well represented at the show, with Bubba Hettinger and a number of other members in attendance. Bubba shared these photos from the event.

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