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NEWS AND NOTES
Andon's Pub Cruise In Night:
More than twenty cars turned out this past Tuesday for the inaugural Andon’s Pub Cruise-In Night—a great start for what could become a popular gathering spot for local car enthusiasts.
Longtime members of the Central Ohio car show scene might remember the location as the former On The Rocks sports bar. Back then, Mike Mitchell organized two well-attended shows a year at the venue.
It’s nice to see car events returning to this familiar spot. Whether this becomes a recurring event or a once-in-a-while gathering, it’s clear there’s still plenty of enthusiasm in the community.
Bickford at Bexley Car Show:
The Bickford at Bexley Assisted Living and Memory Care facility held its annual 50s celebration on Thursday, bringing a fun and nostalgic atmosphere to residents and guests alike. The event featured classic 1950s music, décor reminiscent of the era, and even a few poodle skirts worn by enthusiastic staff members.
This year’s event featured a small car show, adding a special touch to the festivities. Residents had the opportunity to vote for their favorite vehicle, and at the end of the show, trophies were awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place finishers.
Third place went to Dale Pearce’s beautifully restored 1967 Corvette Stingray Convertible.
Second place was awarded to Rodney Daniel’s striking 1940 Studebaker Commander.
Taking home First Place, with the most resident votes, was Dale Pearce’s classic 1950 Chevy 3100 Pickup — driven to the show by Anthony Musick on Dale’s behalf, earning Anthony a share of the recognition.
Participants in the show were treated to pizza and delicious root beer floats.
The event was a fun way to showcase classic cars and give residents a chance to connect and vote for their favorites.
Der Dutchman Cruise-In:
Attendance at the Der Dutchman Cruise-In in Plain City, Ohio, jumped from 170 the previous week to 208 this week, despite afternoon temperatures soaring into the low 90s.
As usual, something unique or unusual shows up each week — and this week was no exception.
Here are more cars from Thursday's cruise-in.
Blackwing Summer Blast Car Show:
The Blackwing Shoot Center in Delaware, Ohio, held its annual Summer Blast event on Saturday, drawing in enthusiasts of firearms, food, and fine cars. The event featured a manufacturer rep expo, food trucks, raffles for premium prizes, and unlimited sporting clays shooting. A highlight of the day was the car show, which raised funds to support youth shooting sports.
This year’s car show attracted more than 50 registered vehicles. A total of 10 awards were presented, celebrating everything from standout style to long-distance travel. The award categories included: Favorite Car, Favorite Engine, Show Favorite, Most Unique, Coolest Drop Top Ever, Under Construction, Greaser’s Choice, Eye Catcher Award, Ladies Favorite, and Favorite Truck.
Here are the winners.
Dan The Man Car Show:
The second annual Dan The Man Car Show took place Saturday in Alexandria, Ohio. The event serves as a fundraiser in memory of Daniel Chapman, who passed away in 2023 at the age of 32. Daniel had a deep passion for cars—especially his 1965 Pontiac LeMans—and enjoyed racing Mustangs, riding motorcycles, and working on vehicles of all kinds.
This year, the show registered around 100 vehicles.
Dale Pearce’s 1967 Corvette Stingray earned a Top 5 Classic award.
Best Bike went to a Harley-Davidson Softail.
The Best of Show honors were awarded to Scott Varney’s 1956 Oldsmobile Super 88.
Buckeye Lake Eagles #2801 Car, Truck, & Motorcycle Show:
The Hi-Way Starz rolled into the Buckeye Lake Eagles #2801 Car, Truck, and Motorcycle Show on Saturday and didn’t leave empty-handed.
Club members Dave O’Brien, Mike Marcum, and John Huber each earned Top 20 awards for their standout rides. Jeff Grindrod’s Thunderbird also turned heads, taking home the Women’s Choice Award.
Battle of the Brands Car Show:
The GTO Association of Central Ohio (GTOACO) hosted its 10th Annual Battle of the Brands Car Show on Saturday in Sunbury, Ohio.
This year’s event drew 128 vehicles, bringing together a wide array of makes and models. Awards were given to the Top 25 entries, along with special honors for Best Chevy, Best Ford, Best Mopar, Best Pontiac, Best Import, and Best BOC (Buick, Oldsmobile, Cadillac).
Thanks to Bryan Mauger for sharing these great shots from the show.
Performance Luxury Sport Muscle Mash:
Performance Luxury Sport hosted its Muscle Mash Car Show on Saturday evening at its Marysville, Ohio, location. Registration was $30 for outside parking, with VIP spots available inside the showroom for an added fee. The event drew approximately 70 cars outside and another 20 showcased in the VIP area.
A special guest at the show was Devon Treadway—better known as Devon Diesel—a well-known custom truck builder and drag racer based in Ohio. Treadway leads a team that builds high-powered diesel race trucks and themed rigs, including fire truck-inspired builds.
The show featured a variety of awards recognizing standout vehicles in multiple categories, including:
- Best Classic
- Best Stance
- Best JDM
- Best Truck
- Best Exotic
- Best Muscle Car
- Best Foreign
- Best Paint
- Best Wrap
- Best Wheels
- Longest Travel
- Largest Club
- Best of Show
The Largest Club Award went to the StreetKingz for having the most participants in attendance. Best of Show honors were awarded to Bling Amobi Breezy for his customized C6 Corvette.
Here’s a video slideshow created from the photos Jeff Shankle took at the show.
Poor Man's Nationals:
The Buckeye Rod Builders returned to Pastime Park in Plain City, Ohio, on the traditional last Sunday in July to host the 45th Annual Poor Man’s Nationals.
Despite a high chance of scattered thunderstorms throughout the afternoon, about 100 cars still made the trek—fewer than in past years, but an impressive turnout given the forecast.
These are some of the brave rides of determined owners who didn’t let the weather stop them from celebrating the Nationals. Special thanks to Jeff Shankle and Bryan Mauger for capturing and sharing these moments.
Other Area Shows:
- Walnut Crossing Assisted Living and Memory Care in Marysville, Ohio, hosted its 5th Annual Cruisin' for Alzheimer's Car Show Friday evening. A total of 22 classic and custom cars rolled in for the event. The residents served as the judges, casting their votes for their favorite vehicles. Trophies were awarded for 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place. Taking top honors was Gary Love’s beautifully restored 1954 Ford F100 pickup, which earned the most resident votes.
- The Marysville Mustang Club hosted its second Marysville Cars & Coffee on Saturday morning at C&N Motor Cars in Marysville, Ohio. The event drew approximately 75 cars, with enthusiasts gathering to enjoy fresh brews, great conversation, and a wide variety of vehicles on display.
- Members of the Old Goats Car Club made the trip to Chillicothe on Saturday to attend the Adena Mansion & Gardens Car Show, hosted by the Southern Ohio Corvette Club. The event experienced a brief disruption when a tree fell across the entrance road between 8:00 and 9:00 AM, temporarily blocking access for about 30 minutes. Fortunately, no vehicles were damaged. Despite the delay, it was a successful outing for the club. Doug Mullen, Chuck McKeever, and Dave Hiles each earned Top 45 Awards for their vehicles.
That’s a wrap for this week’s News and Notes! Despite some very hot, humid, and unpredictable weather, car enthusiasts across Ohio showed their dedication by turning out to support local shows, share their rides, and connect with fellow gearheads. It’s clear the passion for cars remains strong in every corner of the community.
This week’s News and Notes contributors include Dale Pearce, Jeff Shankle, Robert Hettinger, Bryan Mauger, Lynn Raduege, and Jackie Rolfe-Hiles. A big thank you to each of them for their contributions!
Stay safe, stay cool, and keep those wheels rolling!