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NEWS AND NOTES
Tale of Two Der Dutchman Cruise-Ins:
On Tuesday, the Der Dutchman Restaurant in Bellville, Ohio, wrapped up its cruise-in season with a strong showing of more than 60 cars. Our good friend, Tim Inscho, made the trip to Bellville and captured the event through his camera, sharing some great shots from the evening.
Traveling about 65 miles south two days later, the Der Dutchman Restaurant in Plain City, Ohio, welcomed an impressive 507 cars to its Thursday evening cruise-in. Of those, 21 were first-time participants.
Adding to the variety, an RV and camper rolled in—continuing the trend that began last week with the arrival of an Airstream camper. If this continues, Der Dutchman may have to invest in some RV hookups.
The most unique vehicle of the evening was a 1929 Graham Paige. At first, the Cadillac “V” emblem on its side seemed puzzling, even amusing. But the surprise was under the hood—the car was powered by an LS6 engine pulled from a 2004 Cadillac CTS-V. An unexpected pairing that definitely stood out.
The annual Coffee and Donuts Cruise-In rolled into the Plain City restaurant on Saturday morning, drawing approximately 130 cars. A steady line of attendees formed early, eager to grab a fresh donut and coffee—or another drink of choice—before checking out the cars.
This week’s Der Dutchman cruise-ins in Bellville and Plain City highlighted the enduring passion of Ohio’s car community.
Creative Auto Group/Advance Auto Parts Monthly Car Show:
The Creative Auto Group, in partnership with Advance Auto Parts in Marysville, Ohio, hosted its September car show with 17 cars on display, all set against the backdrop of a hot air balloon floating overhead.
The event raised $113 for the local food pantry, which was presented by Jeff Shankle to Gary and Keitha Simpson.
This month’s winners were Tim Inscho with his 1955 Chevy Bel Air, Tito Moore with a 1932 Ford five-window coupe, and Ray Leopard’s 1976 Olds Cutlass 442.
The next show will be on October 10th. Mark your calendar.
Southeast Conservation Club Car Show:
Earlier in the year, reports suggested the Southeast Conservation Club in Grove City, Ohio, wouldn’t be holding a car show in 2025. But in July, the club reversed course and decided to move forward with the event—and it turned out to be a good call. Saturday’s show drew an impressive 146 cars and motorcycles.
Awards were presented to the Top 40 entries, plus first-place honors in car, truck, and motorcycle categories. The Top 40 were further divided into the Top 10 Chevys, Top 10 Fords, and 20 specialty awards for best engine, paint, interior, and more.
Among the Top 40 winners were Russ Annis with his 1967 Chevy Chevelle and Rod Scott with a 1958 Dodge D100 Sweptside pickup.
Ted Wasmus took home the 1st Place Car Award with his 1970 Chevy Chevelle SS.
Duke Cook’s 2007 Harley-Davidson Road King earned 1st Place Motorcycle.
In the truck category, Doug Glassburn claimed the top spot with his 1972 Chevy C-10 Stepside pickup.
Doug Glassburn also shared a collection of photos from the event, capturing the variety and spirit of the show.
Motts Military Driving for Daisy Car Show:
Dan “Boots” Longenette and the Auto Smarts Radio Cruise and Ride team hosted the annual Motts Military Driving for Daisy Car Show on Saturday at the Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio. The event drew 93 cars.
Old Goats Car Club members Sam Goldfarb, Chad Herrick, Linda Allen, and Lynn Raduege were among the award recipients, with Chad Herrick receiving a special recognition.
Best of Show was awarded to Dale Pearce for his 1967 Corvette Stingray.
Dave Bratton shared a great set of photos capturing the sights and vehicles from the Motts Military Driving for Daisy Car Show.
All Out War: Motorsports Festival:
On Saturday, Established hosted its All Out War: Motorsports Festival at the historic Crew Stadium in Columbus, Ohio. The event blended car culture with motorsports action, featuring rows of outstanding vehicles on display and a thrilling showcase from the GR Drift Series.
One of the highlights came in the awards, where Shawn Freels’ 1942 Chevy Special Deluxe earned 1st Place in the Classic Category.
Arch Mayer captured the atmosphere of the day, documenting some of the incredible cars that participated in the event.
From all accounts, All Out War lived up to its name—bringing energy, style, and passion to the Columbus automotive community.
Night to Shine Car Show:
The Community Wesleyan Church in Newark, Ohio, hosted the Tim Tebow Foundation Night to Shine Car Show on Saturday in honor of Mario Corsi. A longtime Licking County resident who passed away in December 2024, Mario had a passion for restoring classic vehicles, including his 1968 Camaro and 1940 Ford truck. The event featured 47 vehicles, celebrating his life and love for cars.
Here are some of the cars Bubba Hettinger captured from the show.
Star MH Foundation Car Show:
The Outerbelt Brewery in Carroll, Ohio, was the site of the 2nd Annual Star MH Foundation for Suicide Awareness Car Show on Sunday. Sponsored by Coconis Furniture and organized by the Lancaster Car Scene (LCS), the event registered 29 vehicles. Alongside the cars, attendees enjoyed an auction, raffle prizes, and a 50/50 drawing—all raising funds for suicide awareness.
Awards were presented to the Top 30 vehicles as well as several “Special Awards.”
Best Bike: Darren – 2012 Harley-Davidson Tri-Glide
Best Truck: Doug Glassburn – 1972 Chevy C-10 Stepside
Best Import: Shayne Mace – 2014 Subaru BRZ
Best Muscle: John H. – 2012 Chevy Camaro SS (Superman)
The coveted Best of Show award went to John Pickens’ 1931 Ford Roadster. He shared that it’s been to 12 shows this season, taking home Best of Show at 10 of them—a winning streak as impressive as the car itself.
Jim Matheny Memorial Car Show:
The Jim Matheny Memorial Car Show took place on Sunday at Grand Monuments, LLC in Newark, Ohio, honoring the life and legacy of a true champion of the local car community.
For those who may not know, Jim Matheny was a longtime Newark resident who passed away in 2021. He owned and operated Kar Shoz, a business often intertwined with his love for organizing car shows. Over the years, Jim served as Show Chairman and Coordinator for several major Newark events, including Lite the Nite and the Hopewell Federal Credit Union Car Show, the latter of which benefitted the Licking County Humane Society. He was also closely tied to the Newark Rodders Car Club, leaving behind a strong imprint on the community.
Sunday’s memorial show carried forward that legacy with 109 cars registered. The event showcased a wide variety of classic and modern vehicles, with the Hi-Way Starz Car Club earning multiple awards and recognition. Among them was the Specialty Award presented to Jeff Tolley’s 1965 Chevy C-10.
To capture the day, here is a slideshow video made from the photos Bubba Hettinger took, highlighting many of the cars that made the event special.
Other Area Shows:
- Redemption City Church Car Show: - Sunday’s show featured 25 cars. Dale Pearce’s 1967 Corvette Stingray won the 1st Place People’s Choice Award, adding to his Best of Show win at Motts Military the day before. He also received a $100 bucket of cleaning supplies and a $50 Road House gift card.
- Destination Outlets Cars & Coffee: Attendance dipped from August, but some beautiful rides still rolled in. Mark your calendars—the final meet of the season is set for October 11, 2025.
That’s a wrap on another great week of Central Ohio car and bike events! The days may be getting shorter, but the fun isn’t slowing down just yet. Keep those rides rolling and make the most of the good weather while it’s here!
Contributors this week include Dale Pearce, Jeff Shankle, Robert "Bubba" Hettinger, Doug Glassburn, Russ Annis, Dave Bratton, Tim Incho, Arch Mayer, Jeff Tolley, Shawn Freels, Cindy McBee, and Lynn Raduege. A big thank you to each of them for their contributions!
Stay safe, stay cool, and keep those wheels rolling!