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Published on 4 Comments on Central Ohio Car & Bike Events for June 1 – 7, 2026
1933 Ford Coupe - Owners: Rob & Christina Stiffler

This week kicks off a new month of the season, and June looks like it’s going to be a big one. There are already 108 scheduled car and bike events on the calendar, and that does not include the weekly and monthly events.

This week’s lineup once again includes everything from cruise-ins and bike nights to large charity shows, Jeep events, poker runs, swap meets, multiple Cars & Coffee gatherings, and the always crazy Jax Wax Street Madness. If the weather cooperates, there should be no shortage of opportunities to get the toys out of the garage and enjoy the start of another busy summer weekend in the Central Ohio car community.

Monday (June 1st):

Tuesday (June 2nd):

Wednesday (June 3rd):

Thursday (June 4th):

Friday (June 5th):

Saturday (June 6th):

Sunday (June 7th):

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:

This week, the Der Dutchman Cruise-In traded the cool temperatures of the first three weeks for standing water and soggy ground. According to Wayne Nicely, who manages the cruise-in, the area received more than eight inches of rain over the past week. The excessive rainfall forced the closure of the northern end of the main field and several other parking areas.

The rain fall created additional challenges. The restaurant was unable to bring its food truck to the concession stand, resulting in no food or drinks being available. As if that wasn’t enough excitement for one evening, a car caught fire while entering the cruise-in.

Despite the mud and unexpected drama, the event still attracted an impressive 300 vehicles. And while the grounds were far from ideal, the weather itself could not have been much better. The rain finally gave way to a pleasant evening, making it a great night to be out enjoying the cruise-in, even if it was a little squishy underfoot.

Despite the soggy conditions, there were still plenty of vehicles and smiling faces to be found throughout the cruise-in. Here’s a collection of photos from the evening courtesy of Jeff Shankle and yours truly.

The weather this weekend was the complete opposite of Memorial Day weekend, with sunny skies, low humidity, and a refreshing breeze. The near-perfect conditions were reflected in attendance numbers across Central Ohio, as many shows topped the 100-vehicle mark and parking lots filled early.

The FBC (First Baptist Church Grove City) Car, Truck, & Motorcycle Show:

Dan “Boots” Longenette and the Auto Smarts Radio Cruise and Ride Team were in Grove City on Saturday hosting the 10th Annual FBC (First Baptist Church) Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show. All proceeds from the event benefit Honor Flight, helping veterans visit the memorials built in their honor in Washington, D.C.

The show featured a 50/50 raffle, door prizes, and live entertainment from Driving Guitars, keeping participants and spectators entertained throughout the day.

Thanks to the outstanding weather, 139 vehicles were officially registered, with another dozen or so vehicles attending but not entering the judging. The strong turnout made the 10th Annual FBC Car, Truck & Motorcycle Show one of the larger local events of the weekend.

At the conclusion of the show, Boots presented 88 awards, consisting of a mix of traditional trophies and unique Bluetooth speakers designed to resemble classic cars.

Here are some of the top award winners from the day.

  • BEST IMPORT: 2014 Honda Grom - Triston Campbell
  • BEST STREET ROD: 1937 Ford - Dave Bratton
  • BEST MODERN CORVETTE: 2023 Corvette - Tim Decker
  • BEST TRUCK: 1985 Chevy Scotsdale - Larry Fletcher Jr
  • BEST MODERN GM: 2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - Kim Hawksworth
  • BEST CHEVY: 2000 Chevy Monte Carlo Jeff Gordon Edition - Mason Wolfe
  • BEST MOPAR: 1973 Plymouth Duster/Twister - Dave & Jackie Hiles
  • BEST MODERN MOPAR: 2020 Dodge Challenger Scat Pack - Josh Drake
  • BEST FORD: 1956 Ford Thunderbird - Phil Spangler
  • BEST MODERN FORD: 2020 Ford Mustang GT - Carl Fisher
  • BEST RAT ROD: 1932 Ford Model A - Clark Garn
  • BEST PAINT: 1969 Chevy Chevelle SS - Craig Strauss
  • BEST ENGINE: 1968 Hemi Dodge Dart - Fast Eddie
  • BEST TRI-FIVE: 1957 Chevy - Andy Brown
  • BEST OLD BODY STYLE PICKUP: 1956 Ford F-100 - Richard Jones
  • HONOR FLIGHT PICK: 1957 Chevy Bel Air - David Elliott
  • HONOR FLIGHT PICK: 1969 Chevy Chevelle - Jonathan Shook
  • HONOR FLIGHT PICK: 1966 VW Bus - B. Knoll
  • HONOR FLIGHT PICK: 1932 Ford 5 Window - Gus O'Day
  • FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH PICK: 1991 Chevy Corvette - Marc & Char Cropper
  • Marc Cropper
  • BEST MOTORCYLE: 2015 Harley Davidson Road King - Bruce Herrick
  • 10TH ANNUAL CRUISER AWARD: 1968 Chevy Chevelle - Andrew Van Ert
  • AWARD OF EXCELLENCE: 1967 Chevy Camaro - Steve Click
  • BRIAN KINNETT AWARD: 1979 Pontiac Trans Am - Jay McCallister
  • Jay McAllister
  • PASTOR'S PICK: 1967 Ford Mustang - Mike Fuller
  • ELLIE'S PICK: 1923 Ford Model T - Chris Cook

By unanimous choice of the judges, Best of Show honors were awarded to Bennett Schellhaas and his beautiful 1951 Ford pickup. 

Here are more of the 139+ cars, trucks, and motorcycles that turn out for the FBC Car, Truck & Motorcycle show:

...continue reading "Central Ohio Car & Bike Events for June 1 – 7, 2026"

Published on Leave a comment on Central Ohio Car & Bike Events For May 26 – 31, 2026
1955 Willy's CJ-5 Jeep - Owner: Roger Gardner

As we turn the calendar to the final week of May, Central Ohio’s car and motorcycle season is in high gear. The wet Memorial Day weekend may be in the rearview mirror, but there’s no shortage of opportunities to get out and enjoy the hobby.

Whether you’re looking for a relaxed evening cruise-in, a Saturday morning coffee meet, or a full-scale weekend show, there’s something happening every day of the week.

As always, event details can change due to weather or other circumstances, so be sure to check with event organizers before heading out.

Tuesday (May 26th):

Wednesday (May 27th):

Thursday (May 28th):

Friday (May 29th):

Saturday (May 30th):

Sunday (May 31st):

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 cool Thursday evening for the Der Dutchman Cruise-In in Plain City. There was some concern the event might be canceled after two days of steady rain left portions of the field saturated. Fortunately, aside from a few wet spots near the concession stand and pavilion, the grounds were dry enough to accommodate the 264 vehicles that turned out for the weekly gathering. As usual, Wayne had the few muddy areas coned off, keeping cars out of trouble and the field in good shape.

One of the more interesting vehicles on hand was an Aston Martin DBX707 luxury SUV. Its 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged V8, derived from a Mercedes-AMG engine and extensively reworked by Aston Martin, cranks out 697 horsepower and 663 lb-ft of torque. The DBX707 can rocket from 0-60 mph in approximately 3.1 seconds and reach a top speed of 193 mph. That should make it easy for Mom to get the kids to soccer practice and dance lessons on time.

Another interesting vehicle was Dan Howard’s 1940 Plymouth pickup. The truck had belonged to Dan’s grandfather and spent the last 15 years tucked away in a garage. After doing the work necessary to bring it back to life and fitting it with a set of 15-inch wheels, Dan proudly drove the pickup to the cruise-in for its first outing in many years. Perhaps the most unique feature is the bench seat, which is upholstered using material from one of Dan’s old couches—a true example of hot-rodding ingenuity and recycling at its finest.

Mike Hermann spent the winter reworking the battery installation in the trunk of his 1964 Plymouth Belvedere to match the factory configuration exactly as it would have appeared when the car rolled off the assembly line. The attention to detail and craftsmanship involved in the project were truly impressive.

Here are a few more vehicles that were on hand for Thursday evening's cruise-in.

As a side note, VW enthusiasts are hoping to increase Volkswagen participation at the Der Dutchman Cruise-In. Their goal is to encourage owners of VW models to attend on the fourth Thursday of each month throughout the cruise-in season. If you’ve got a Volkswagen sitting in the garage, consider bringing it out and joining the gathering. The plan is for the VWs to park together along the back rows, beginning this Thursday, May 28.

Feast of the Flowering Moon Car Show:

Rain throughout the day Friday and into Saturday morning forced the cancellation of several events and the postponement of two others for the second time. One show that carried on rain or shine was the Feast of the Flowering Moon Car Show in downtown Chillicothe.

Despite the less-than-ideal weather, 42 vehicles registered for the show. Dale Pearce said he managed to avoid rain on both the trip to and from the event, although showers fell for approximately two hours during the show itself. Nine awards were presented, with Dale’s 1967 Corvette Stingray earning the Best Paint Award and a custom paint-can trophy.

Top honors went to Ty Vickers and his 1966 Corvette, which captured the Feast Choice Award.

READ MORE NEWS & NOTES

Published on
1965 Ford Thunderbird- Owner: Chris Cunningham

Columbus Cars and Coffee Season Finale:

The 40-degree morning temperatures didn’t stop several hundred cars and spectators from turning out for the final corporate Columbus Cars and Coffee meet of 2025. Held at the Heart of Ohio Classical Academy campus in Dublin, Ohio, the event featured a great mix of cars—from American classics to European exotics.

Porsches were out in force, rivaled by nearly as many BMWs. Hondas and Lexuses also had a strong showing, rounding out a diverse lineup that closed out the season with a classic split-window Corvette in attendance.

Here’s a look at some more standout cars from the final meet:

Miller's Swap Meet & Car Show:

One of the biggest final events of the Central Ohio car show season is the Fall Miller’s Swap Meet and Car Show. Held at the Ross County Fairgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio, the November 1st event marked the 18th annual edition of this popular combination swap meet and car show. This year’s car show registered 173 vehicles.

Award plaques were presented to the Top 20 vehicles from model years 1987 and older and the Top 20 from 1988 and newer. In addition to these forty Top 20 awards, there were 15 Special Awards and two Best of Show honors — one for 1987 and below and the other for 1988 and above.

Here are the Special Award winners from this year’s Fall Miller’s Swap Meet and Car Show:

  • BEST GM - Ron Barker
  • BEST FORD - Bill & Julie Holt
  • BEST MOPAR - Robert Chronister
  • BEST TRUCK - Keith McClain
  • MOST UNIQUE - Tim Miller
  • BEST WAGON - Doug & Debby Sears
  • BEST STREET ROD - Ed Young
  • BEST LOW RIDER - Jeff Ward
  • BEST DISPLAY - Scott Weldy
  • BEST BIKE - Steve Elam
  • BEST IMPORT - Dale Bethel
  • BEST MUSTANG '74 & NEWER - Steve Shorten
  • BEST MUSTANG '73 & OLDER - Terry Bach
  • PROMOTERS CHOICE (NATE) - Steve Kidwell & Nancy
  • PROMOTERS CHOICE (BRIAN) - Marvin Stulley
  • BEST OF SHOW '87 & OLDER - Bob Kirst
  • BEST OF SHOW '88 & NEWER - Bling Breezy

With the awards handed out and another successful show in the books, here’s a look at some of the other standout vehicles from the event, thanks to Jeff Shankle and Bubba Hettinger.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

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Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for August 18th thru August 24th, 2025
1961 Chrysler New Yorker - Owner: Steve Johnson

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NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

Attendance was down just a touch from last week, but the 263 cars that rolled into Thursday evening’s cruise-in still brought plenty of variety and energy. Among them were 7 first-timers.

One of my favorite moments was having a 1959 Porsche park right next to my 2024 Porsche — a striking side-by-side of classic curves and modern lines.

Pete Lieb pulled in with his beautifully kept 1962 Dodge Dart station wagon, a time capsule on wheels.

And while there were plenty of head-turners, my pick for “most unique” of the night went to a 1995 Toyota Supra — a rare sight and a true crowd-stopper.

From vintage gems to modern marvels, it was another Thursday evening well spent with fellow car enthusiasts.

Uptown Classics Auto Show:

The Friday Night Uptown Founders Car Show returned to Marysville, Ohio on Friday evening under a new name — the Uptown Classics Auto Show. Registrations were open to vehicles 2001 and older.

Main Street was packed with people, making it difficult to move from one end to the other.

The awards ceremony wrapped up earlier than scheduled, with Best of Show going to Jeff Irwin for his 1963 Corvette Grand Sport.

No official car count was announced, but the turnout appeared to be around 100 cars.

A big thanks to Dave Bratton for his report and photos from the show.

The Charlie Baker Mound City Under the Lights Car Show:

The Mound City Little League field in Newark, Ohio, was the site of the Charlie Baker Mound City Under the Lights Car Show on Friday evening. The event drew about 70 cars.

Hi-Way Starz members Mike Marcum, Joe Estes, Justin Seymour, Dave O’Brien, and Bobby Pig all drove home with awards, while Jeff Tolley’s 1959 Chevy Biscayne earned the coveted Ed’s Sleds Pick.

Here are some photos courtesy of Robert “Bubba” Hettinger.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

Published on
1964 Ford Fairlane - Owner: Russ R.

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NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

This past Thursday evening’s cruise-in at Der Dutchman in Plain City, Ohio, had a special treat in store for attendees. A little over 30 Cobras made the drive over from the London, Ohio Cobra Show, bringing some serious muscle and style to the weekly gathering.

A red sports car, likely a Cobra, is parked on green grass with a group of people nearby discussing it. In the background, a trailer with 'London Cobra Show' branding is visible alongside a building.
A lineup of various sports cars, including several Cobras and a red Dodge Viper, parked on a grass field under a partly cloudy sky.

Among the sea of Cobras, one car stood out—not for its rarity, but for being a bit of an outlier. Somehow, a Dodge Viper found its way into the mix.

With the influx of Cobras and regular participants, the total car count for the night reached 301 vehicles, making it one of the more well-attended events of the season so far.

Each week tends to bring something unique to the cruise-in. The standout for “most unusual” vehicle of the night went to a 1970 Alfa Romeo — a car you don’t often see at typical car shows or cruise-ins.

To wrap up this week’s Der Dutchman report, here’s a look at a few more Cobras from the London Cobra Show that helped make the evening memorable.

Tint World Cruise In:

Tint World Automotive Styling Center, in association with the Columbus Chapter of the Mustang Club of Ohio, hosted its second cruise-in of the season on Friday evening.

Exterior view of Tint World store featuring a yellow sign, open storefront, and a tent with people preparing for an automotive event.
Interior of a Tint World Automotive Styling Center showcasing various audio and security systems, with sleek design elements and seating area.

Approximately 25 cars stopped by during the evening. Luna Pizza Kitchen was there serving up slices of pizza. In addition to the food, there was also a 50/50 split pot drawing.

A scene from a car show featuring a table with promotional materials for Tint World Automotive Styling Centers and Luna Pizza Kitchen, along with cookies and drinks for attendees.

No surprise the largest percentage of cars were Mustangs, other makes and models helped add some variety to the event.

It was a laid-back evening with great cars and a friendly crowd. The cruise-in will continue every month through October. The next cruise-in will be Friday, July 25th.

London Strawberry Festival Car Show:

Editor’s Note: The goal of these reports is to celebrate our local car events—not to criticize them—but when problems arise, it’s only fair to reflect the experience as it happened.

This year’s London Strawberry Festival Car Show was marked by confusion, frustration, and significant logistical issues that left many participants disappointed.

Although the show did take place, numerous reports indicate that it was not held at its advertised location on Union Street. Several attendees who arrived between 5:30 and 6:00 PM—just before the scheduled registration time—reported seeing no signs of a show or any event setup on Union Street. One attendee mentioned being told the show was “full” by 5:45 PM, despite registration being listed to begin at 6:00 PM.

The show was ultimately relocated to South Main Street near the railroad tracks for reasons still unknown—information that many participants only discovered upon arrival or through word of mouth. These abrupt changes, coupled with a lack of signage or communication, led to considerable confusion.

The relocated show area reportedly couldn’t accommodate many cars and filled up quickly. As a result, many attendees chose to leave—either heading home or checking out other shows instead.

One participant summed it up this way: “Definitely a poorly run show. I felt bad for the one guy running it. He took a ton of crap — including some from me — and it wasn’t even his fault. I apologized for ripping him a new one. He was a nice guy and handled it really well. He admitted the organizers screwed up and said they deserved to hear about it.”

For many, this year’s event fell short of expectations due to poor planning and a lack of communication. Still, as always, the Central Ohio car community made the best of a less-than-ideal situation.

One bright spot came for Kenny G., whose 2016 Dodge Challenger Hellcat took home the Best in Show Award.

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4

Published on 4 Comments on Central Ohio Car Events News & Notes for November 1 – 11, 2024
1991 Chevy Camaro Z/28 - Owner: Jon Conde

This is the final News & Notes for the 2024 Central Ohio car show season. It covers events from the first two weekends of November.

November 1st - 3rd

Creative Auto Group/Advanced Auto Parts Car Show (November 1st):

The wheelbarrow fire pit made its annual appearance at the final Creative Auto Group/Advance Auto Parts Car Show of the year.

With temperatures dropping into the upper 40s, the wheelbarrow was a welcome addition to the show.

16 cars were in attendance. Door prizes and a 50/50 raffle raised $110 for the Trinity Chapel Milford Center Food Pantry.

Normally three cars are picked to receive an award each month but for the last show, a Best of Show Award was added.

This month's picks were Rex Dillon and his 1936 Dodge Sedan, Tony Lorenz with a 1949 Ford Custom, and Nicholas Mathews with a 2016 Dodge Charger SRT.

REX DILLON
TONY LORENZ
NICHOLAS MATHEWS

The Best of Show Award went to Scott Harring's 1964 Chevy Impala SS.

The final awards presented on Friday evening went to Jimmy Carmean and Marty Ruiz for Cruisers of the Year. Both Jimmy and Marty made it to every show this year but one.

JIMMY CARMEAN
MARTY RUIZ

Mark your calendar. The monthly Creative Auto Group/Advanced Auto Parts Shows will resume again in March 2025.

Miller's Swap Meet & Car Show (November 2nd):

The Miller family hosted its fall Swap Meet and Car Show at Ross County Fairgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio on Saturday, November 2nd.

The morning temperatures were on the "chilly" side, but by noon, they warmed up enough to make it almost a perfect day for a swap meet and car show.

The car show registered 206 cars beating last year's fall car show attendance by 35 cars.

The unique thing about the car show is the Top Awards and Best of Show are divided into two categories - cars 1987 and older and cars 1988 and newer. There were Top 20 plaques for each category (40 total), plus two Best of Show trophies along with 14 "Special" Award Trophies.

The "Special" Awards included:

  • Best GM
  • Best Ford
  • Best Mopar
  • Best Import
  • Best Race Car
  • Best Rat Rod
  • Promoter's Choice (x2)
  • Best Truck
  • Best Sedan/Wagon
  • Best Corvette '82 and Older
  • Best Corvette '84 and Newer
  • Best "Low-Rider"
  • Best Street Rod

The two vehicles chosen Best of Show not only receive a trophy to take home, but they also have their name engraved on the John Riley Trophy. John won the Best of Show trophy in 2021 and donated it back requesting that it be carried on year after year. The names only go on it from the fall show.

Here are the "Special" Trophy Winners:

BEST CORVETTE 1984 AND NEWER
C7 Corvette Z06 - Owner: David Edlin
BEST IMPORT
1968 Volkswagen Maxi Taxi - Owner: Darren Fina
BEST FORD
1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car - Owner: Bill Brown
BEST SEDAN/WAGON
1958 Chevy Panel - Owner: Rod Rice
BEST CORVETTE 1982 AND OLDER
1969 Corvette - Owner: Jim Hice
BEST RACECAR
1964 Ford Falcon Gasser - Owner: Steve Hatfield
BEST TRUCK
1953 Ford COE (Cab Over Engine) - Owner: Roger Campbell
BEST GM
1957 Chevy Bel Air - Owner: Jeff Hass
BEST LOW-RIDER
2002 Chevy S10 - Owner: Jeff Ward
BEST MOPAR
1969 Dodge Superbee - Owner: J.D. Knisley
BEST RAT ROD
1935 Ford Truck - Owner: Piece-N-Grease
BEST STREET ROD
1972 Chevy Nova - Owner: Jeff Britton
PROMOTER'S CHOICE
1955 Chevy Bel Air - Owner: Mark Timberlake
PROMOTER'S CHOICE
1930 Ford Coupe - Owner: Jay Schott

The Best of Show for 1987 and Older went to Kurt Finton and his 1937 Studebaker "Hellcat" pickup.

Danny McClellan's 2012 "Supercharged" Camaro SS was selected Best of Show for 1988 and Newer.

Here are some Central Ohio Top 20 winners :

K. Hawksworth
2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing
Mike Wilson
2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse
Bob Kirst
2016 Dodge Challenger
Frank Sanborn
2010 Dodge Challenger
Steve Kidwell & Nancy
1938 Chevy Business Coupe
Jeff Tolley
1959 Chevy Biscayne
Dr. Ron Rogers
1968 Dodge Charger
Dan Varner
1977 Chevy Malibu Wagon
Dale Pearce
1950 Chevy 3600 Pickup

This is my second year participating in the Fall Miller's Swap Meet and Car Show and I have to say it's one of the better events in the area. I like how they have older and newer categories. It's probably the reason attendance broke the 200 mark this year. The weather also helped.

The Point on Main Street Car Show (November 2nd):

Big Dawg and the C-Town Cruisers hosted their second-to-last show of the season at The Point on Main Street Sports Bar & Grill in Columbus, Ohio.

There were awards for the Top 30, Ladies' Choice, and Best of Show.

Fred Pitz and his 1981 Chevy Malibu was selected Best of Show.

Crossroads Car, Truck, & Bike Shows at Cristy's Pizza & West Church Social (November 2nd & 3rd):

Frank Russell and the Crossroads Events team hosted two shows over the weekend. On Saturday, they were at a new host in Baltimore, Ohio, Cristy's Pizza.

H. Brennan with a 1947 Chevy Convertible received the Veteran Owned Award.

Best in Show went to Scott Varney's 1956 Oldsmobile Super 88.

On Sunday, the team traveled to Newark, Ohio to host the West Church Social Car Show.

The Veteran Owned Award went to the 1963 Chevy Nova belonging to Dave Sidle.

Best in Show honors went to Hod Brennan's 1932 Ford Coupe.

November 9 - 12

CONTINUE READING NEWS & NOTES

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows, Cruise-Ins, and Meet-Ups for May 28 to June 2, 2024
2008 Volkswagon Convertible - Owners: Tom & Betty Lawrence

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

I'm sad to report we lost another Central Ohio cruiser last week with the unexpected passing of Thad Lee Roberts. Thad was 59 years old.

Many of you will recognize Thad from his cars. He most often drove his 1973 Chevy Camaro RS/Z28 to shows. He also showed a 1970 Dodge Dart Swinger and a 1972 Chevy Nova.

Our condolences go out to his family. Here is his obituary with information regarding visitation and funeral service.

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

It was another big evening at the restaurant's weekly cruise-in. Attendance this past Thursday reached 280 cars.

This week's unique/unusual car is the 1940 Ford pickup belonging to Jack Leffel. I think you'll understand from the photos why the pickup is so unique.

If there was a Best of Show award, in my opinion, it would go to this 1960 Chevy Impala.

A Ford Bronco Raptor Edition made an appearance on Thursday. I have to admit it was a damn cool SUV.

The Heart of Grove City Car, Truck, & Bike Show:

Shaun "Big Dawg" Sanders and the C-Town Cruisers were in Grove City, Ohio on Saturday for the first of three Heart of Grove City Car, Truck, & Bike Shows this season.

The show registered 70 cars.

Live music was provided by the 3C Highway Band during the first half of the show.

Awards were presented to the Top 35 cars and trucks along with awards for MOPO (Most Potential)/Rat Rod, Best Bike, Best Truck, and Best of Show.

The MOPO/Rat Rod award went to Brian Black and his 1976 "Chebby" G10 Van.

The Best Bike award would have gone to this 2024 Yamaha MT-07 but the owner left before the end of the show.

Doug Glassburn's 1972 Chevy C-10 Stepside pickup received the Best Truck Award.

The Best of Show honors went to Jim Loftus with a 1957 Chevy Bel Air.

Crossroads Car, Truck, & Bike Show at Earthworks Cafe at Newark Station:

Frank Russell and his Crossroads Events team hosted their first-ever car show at Earthworks Cafe at Newark Station in Newark, Ohio on Saturday.

The team presented 34 awards at the end of the show.

The Veteran Owned Award went to Dave Byers and his 1989 Chevy Corvette.

For the second week in a row, David Anderson took home Best of Show honors with his 1949 supercharged Ford Tudor convertible.

Next up for the Crossroads Events Team is a show at the Chubby Hawaiian in Baltimore, Ohio on Saturday, June 1st.

Feast of the Flowering Moon Car Show:

Downtown Chillicothe, Ohio was the site of the Feast of the Flowering Moon Car Show on Saturday.

The show presented awards to the Top 25 plus eight "Special Category" awards including "Feast Choice" aka Best of Show.

Attendance totaled 130 cars with 118 of them registered.

Our good friend, Dale Pearce, took home the Feast Choice Award along with a Top 25 for his 1950 Chevy 3100 pickup.

The Scioto Post did a nice write-up on Dale and his truck. You can read the article posted on its website here.

CONTINUE READING THE REST OF THIS POST

10

Published on 10 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows, Cruise-Ins, & Meet-ups for April 1 – 7, 2024
1966 Plymouth Belvedere - Owner: Louie Wild

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NEWS AND NOTES

Not much to write about in this week's report. The two car shows that took place in March were hit with rain and cold weather.

The Creative Auto Group/Advanced Auto Parts show on March 8th in Marysville, Ohio had four brave souls turn out for the show.

The next day the Miller Swap Meet/Car Show at the Ross County Fairgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio had just 27 cars participate in the car show. Everyone who participated received an award. The swap meet faired much better since much of it was held indoors.

Not all was lost because of the weather. The Miller family presented Don Sparks whose Youtube channel goes by the name Go4Rider the "Beyond the Call of Duty Award" for his help promoting their events.

Rob Schrader who runs the Miami Valley Novas website had the honor of presenting the Miller family with the Ohio Automotive Event Preservation Award. This award goes to individuals or organizations that go above and beyond to promote automotive events in the State of Ohio. Congratulations to the Miller family!

That's it for this week. Special thanks to Jeff Shankle and Rob Schrader for their contributions to this week's report.

4

Published on 4 Comments on Central Ohio Car Show News and Notes for November 2023
1938 Dodge 2 Dr Sedan - Owner: Bill Blackburn

The 2023 Central Ohio car show season has officially ended as far as judged shows. It was just posted on Facebook that there will be a cruise-in at Earthworks Cafe and Lounge in Newark, Ohio on November, 18th. If you're dying for one more car event before you put your car away, here you have it.

Here are the News and Notes from the final five Central Ohio car shows of 2023.

Creative Automotive/Advanced Auto Parts Car Show:

Often referred to as the "Wheelbarrow Fire Pit" car show, Creative Automotive Auto Sales and the Advance Auto Parts Store in Marysville, Ohio hosted its final show of the year on November 3rd.

There were 26 cars in attendance and $145 was raised for the Marysville Food Pantry.

Here are the six "Favorite" car picks for this month:

1959 Chevy Biscayne - Jeff Tolley
1967 Chevy Camaro - Mark Lester
1966 Plymouth Belvedere - Louie Wild
1972 Chevy Nova - Thad & Theresa Roberts
1969 Dodge Dart GT - Frank Sanborn
1955 Chevy Bel Air - Glen Frisby

In addition to the car awards, Jeff Shankle presented awards for Cruiser and Co-Cruiser of the Year.

Rex Dillion, Tim Inscho, and I received Co-Cruiser of the Year awards. The three of us only missed one show. I was in Florida for the April show so I had a good excuse.

Left to Right: Rex Dillion, yours truly, and Tim Inscho

The Cruiser of the Year award went to Jimmy Carmean and Rick Jones. They both attended all eight Creative Automotive/Advanced Auto Parts shows this year. Rick has been Cruiser of the Year four out of the last five years.

Jimmy Carmean
Rick Jones

Miller's Swap Meet and Car Show:

The 16th Annual Miller's Fall Swap Meet and Car Show took place on Saturday, November 4th at the Ross County Fairgrounds in Chillicothe, Ohio.

With plenty of sunshine and temperatures in the 60s, the car show registered 171 vehicles.

I didn't go far into the swap meet area but from what I was told by those that did it was huge.

The car show presented a total of 40 award plaques -- "Top 20" for cars '87 and older and "Top 20" for cars '88 and newer. In addition to the plaques, there were 13 "Special" trophies and two Best of Shows -- one for '87 and older and one for '88 and newer.

The club participation award went to the Street Kingz Car Club.

Here are the "Special" trophy winners:

BEST SEDAN/STATION WAGON - 1952 Chevy Suburban - Dallas Behrens
PROMOTERS CHOICE - 1979 Ford Mustang Pace Car - William Brown
PROMOTERS CHOICE - 1954 Corvette - Steve Kidwell & Nancy
BEST GM - 1969 Chevy Camaro - Don & Jodi Jenkins
BEST RACE CAR - 1970 Chevy Chevelle - Ryleigh Brown
BEST MOPAR - 1970 Dodge Challenger - Marvin Oldaker
BEST FORD - 1956 Crown Vic - Carl & Hazel Lynn
BEST STREET ROD - 1931 Ford - Denny Wood
BEST MOTORCYCLE - Perry Hicks
BEST LOW RIDER - 1955 Ford Pickup - Loy Oberer
BEST IMPORT - 1973 Triumph TR6 - Dale Bethel
BEST TRUCK - 1954 Chevy 3100 - Pat Jackson
BEST RAT ROD - 1928 REO - Brian Careuthers

The Best of Show winners:

  • '88 and Newer - Custom 1995 Chevy Camaro - Owner: Bob Kirst

  • '87 and Older - 1967 Chevy Nova SS - Owner: Charlie Seymour

Notice that Charlie is standing with two trophies. The one with "Best of Show" at the top will stay with the show promoter. Each year the cars and owner names that received Best of Show will be added to the base of the trophy.

Final Thoughts: This was my first Miller's Swap Meet and Car Show. It was worth the hour's drive from Columbus. I liked splitting the awards into older and newer cars. In my opinion, it gets more people to participate in the show and adds a larger variety of cars. No one can argue that is a bad thing.

...continue reading "Central Ohio Car Show News and Notes for November 2023"

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Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows, Cruise-Ins, and Meet-ups for August 21 – 27, 2023
1967 Ford Fairlane GT - Owner: Dave Griffith

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NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

Finally, the forecast was right for a change. At about 5:15 PM Thursday evening, a line of showers moved through Plain City, Ohio soaking the 41 cars that showed up for the weekly cruise-in at the restaurant.

During a brief lull in the rain, Wayne and Victor quickly raffled off the Der Dutchman baked goods. Pretty much everyone still at the cruise-in won a pie, cake, or cookies. I went home with a package of chocolate chip cookies which made getting a little wet worth it.

Ricart Corvette Convene:

The weather couldn't be more perfect for the Corvette Convene at Ricart Chevrolet in Dublin, Ohio on Friday evening.

Somewhere between 60 and 70 Corvette owners turned out for the event. Almost all generations of Corvettes were represented including the 368th one built. The majority, however, were mostly C7s and C8s.

Ricart had several brand-new mid-engine Z06s on display.

There was a DJ spinning the tunes and a Dos Hermanos truck provided food and refreshments.

If you were a Corvette fan, it was an enjoyable Friday evening.

Grace Point Car Show:

On Saturday, the Grace Point Church hosted its 4th Annual Car Show at the Bibibop parking lot on Route 23 and Lewis Center Road.

The show registered 38 cars. Everyone received a door prize ticket with registration. There was also a 50/50 raffle. Money raised from the car show went to support the Grace Point Food Pantry.

Live music was provided by Sparky Brewer. The Bibibop and Panera restaurants were right there for food and refreshments.

Trophies were awarded to the Top 10 cars along with Pastor's Choice, Original Survivor, Kind of Unusual, and Best of Show awards.

The Pastor's Choice went to Daryl Newby and his 1974 Volkswagon Thing.

Rodney Blain with a 1978 GMC Sierra 15 received the Original Survivor pick.

The Kind of Unusual pick went to the 1946 Chevy 3100 DP pickup truck belonging to Jonathan Krabill.

The Best of Show pick was Kevin Foust's 1941 Dodge WC 40 Weapons Carrier. Kevin drove his truck 100 miles to participate in the show.

Carroll Community Festival Car Show:

Downtown Carroll, Ohio was the site of the Carroll Community Festival Car Show on Saturday.

The show was put on by the Lancaster Car Scene (LCS) and registered approximately 90 cars.

Awards were presented to the Top 40 along with a Mayor's Choice, Battle of the Club Cup, and Best of Show.

Dale Pearce along with members of the Old Goats Car Club took home Top 40 trophies.

Jason and Debbie Blankenship's 1959 Chevy Apache pickup received the Best of Show honors.

Canaan Land Church Car Show:

The Canann Land Church with the help of Shaun "Big Dawg" Sanders and the C-Town Cruisers hosted its annual car show in Grove City, Ohio on Saturday.

There were 102 registered cars.

Jeff Ward received the Ladies Choice award with his 2002 custom-bagged Chevy S-10 pickup.

Bruce Hoover's customized 2010 Harley Davidson Electra Glide Classic took home the Best Bike Award.

The Best of Show honors went to Rod Scott and his 1958 Desoto Firedome Sportsman.

Powell Cruize-In and Pig-Out:

The Powell/Dt Sertoma Club hosted its 31st Annual Cruize-In & Pig Out in downtown Powell, Ohio on Sunday.

There were 145 registered cars and trucks in attendance.

Stockhands Horses for Healing had a display that included one of its ponies for the kids to pet.

Along with the restaurants in downtown Powell, A Cut Above - Schnitzel & More had a food truck at the show.

There was no door prize raffle, however, the show did have hourly 50/50 raffles starting at about 1 PM.

Awards plaques were presented to the "Favorite 60". The "Special" awards included Mayor's Choice, Police Department's Choice, Fire Department's Choice, People's Choice, Best Interior, Best Engine, and Best of Show.

Here are the "Special" award winners:

POLICE DEPARTMENT'S CHOICE
1966 Volkswagon Bus - Owner: Brian Knoll
PEOPLE'S CHOICE
2008 Dodge Viper - Owner: Chad Miller
BEST INTERIOR
1961 Volkswagon Beetle - Owners: Mark & Debi Garrett
FIRE DEPARTMENT'S CHOICE
1966 Chevy Chevelle Malibu - Owners: Mark & Jen Farmer
BEST ENGINE AND MAYOR'S CHOICE
1961 Chevy Impala - Owner: Joe Wood

The Best of Show Award went to Sam and Janice Foos with a 1957 Ford Skyliner. Unfortunately, they left before the awards presentation.

Here's a slideshow featuring all the vehicles that participated in the downtown Powell car show:

Columbus Racing Car, Truck, & Bike Show:

Frank Rusell and the Crossroads Events team along with a lot of beautiful cars were at Quaker Steak & Lube in Columbus, Ohio on Sunday hosting the Columbus Racing Car, Truck, & Bike Show.

The "Spotlight" car for this show was the Dodge Viper. Bill Chandler and his 2008 Dodge Viper received the Spotlight Car Award.

The 2004 Toyota Corolla LE belonging to Nick S. took home the Larry Bickers Daily Driver Award.

Best of Show honors went to Steve Kidwell and Nancy and their 1965 GTO.

Igniters Rod Run and Car Show:

The Igniters Street Rods Car Club hosted its Annual Rod Run and Car Show at Yoctangee Park in Chillicothe, Ohio on Sunday.

The show registered 298 cars. There were well over 300 cars if you included the club members.

Yoctangee Park provided tons of shade to help beat the heat.

Awards were presented to the Top 50 along with "Specialty" awards for Best '34 Ford, Best 50s Car, Best Interior, Best Rat Rod, and the Jim Bucy Memorial Award. There was no Best of Show.

To see more cars from the show, CLICK HERE.

Other Area Shows:

  • The Uptown Classics Auto Show took place Friday evening in downtown Marysville, Ohio. The show registered 132 cars. Jeff Irwin's 1963 Chevy Corvette Grand Sport race car received the Best of the Best Award.
  • I don't normally cover events east of Newark but I thought this was a cute way to finish off this week's report. Dale Pearce and his daughters traveled to Zanesville on Sunday to participate in a car show at the VFW. His daughters received Best of Show for their peddle car (actually Dale's 3100 received BOS and the peddle car received a Top 20 but we'll just keep this between ourselves).

A big thanks to the following people for sending photos and info about this past week's events:

  • Dale Pearce
  • Chad Herrick
  • Frank Russell
  • Kevin Foust

I hope everyone has a good week! I'll see you again next week with the Labor Day weekend events.

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