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1968 Ford Mustang - Owner: Phil Spangler

ATTENTION: A Maserati engine cover was found in the parking lot following the Andon’s Pub Car Show on Sunday. If it belongs to you, please call 614-206-3179.

Hard to believe we’ve already reached the last week of August. We’re looking at September, October, and a couple of weeks in November, and then the Central Ohio car show season will be over.

There’s nothing on the schedule Monday, but things get underway Tuesday with the usual lineup of weekly cruise-ins and bike nights. Saturday’s schedule is a little lighter this week before we head into the final holiday weekend of the summer. The bad news is that some events drop off the schedule after this week.


Monday (August 24th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (August 25th):

Wednesday (August 26th):

Thursday (August 27th):

Friday (August 28th):

Saturday (August 29th):

Sunday (August 30th):


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:

For the second week in a row, heavy rains and saturated fields forced the cancellation of the Der Dutchman Cruise-In.

Full Throttle Thursdays:

Thursday’s cancellation of the Der Dutchman Cruise-In gave me the opportunity to check out Full Throttle Thursdays at Fortress Obetz. It’s definitely a different type of crowd than what you’ll find each week at Der Dutchman.

I estimated about 40–50 cars showed up while I was there, along with hundreds of motorcycles. Everything was parked outside the Fortress, while inside there were tables and chairs along with a stage set up for the band. Participants could enjoy food from the various food trucks as well as adult beverages.

This week’s band was Jackass Genius, with a lead singer who was definitely doing his best Mick Jagger impersonation.

The event clearly caters to the motorcycle crowd, with some cars and trucks thrown in for good measure.

Between the smell of weed and the obnoxiously loud car stereos blaring in the parking lot, I don’t think I’ll be rushing back anytime soon. If nothing else, I can now say I’ve been there.

Enjoy the photos from the evening.

NAPA Friday Night Cruise-In:

Just slightly more “laid-back” than Full Throttle Thursdays was the second NAPA Friday Night Cruise-in of the season in Hilliard.

With a perfect evening of weather, about 30 cars stopped by to hang out and talk cars. The quality of the rides was also top notch. And in a complete reversal from Thursday night, I counted exactly one motorcycle. No bands or blaring stereos here either—just a good old-fashioned Friday night cruise-in.

CONTINUE READING

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

8

1963 Chevy SS - Owner: Bill Albert

The Central Ohio car show season shifts into high gear this weekend as we roll into May. The threat of snow and freeze warnings is finally in the rearview mirror, and for the next six months, it’s all about sunshine, pavement, and polished sheet metal. If your car is still sitting under a cover, now’s the time—get it out and get it on the road.

This week also marks my return to the Buckeye State after spending four months escaping Ohio’s winter. I’m looking forward to getting back into the swing of things and catching up with everyone in the weeks ahead.


Monday (April 27th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (April 28th):

Wednesday (April 29th):

Thursday (April 30th):

Friday - (May 1st):

Saturday (May 2nd):

Sunday - (May 3rd):


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

Before getting into this week’s News and Notes, I want to touch on something that comes up often—the next generation of car enthusiasts.

It’s easy for our generation to take shots at the younger generation and say they’re just not into cars the way we were. I’ll admit, the percentage might be a little smaller, but the idea that the car culture is dying off just doesn’t hold up—at least not from what I’ve seen.

A perfect example is the Import Face-Off. People sometimes look at me a bit sideways when I say it’s the second-largest car event in Central Ohio behind Goodguys Summit Racing Nationals—and it makes two stops in the area every year. That kind of turnout doesn’t happen if the next generation isn’t showing up.

The cars may look different than what many of us grew up with—Chevys, Fords, Dodges, and Plymouths—now joined by Hondas, Subarus, Lexus, and Nissans. But the passion is still there. It just wears a different badge.

The bottom line: the next generation of car enthusiasts is alive and well. And if there’s any doubt, just take a look at the crowd from last weekend’s Import Face-Off. Even on a cold, blustery April Sunday, they showed up in force.

Car show organizers might want to take note.

Calvin Rowland Memorial Car Show:

Friday evening, the 2nd Annual Calvin Rowland Memorial Car Show was held at Precision Fleet Repair in Bellefontaine, Ohio.

For those who may not know, Calvin Rowland was a longtime member of the Central Ohio car community who regularly brought his two trucks to car shows until his passing in 2023.

Friday’s show drew 43 cars. Our good friend Jeff Shankle and his “Green Goblin” took home one of the Top awards.

Here are more rides from Friday's show courtesy of Jeff.

READ MORE NEWS AND NOTES

3

1986 Pontiac Firebird - Owner: Ernie Brown

Another early-season schedule light on events. But Sunday picks up with a cruise, a couple of cars & coffee, a cruise-in, and a car show to finish up the week.

Monday (April 6th):

Tuesday (April 7th):

  • No Events Found

Wednesday (April 8th):

Thursday (April 9th):

  • No Events Found

Friday (April 10th):

Saturday (April 11th):

Sunday - (April 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

Several events on Saturday saw strong participation thanks to temperatures being a bit milder than typical for this time of year.

Horsepower Farms in Powell drew more than 250 cars for its first Cars N’ Condo meetup of the season. Along with the cars the event gave out over 150 donuts and plenty of coffee to keep everyone fueled.

The first Take Back The Strip Cruise of the year in Circleville also had a solid turnout Saturday evening.

On the motorcycle side, the Columbus Vintage Motorcycle Group shifted its meetup from Sunday to Saturday due to Easter and the weather. The move paid off with another strong turnout of bikes.

Update: Mershon's World of Cars:

Just a follow-up to last week’s discussion regarding Mershon’s. Unfortunately, Mershon’s World of Cars has ceased operations.

Springfield Cars & Coffee has received permission to continue utilizing the parking lot for its monthly meet-ups for the foreseeable future, ensuring continuity for the local enthusiast community despite the closure.

Additional details are provided below:

1934 Ford Roadster For Sale:

I don’t normally allow For Sale ads on carshowtalk.com. The site once had a Classifieds section, but it was removed after being underutilized.

I’m making an exception in this case to honor Fred Harris, who was a very active participant in the Central Ohio car community until his passing last year.

His wife is selling his 1934 Ford Roadster, a car that earned numerous awards over the years. If you’re interested, please contact Pamela Harris at 614-403-8489.


That’s it for this week.

Participation is clearly trending in the right direction, with both car and motorcycle events seeing strong turnouts when the weather cooperates. With more consistent spring temperatures hopefully on the way, the calendar—and the crowds—should continue to build in the coming weeks.

Special thanks to Jason Colvin, Horsepower Farms, Sinclair Johnson, Shaun Sanders, and Springfield Cars & Coffee for their contribution to this week's News and Notes.

Until next time, stay safe and keep those wheels rolling.

7

1948 Ford F1 Pickup - Owner: Rick Stickel

March either comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb — or vice versa. Let’s keep our fingers crossed for more lamb than lion this year.

Here’s the March lineup of car and bike events to kick off the 2026 season. The first “official” outdoor car show fires up March 14 at the Miller Swap Meet and Car Show at the Ross County Fairgrounds — a sure sign that show season is officially underway.

March also brings several swap meets, an indoor motorcycle event, and plenty of morning Cars and Coffee gatherings to keep the calendar packed.

It’s time to pull the covers off, top off the tanks, and get those rides dialed in for another big season of Central Ohio events.


Wednesday, March 18th:

Thursday, March 19th:

Friday, March 20th:

Saturday, March 21st:

Sunday, March 22nd:

Friday, March 27th:

Saturday, March 28th:

Sunday, March 29th:


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.


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.

14

The 2025 Central Ohio Car Show Season brought another year of strong turnouts, great events, and memorable moments across the area. Here’s a look back at the highlights, stats, and stories that defined the season.

It’s that time of year again — the last trophies have been handed out, the lawn chairs and tents folded, and most cruisers have put their cars away in anticipation of another Ohio winter. As the temperatures drop and the show fields go quiet, it’s the perfect moment to pause and look back at the Central Ohio car show season that just wrapped up.

Before I dive in, a quick disclaimer: these opinions are entirely my own, based on the events I attended and the vehicles I personally saw. Agree, disagree, or have your own take? Drop it in the comments — I’d love to hear it.

This Year's Stats

Coverage Area: Marion (N), Springfield (W), Chillicothe (S), Newark (E)

Total Events Listed: 1,088 (slightly down from 1,133 in 2024
The drop in total events this year was mainly due to the loss of 40–45 Crossroads events after Frank Russell retired — but there were still plenty of great shows to choose from across Central Ohio.

Busiest Months

  • August — 216 events - a new champ, knocking July off its two-year streak.
  • June — 202
  • July — 161

Busiest Week: June 9–15 (57 events)

Busiest Day: Saturday, June 14 (32 events)

Photos Taken

  • 9,000+ of my own
  • 6,000+ from emails/texts/Facebook

I’m pretty sure I could identify your ride in a police lineup—just don’t ask me to remember your license plate!

Featured Cars at the Start of Each Post: 33

  • Oldest: two 1941 Fords
  • Newest: 2018 Camaro 2SS

Event Recaps Posted: 269
Community Contributors:
 44 — THANK YOU!

Website Stats

  • Visitors from January to now: ~90,000 (up 11%)
  • Page Views: 195,000 (up 9%)
  • Subscribers: 770

Participation Award

Just like last year, I managed to hit 92 car events and one bike event this season. Some folks might think that’s a lot — at least until they hear how many events Jeff Tolley and Dave O’Brien have shown up to. As of November 11th, both of them have logged over 210 events. I even saw on Facebook that they went to a cruise-in at a parking garage in Newark this past Saturday. At this point, I’m convinced they’ve either cloned themselves or outsourced their yard work entirely, because there’s no way they’re mowing grass and doing yard work like the rest of us mere mortals.

Without question, Photographer of the Year goes to Jeff Shankle. No one takes more car photos during the season than Jeff. When he shows up to the big events like Goodguys, James Dean, or the Pumpkin Run, you can count on 3,000-plus photos waiting for you to scroll through afterward.

Honorable Mention Photographer this year goes to Bubba Hettinger. When Bubba attends a show, you can pretty much guarantee he’ll photograph every car, truck, and bike — and probably a few other things that catch his eye at the event.

CONTINUE READING THE RECAP

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

1970 Chevy Camaro SS - Owner: Dwayne Cobb

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NEWS AND NOTES

Creative Auto Group/Advance Auto Parts Car Show:

The Creative Auto Group and Advance Auto Parts in Marysville held their October car show on Friday, raising $65 for the Trinity Chapel Church food pantry.

This month’s trophy winners were:

  • Rex Dillon – 1936 Dodge Sedan
  • Mel D – 1967 Ford Mustang
  • Rick Jones – 1952 Ford F2 Truck

The final show of the season will be held on Friday, November 7, which is the first Friday of November (instead of the usual second Friday).

BGMC Car Show:

The New Beginnings Assembly of God Church on Williams Road in Columbus, Ohio, hosted its 8th Annual BGMC Car Show on Saturday.

BGMC, which stands for Boys and Girls Missionary Challenge, supports missionaries around the world by providing essential resources. All proceeds from the event went toward BGMC. In addition to vehicle registration, the show also featured a silent auction and a 50/50 raffle.

This year’s event drew 59 registered vehicles. Trophies were awarded to the Top 40, along with special honors for Best TruckPastor’s ChoiceBest MotorcycleBGMC Choice3rd Place2nd Place, and Best of Show.

No motorcycles were registered this year, so the Special Award Winners were:

  • Best Truck: 1965 Chevy C-10 Stepside Pickup — Mike & Sandy Willis
  • Pastor’s Choice: 1957 Chevy Bel Air — David Elliott
  • BGMC Choice: 1973 Plymouth Duster — Dave & Jackie Hiles
  • 3rd Place: 1959 Morris Minor — Pete Fleming
  • 2nd Place: 1966 Pontiac GTO — Steve Schaeffer
  • Best of Show: 1931 Pontiac — Chip Jackson

Congratulations to all the winners and participants on another successful show supporting a great cause.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

4

1965 International Scout Red Carpet Special - Owner: Mike Sullivan

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NEWS AND NOTES

Dutchman Cruise-In Banquet:

Der Dutchman wrapped up another successful cruise-in season on Thursday evening with the annual end-of-season banquet. A total of 177 people signed up to attend this year’s celebration.

After dinner, Cruise-In Manager Wayne Nisly shared some fun facts comparing the 2024 and 2025 seasons:

Total Number of Cruise-Ins:
2024 - 21
2025 - 22

Total Cars Counted for the Season:
2024 - 5,809
2025 - 4,748

Number of Rain Days:
2024 - 2 days
2025 - 4 days

Lowest Attendance:
2024 - 8 Cars
2025 - 10 cars

Highest Single-Day Attendance:
2024 - 414
2025 - 507

First Time Attenders:
2024 - 353
2025 - 259

Wayne also noted that his database now holds 2,140 names, with records purged for anyone who hasn’t attended in four years.

To close out the evening, every household received a plaque in appreciation for their participation in the 2025 cruise-in season.

The banquet was the perfect way to wrap up the 2025 season and look forward to even more great cruise-ins in 2026.

Columbus Cars and Coffee at Alum Creek Marina:

The corporate-sponsored version of Columbus Cars and Coffee switched things up this past Saturday, hosting its meet at Alum Creek Marina for the very first time. The lakeside venue was a unique choice, giving the event a fresh atmosphere that stood out from the usual spots.

With more than 200 cars in attendance, the lot was overflowing—literally—with rows of vehicles stretching into the grass.

And while the mix of cars was diverse, the morning definitely had a Porsche vibe. From Boxsters and Caymans to an impressive lineup of 911s, the brand dominated the waterfront scene.

Check out this video montage for a taste of Saturday morning's action.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass Convertible - Owner: Brad Culp

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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.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES