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Tag: hi-way starz

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows & Motorcycle Events | August 24 – 30, 2026
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

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

Published on
2019 Audi S3 - Owner: Braxton Hawkinberry

This week’s schedule features a nice mix of weekly cruise-ins, Cars & Coffee gatherings, bike nights, and several larger weekend shows spread across Central Ohio.

The weekend lineup is especially packed, with everything from British Car Day Columbus, PBJ Connections Healing with Horsepower, and the Kreiger All Ford Show to multiple Cars & Coffee events, charity fundraisers, bike gatherings, and community car shows.

As always, event schedules can change due to weather or other last-minute issues, so it’s a good idea to check event pages before heading out.

Monday (May 11th):

  • No Events Found

Tuesday (May 12th):

Wednesday (May 13th):

Thursday (May 14th):

Friday - (May 15th):

Saturday (May 16th):

Sunday - (May 17th):

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:

Jackets and long pants were the required attire for the first Der Dutchman Cruise-In of the season in Plain City. Even with temperatures hovering in the 50s, it didn’t stop 232 cars — including 18 first-timers — from turning out for the season opener.

Wayne looked rested and ready for another fun-packed 2026 season, greeting attendees as the lot quickly filled with everything from classics and muscle cars to modern performance rides and trucks.

As always, the variety of vehicles on display was one of the highlights of the evening.

Carroll Lions Car Show:

With the help of Shaun “Big Dawg” Sanders and the C-Town Cruisers, the Carroll Lions hosted its annual downtown car show on Saturday. Proceeds from the event help support a variety of local Lions community projects.

After a slow start caused by morning rain and wet roads, the show eventually rebounded to register 54 vehicles. Attendees competed for Top 25 awards along with four sponsor trophies, a special auction trophy, and the coveted Best of Show award.

The Lions also sold event t-shirts that included a raffle ticket for a chance to win one of four buckets filled with car care products. The auction trophy drew plenty of interest, with the winning bid eventually reaching $70.

The four Sponsor Trophy winners were:

  • Astrografx: Dave & Jackie Hiles - 1973 Plymouth Duster/Twister
  • Auman Landscape: Mr Jimmy - 1986 Toyoto pickup
  • Carroll Cup Coffee House: Bill Justice - 1986 Porsche 944
  • 1BDCustomz Custom Trophies: Mike Woods -1966 Ford F100

The Best of Show honors went to Bret Ruff and his 1967 Chevy Camaro SS

Here are the rest of the cars that attended the show:

read more News and Notes

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Published on 4 Comments on Central Ohio Car and Bike Events for October 6th Thru October 12th, 2025
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

Published on
1997 Dodge Neon Custom - Owner: Brandon Elliott

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This is a non-profit website, and we respect your privacy. Your email address will never be sold or shared with marketers. Subscribing is completely safe — you won’t receive any additional spam in your inbox.

NEWS AND NOTES

I have to begin this week’s News and Notes on a somber note. Richard McPeek passed away on September 12, 2025. Richard was a familiar face at car shows in and around the Newark and Licking County area, where he proudly showed his 1934 Ford Sedan. He will be deeply missed by all of us in the car community.

Der Dutchman Cruise-In a Special Evening for Wayne:

Thursday’s second-to-last Der Dutchman Cruise-In of the season was a memorable one for Wayne Nisly, who has managed the event since its beginning. Wayne was honored with the second annual Lifetime Achievement Award from the Speak for the Unspoken Car Show in recognition of his tremendous contributions to the Central Ohio car community.

Under Wayne’s leadership, the cruise-in has grown from just seven cars at its very first gathering in 2012 to an impressive 394 cars this past Thursday. More importantly, he has created a welcoming place where enthusiasts can share their passion for unique and beautiful cars, reconnect with old friends, and forge new friendships. His dedication has left a lasting impact on the Central Ohio car scene—this award was a heartfelt way of saying thank you.

Just a reminder — this week’s cruise-in will be the last one of the season. The following week is the annual end of the season banquet. If you haven’t signed up for the banquet, Thursday will be your final chance to do so.

Ford Vs Ferrari Car Show:

Valley Ford of Columbus hosted its 2nd Annual Ford vs. Ferrari Car Show on Friday evening.

Registration was $10, with all proceeds benefiting QFM96’s Red, White & Q Fund. While no official car count was taken, most attendees estimated between 150–200 vehicles, with Mustangs making up about 90% of the field.

Special guest Steve Saleen, the legendary designer behind Saleen Fords, was on hand signing autographs.

The event also featured a wide variety of food trucks—including some serving adult beverages—that kept the large crowd of spectators and participants well fed.

At the conclusion of the show, six awards were presented:

  • Best Saleen Mustang
  • Best Modern Classic
  • Ladies’ Choice
  • Mechanics’ Choice
  • Dealer’s Choice
  • Best of Show

Here are the six winners:

Best Saleen Mustang: Mathew Bates - 2004 Saleen Mustang

Best Modern Classic: Bob Foutty - 2001 Mustang SVT Cobra

Ladies' Choice: Chris Zakrzewski - 1969 Ford Mustang

Mechanics' Choice: Matt Goff - 1970 Oldsmobile Cutlass

Dealers' Choice - Mike Charles - 1990 Saleen Sports Truck (Not Pictured)

The Best of Show honors went to Todd Damon and his 1966 Ford GT 40 Mark 2

While the winning cars were all impressive, the most eye-catching vehicle of the evening wasn’t a Mustang, Ford GT, or Ferrari—it was a one-of-a-kind 2007 Valarra Corvette, featuring a ProCharged LS2 motor and massive 25-inch, 405-series rear tires!

Although the show welcomed all makes and models, the overwhelming presence of Mustangs and the strong Ford turnout gave the evening a distinctly Ford-focused vibe—just what you’d expect from an event hosted by a Ford dealer.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

Published on
2025 Frank n Vette - Owner: Boots Longenette - Auto Smart Radio

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If you would like to be notified by email when a new posting appears, simply click the Subscribe link at the top of the page.

This is a non-profit website, and we respect your privacy. Your email address will never be sold or shared with marketers. Subscribing is completely safe — you won’t receive any additional spam in your inbox.

NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

Despite zero rain, attendance dipped slightly at Thursday evening’s cruise-in, with 170 cars in attendance. Mid-summer vacations and a touch of car show fatigue are starting to show—something that typically happens around this time of year.

Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show:

The Arthritis Foundation hosted its 42nd Annual Charity Auto Show this past weekend at the Metro Center in Dublin, Ohio.

Festivities began Thursday with a scenic tour, as 45 participants took the back roads through the Ohio countryside to Indian Lake. There, the group visited what is believed to be the largest private collection of classic wooden boats in the country.

The drive continued around the lake to the Tilton Hilton, a rustic spot famous for its quirky interior and hearty half-pound burgers. The day wrapped up with high-speed fun at K1 Speed in Hilliard, where 40 attendees hit the kart track, followed by evening drinks at the Roosevelt Room in Dublin.

Big thanks to Dave Bratton for providing the great photos and detailed description of the tour. His contribution helped capture the spirit of the drive and the unique stops along the way.

Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show Friday Cruise-In:

Intermittent light showers throughout the day dampened Friday’s Cruise-in at the Arthritis Foundation Charity Auto Show. Fortunately, the rain cleared by 5 PM—just in time for the opening set from The British Invasion band.

Friday’s Cruise-in drew approximately 250 cars. This video slideshow, featuring photos taken by Jeff Shankle and me, highlights some of the beautiful rides that were on display.

They started handing out the 100 six-foot trophies around 7:30 PM. Here are some local winners I was able to catch on camera.

Dale Pearce found out just how handy a convertible can be when it came time to haul home his six-foot trophy.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES

2

Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows, Cruise-Ins, & Meet-Ups for September 23 – 29, 2024
2010 Ford Mustang GT Convertible - Owner: Jim Allen

Before we get into this week’s list, I want to take a moment to thank the Columbus Area Chapter of the Mustang Club Ohio for the inaugural Life Time Achievement Award I received on Sunday at the Speak for the Unspoken Car Show. It was a surprise and an honor to receive this award for carshowtalk.com.

I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the many volunteers who contribute content to this site each week. The adage “It takes a village to raise a child” applies here. It certainly takes a village to create a content-rich car show blog. I can’t begin to express my appreciation for all the help I receive from the Central Ohio car community. I’m truly blessed in that regard.

I plan to prominently display this award on my desk so it always reminds me how much fun it is to go to a car show. It’s not so much about the cars or the awards but rather the people you meet, and the friends you make that all share a passion for cars.

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

Grace Chapel Wednesday Night Cruise-In:

The Wednesday Night Cruise-in at the Grace Chapel Community Church in Westerville, Ohio had around 50 cars in attendance this week.

Nothing fancy just a bunch of car people getting together and shooting the breeze on a lovely Wednesday evening.

The cruise-in will go to the end of October weather permitting. If you're looking for something to do on a Wednesday evening, check it out.

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

The second-to-last Der Dutchman Cruise-In of the season had 380 cars in attendance.

A group of ten cars from the Dayton, Ohio area drove over to attend the cruise-in for the first time. One of the cars in the group, a current-generation Corvette, had a very cool military-themed wrap.

As is usually the case, you never know what might appear at the cruise-in. This week it was a semi-truck hauling assorted items including another truck and a hot air balloon.

This coming Thursday (9/26) will be the last Der Dutchman cruise-in of the season. The following week will be the banquet. If you're interested in attending the banquet, there is a sign-up sheet at the registration table.

Spectrum Support Car Show:

On Saturday, the Hi-Way Starz Car Club hosted its first-ever car show at the Eagles F.O.E in Newark, Ohio.

Registration was only $10 and with it came one door prize ticket. You could purchase more door prize tickets as well as 50/50 raffle tickets. All proceeds from the show went to support Autism.

The Hi-Way Starz registered 101 vehicles on Saturday. There were a total of 50 awards which included trophies for the Top 40, nine "Special Category" trophies, and a Best of Show.

Here were the "Special Category" winners:

BEST MODERN
2023 Cadillac CT5-V Blackwing - Owner: K. Hawksworth
BEST IMPORT
1988 Porsche 928 S4 - Owner: Jim Keck
BEST HOT ROD
1930 Ford Model A with a blown 354 Hemi - Owners: Joe/Hot Rod by Ed
BEST RAT ROD
1963 Volkswagon Bug - Owner: Brad Smith
BEST TRUCK
1959 Ford F100 - Owner: Bobby
BEST BIKE
2004 Harley Davidson Softtail Custom - Owner: Cory Holmes
BEST MOPAR
1974 Plymouth Satelite RoadRunner Tribute - Owner: Duane Green
BEST FORD
1955 Ford Thunderbird - Owner: Will Ford
BEST GM
1961 Chevy Impala - Owner: Darlene Casey

The 1957 Chevy Bel Air wagon of Scott Shepherd was selected Best of Show.

For a first-time event, the Hi-Way Starz should be commended. The show was very organized and awards were presented on time without any glitches. Hopefully, the club will consider doing more shows in the future.

READ THE REST OF NEWS AND NOTES