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1997 Dodge Neon Custom - Owner: Brandon Elliott

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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.

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2021 Jeep Gladiator - Owner: David Oliver

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NEWS AND NOTES

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

The forecast said sunshine and low 80s for Thursday afternoon, but we ended up with sprinkles, gusty winds, and low 70s. Typical Ohio, right? 😅 Even with the weather doing its own thing, the Der Dutchman Cruise-In still pulled in 209 cars, with 11 of those being first-timers. Not bad at all considering the conditions!

Not only did the Buick Dynaflow-equipped car qualify as the most unique vehicle of the evening, but a group of attendees also showed up sporting some equally unique hats. It made for a great mix of automotive history and lighthearted fun—just the kind of atmosphere that keeps these gatherings memorable.

Here are a few more cars from Thursday evening's botched forecast cruise-in.

Friday Night NAPA Cruise-In:

It was a perfect evening for a cruise-in. More than 30 cars turned out for the Friday Night NAPA Cruise-In in Hilliard, Ohio, making the most of the beautiful weather. A nice mix of classics, muscle cars, and European models filled the lot, giving everyone something to check out. The laid-back atmosphere, good conversations, and cool cars made for a great way to kick off the weekend.

Pharisburg UMC Car Show and Cuisine:

With the help of “Big Dawg” and the C-Town Cruisers, the Pharisburg United Methodist Church in Marysville, Ohio, hosted its annual Car Show and Cuisine on Friday evening.

The night had all the right ingredients—good food, classic tunes, and a strong turnout of 54 beautiful rides filling the church grounds. Attendees enjoyed not only the cars but also the chance to gather with friends, enjoy a meal, and listen to vintage favorites that set the perfect backdrop.

Awards were handed out across several categories, including five church awards, a slate of Specialty awards, and the coveted Best of Cruise. This year, that top honor went to Dan Varner and his unrestored 1968 Pontiac GTO, a true survivor that drew plenty of attention throughout the evening.

To capture the atmosphere, Car Show Talk photographer, Jeff Shankle, documented the event, walking the rows of classics and snapping shots of the cars that made this year’s show one to remember.

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Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Shows, Cruise-Ins, & Meet-Ups for September 9 – 15, 2024
1959 Corvette Convertible - Owner: Larry Souslin

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NEWS AND NOTES

After some much-needed rain showers on Friday, the weather on Saturday and Sunday was just about ideal for the many car shows on the schedule.

Der Dutchman Cruise-In:

After a slow start, the weekly cruise-in at the restaurant pulled in 327 cars on Thursday. A good portion of them showed up after 5:30 pm.

Next week there will be the regular cruise-in on Thursday and then the annual Coffee and Donuts Cruise-In on Saturday morning from 9 - 11:30 AM. It's my once-a-year treat to a Der Dutchman cream-filled long John Donut. Can't wait!

Richwood Bank Coffee & Cars Cruise-In:

The Richwood Bank in Delaware, Ohio hosted its final Coffee & Cars Cruise-In of the season on Saturday.

There were approximately 25 cars in attendance despite the chilly early morning temperatures.

Along with the Coffee Shop specials inside the bank, there were also raffle prizes at the end of the cruise-in. The prizes included buckets of car care products, pizza coupons, and a $100 gift card to an auto repair and maintenance shop.

Greg Nobis won the grand prize of car care products and an assortment of adult spirits.

It was a good end to Richwood Bank Coffee & Cars Cruise-Ins for 2024.

Nite the Lite Car Show:

The 39th Nite the Lite Car Show took place on the historic Courthouse Square in Newark, Ohio on Saturday.

The show is hosted by the Newark Rodders Car Club and Matheny family.

This year the show registered 570 cars with more than 630 in attendance.

Part of the proceeds from the show go to support lighting the Courthouse with festive Christmas lights during the holiday season.

This is a judged show with the judging carried out by the sponsors of the trophies. This year had more than one hundred four and six foot trophies.

Some six foot winners included Dr. Ron Rogers with his 1968 Dodge Charger.

Kevin Foust's 1941 Dodge WC 40 Military Weapons Carrier.

Gerald Wicker and his 2005 Chevy Silverado pickup.

Here are more of the fantastic rides that attended the Lite the Nite Car Show:

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Published on 2 Comments on Central Ohio Car Events for September 13 – 19, 2021
1968 Buick Skylark
Owners: Chris & Korean Russell

A few weekly cruise-ins have dropped off the schedule, however, this weekend and next still have a full slate of events. Things will begin to wind down in October.

NEWS AND NOTES:

Der Dutchman:

The Der Dutchman Cruise-in experienced another good week of attendance with 287 cars Thursday evening. Two outstanding cars, a 1940 Woody wagon that won best of show at the Zucchinifest and West Jefferson Ox Roast last week, and a 50's Cadillac paid a visit this week.

Only three more cruise-ins left for this year. If you haven't made it to one yet, time is starting to run out.

Speaking of Der Dutchman, they will hold their Coffee and Donuts Cruise-in this Saturday morning. It's a great excuse to enjoy a cup of coffee, one of their famous long John donuts and hang out with your car buddies.

Creative Automotive/Advanced Auto Parts Car Show:

After battling rain the previous two months, The Creative Automotive/Advanced Auto Parts Car Show in Marysville, Ohio finally got a descent evening of weather.

Forty-two cars showed up Friday evening for the monthly show with 35 of them registering. The show raised $180 for the Milford Center and Marysville food pantries.

This month the manager of Advanced Auto Parts selected the following four cars for awards.

1970 Dodge Dart Swinger
Owners: Thad & Theresa Roberts
1986 Buick Grand National
Owner: Bill Hoislbauer
1968 Chevy Van Butch
Owner: Butch Thompson
1934 Ford Pickup
Owner: Steve Atwell

Empty Pockets Cruisers Patriots Day Car Show:

The Empty Pockets Cruisers held their Patriots Day Car Show on Saturday at the Hilliard Community Center in Hilliard, Ohio.

This was the club's third show of the season and the first time hosting a show at the Hilliard Community center. Normally the club hosts three shows a season but in commemoration of the 20th anniversary of 9/11 they added this extra show.

The Community center turned out to be a nice venue for a car show. There was plenty of parking, clean restrooms and some shade if you wanted it. The club reached out to large number of food trucks but only two showed up on Saturday. I overheard some people complaining that the service from both trucks was a little slow.

The club registered 134 cars and presented 50 awards. The special awards at this event included Most Patriotic, First Responders Choice, Sponsors Choice, DJ's Choice, and Best of Show.

Best of Show award went to Dean and LuAnn Mafsenbacher and their 1953 Chevy 3100 pickup. The Mafsenbacher's truck also took the Best of Show honors at the Empty Pockets Armed Forces Day show in May.

All in all it was another great event put on by the Empty Pockets Cruisers. The club's final show of the season will be their annual Trunk or Treat event, one of my favorites, on October 16.

If you'd like to see more from the Patriots Day Show, CLICK HERE.

Ohio Corvette Club Alliance Corvette Gathering:

On Sunday I had the opportunity to participate in my very first Corvette Gathering in downtown Lancaster, Ohio.

The Gathering is put on by the Alliance of Corvette clubs from around the state of Ohio. It pretty much amounts to a big cruise-in for Corvettes. There's no judging or awards. For the $15 registration fee, you received a nice participation plaque and a raffle ticket for door prizes. The event also included a silent auction. Vendors were there selling Corvette related paraphernalia. After skipping last year because of Covid, this was the 16th year for the Corvette Gathering.

The Alliance registered 310 Corvettes, however, it was closer to 360 that participated. West Main Street in the historic district of downtown Lancaster is where the event is held. The street is closed between S. Columbus Street and S. High Street. There's a nice hill to climb as you walk towards S. High Street.

The newer Corvettes pretty much dominated the Gathering. Someone told me they only counted about 25 Corvettes from 1970 and older. I think there was more than that but the newer Corvettes were definitely in abundance. I saw quite a few out-of-state cars. The farthest away someone traveled that I saw was South Dakota.

If you like Corvettes and want to spend a relaxing day shooting the breeze with other Corvette owners, the Corvette Gathering is the place to be.

CLICK HERE to see a bunch of Corvettes from the Gathering.

Motts Military Driving for Daisy Car Show:

The Pepsi's Auto Smarts Radio Cruise and Ride crew were at the Motts Military Museum in Groveport, Ohio on Sunday for the Motts Military Driving for Daisy Car Show.

The show registered around 100 cars. The Best of Show award went to Jim Bickel and his 1969 AMC AMX. Dale Pearce and his 1950 Chevy 3100 pickup took Best Truck.

CLICK HERE for more scenes from the Motts Military Driving Daisey show.

Other Area Car Shows:

I received word that the Street Elite Corvette Club's Charitable Open Car Show in Sunbury, Ohio on Saturday registered 160 cars. If anyone knows who took Best of Show, please post in the comments.

UPDATE: Sam Parks and his 1948 Chevy Pickup took the Best of Show award.

I'm told the turnout on Sunday for the All Ohio Ford Show at the Pastime Park in Plain City, Ohio was not very good. By 1 PM only 35-40 cars had registered. I understand there was no food or drink available. Very disappointing for a show with a $20 registration fee.

I want to again thank Dave Bratton and Jeff Shankle for sending information and photos on the shows they attending this weekend. It's great to have eyes, ears and cameras at the shows I'm unable to attend.

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