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Who doesn’t like “old” cars? Everybody has a memory or two that includes a classic automobile and if not, simply enjoys the sleek beauty of the lines and curves of day gone by. For some it is muscle cars, others like hot rods or Ford and Chevy classics; everyone is connected to some style. Volkswagen, Corvette, Charger, Studebaker, Roadster, Mercedes, Lincoln, Edsel or Thunderbird, there is a flavour for every taste!
On Saturday, May 28, 2016, we visited the annual Cruisin’ Home Car Show in St. Jacobs, Ontario, Canada. Although we were not classic / antique car fans, it was a beautiful sunny day and we were looking for something to do. So with little enthusiasm, we headed to St. Jacobs where the show’s host Home Hardware headquarters is. The show flyer promised Antiques, Hot Rods, Muscle Cars & Special Interest Cars & Trucks from 2 pm to 6 pm.
A huge parking lot filled with classic cars and trucks greeted us as we rolled up Henry Street in quaint St. Jacobs around 4 pm. After finding a parking space fairly close by, we headed to the lot. No entry fee was a pleasant surprise, suddenly it seemed a little more interesting. Row upon row of vintage automobiles, each with it’s own unique color, design and class lined the lot. One could not help but be impressed by these well waxed, perfectly maintained beauties.
A local classic radio station, KFUN 99.5 set the mood, playing a mix of oldies but goodies from the 50’s to the 70’s. A food booth run by the Optimist Club of St. Jacobs offered hotdogs, sausages, sodas, water and other snacks seemed well visited. An exhibitors admission fee of minimum one new stuffed toy as well as the food booth proceeds were to be donated to the emergency room of the local Grand River Hospital for children receiving emergency care – nice touch!
Although I would have preferred to have seen vehicles grouped by year and style, the no registration exhibition was slightly chaotic; beautiful 1950’s cars mixed in with muscle cars and special interest trucks. However, due to the no registration policy, it allowed exhibitors to show up unannounced which perhaps contributed to larger numbers. The flyer stated a “goodie bucket” for the first 250 show cars as well as raffle tickets for the general public with a draw at 5:30 pm and a 50/50.
So now here it comes – I think I am a classic car fan! Yes, I said it. These vehicles are streamlined tanks of days gone by! The excitement the owners have for their treasures, constantly dusting and polishing and chatting with each other; spotless engines which they were more than happy to “fire it up” so you could hear the purr or the roar; custom features, retractable hard tops, cylinders, restoration and rare were all words of the day.
Cruisin’ Home Car Show has not made me want to run out and buy a classic, however, I will be watching for shows as a pleasurable pastime when travelling in the future.
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Watch the video, Cruisin’ Home Car Show!
