50+ Lifestyles

PUBLISHER’S CORNER

America’s Fascination with Car Shows

Part 1 of a 2-Part series

By Eloise Graham

On any given week from mid-April until mid-October, there are between 15 to 30+ car shows in a 50-mile radius of the Quad Cities. Some shows are only a couple of hours long, others up to two days. A show might be just 6 to 12 cars in a parking lot, all with the hoods up. The proud owners sit around talking to one another while waiting for someone to come look at the car, the engine. This might be a Cars and Coffee get-together. These happen periodically in Le Claire, Bettendorf, Hilltop Campus Village, Moline and other sites. Very informal but a chance to show off the prized possessions. Other car shows might be for a special type of car: maybe all muscle cars from the ‘50s and ‘60s, all convertibles, all Corvettes, all hot rods, all VW beetles. You get the picture. Some shows include motorcycles or ATVs. Some events are for cruising from one location to another. Some events are racing. Often there is a swap meet. Not only are stories swapped, but maybe hubcaps or other auto accessories. The conversations overheard at the gatherings can bring back many memories of days gone by. After all, all of these cars have a story or two. Some shows have entry fees and prizes given out. Judging is done on the cars. So each show is unique in its own way.

Said conversations can bring back memories of your own interaction with automobiles. Listening to people tell their stories reminded me of the car my family had when I was growing up. My dad purchased a brand new light blue 1950 Studebaker. The style was considered “bullet nosed” but my 4 year old brain thought it looked like a belly button. One car show I was at, a lady brought her 1946 Hudson pick-up. She was a Hudson lover through and through. She only had and showed Hudsons. That brought back memories of my high school days. The brother of the boy I was dating at the time had a Hudson, probably early 1950. It was Brownish rust colored and affectionately known as  “Sherman tank.” It seemed indestructible. My boyfriend had a Mercury, probably a ’55 or ’56, blue and white two-toned. Their parents had the same model Mercury but salmon and white. Memories of decades ago that I wouldn’t have remembered if I hadn’t been at a car show.

Another lady saw a car that reminded her of what her dad drove when she was little. She asked if she could open the door and look inside. Maybe even touch the seats? The owner was proud as a peacock to show off his vehicle. He took her around to the driver’s side and let her get in behind the wheel. While the owners are protective of their prized possessions, they also are proud of them and want to show them off.

Next month in Part 2, read about one of the largest car shows in the Midwest and about car shows as seen from the eyes of a young lad.