While some car shows are turning into cruises rather than static events, others are realizing that they simply cannot overcome the ongoing pandemic. The latest to cancel are the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance, Hot August Nights, Roadkill Nights on Woodward, the Donington Historic Festival, and the ACD Club has canceled its annual gathering at the ACD Festival.
Actually, the Las Vegas Concours d’Elegance announced its cancelation a few weeks ago, but in reading the news release we skipped over the mention of 2021 and instead reported the featured marques — Cadillac, 30 years of Lamborghini Diablo and the cars of Elvis Presley.
Concours founder Stuart Sobek subsequently has explained that, “too much uncertainty at every level,” plus the fact that many exhibitors and judges are in the coronavirus high-risk age group, made it sensible to cancel this year and start planning for the fall of 2021.
The 34th annual Hot August Nights, the annual hot rod and custom car gathering scheduled for July 31-August 9 in Reno-Sparks, Nevada, has been canceled. However, while the series of car shows has been canceled, MAG Auctions plans to stage its collector car auction August 7-8 at the Reno-Sparks Convention Center.
Roadkill Nights has been an actual drag racing event staged as part of the Woodward Dream Cruise week in suburban Detroit. However, town councils in several communities along the famous boulevard have asked that Dream Cruise events scheduled for mid-August not take place because of the potential spread of coronavirus.
The Donington vintage races already had been postponed. Organizers now say they already are working on a 10th anniversary celebration event for 2021.
And although the annual Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival remains scheduled for early September in northeast Indiana, the ACD Club has canceled its usual events held in conjunction with the festival.
“The Board of Directors does not feel that we can provide a safe environment for our Club volunteers and members during in-person events,” the board posted on the club’s website. The board added that it plans to host the ACD Club’s annual meeting via the Zoom website on September 6.
Goodguys will try again in Des Moines
After the cancelation of the 23rd annual PPG Nationals in Columbus, Ohio, the Goodguys Rod & Custom Association hopes to open its summer season July 3-5 with the 29th Speedway Motors Heartland Nationals at Des Moines, Iowa.
The Goodguys continue to work with local officials in Salt Lake City, Utah, and Puyallup, Washington, regarding events scheduled for those locations later in July.
Father’s Day car show alternatives
Due to the coronavirus and various social-distancing restrictions, many of the usual Father’s Day car shows, including the 27th annual Rodeo Drive Concours d’Elegance, were canceled, though some were staged but in a different format
For example, instead of the EyesOn Design concours in Michigan, there was a cruise along a lakeshore drive instead.
In British Columbia, Canada, instead of the 45th annual Father’s Day Show and Shine, the Prince George Citizen reports that the Cruisn’ Classic club did a series of cruises on routes that included senior care homes. Two other car clubs joined in so as many as 60 vehicles took part.
In Santa Barbara, California, television station KEYT reported that members of the AACA and Santa Barbara Cars & Coffee did a Father’s Day weekend cruise that included visits to several senior retirement facilities.
In Louisville, Colorado, around 100 classic cars paraded through the Balfour Senior Living campus on Father’s Day and something similar took place in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada.
Stockton resumes cruise nights
Stockton Cruise Night has resumed in the California community, where, on the third Thursday of each month, classic cars meet at 6 p.m. at Gian’s Deli before their cruise along the city’s Miracle Mile (Pacific Avenue from Alpine to Harding and Harding Way from El Dorado to Lincoln). The cruises are scheduled to run through October 15.
Ohio high school hosts car show
The 13th annual EJK Xavier High School Car Show is scheduled for June 27 in Middletown, Ohio, The Middletown Press reports. The show was started in 2004 by the family of Eric Kalber, an Xavier graduate who died in a crash a year after graduating.
According to the newspaper, the family “was going to stop hosting the event, when Xavier High School felt the desire to continue Eric’s legacy.”
Money raised by the show supports a scholarship in Eric Kalber’s name.
Show honors vets, features Metal of Honor winner
Journal contributor Paul Brian reports that the Lynch Foundation Show for the Vets is scheduled from 11 a.m. until 3 p.m. on June 28 at the Bartlett Plaza Shopping Center in Bartlett, Illinois, where Metal of Honor recipient Allen Lynch will present an award to the owner of his favorite car on display.
Money raised supports the Allen J. Lynch Medal of Honor Veterans Foundation.
Lynch was a sergeant in the 12th Calvary Regiment in Vietnam, where, his Medal of Honor Citation notes, “Observing three wounded comrades Lying exposed to enemy fire, Sgt. Lynch dashed across 50 meters of open ground through a withering hail of enemy fire to administer aid. Reconnoitering a nearby trench for a covered position to protect the wounded from intense hostile fire, he killed two enemy soldiers at point blank range.
“With the trench cleared, he unhesitatingly returned to the fire-swept area three times to carry the wounded men to safety. When his company was forced to withdraw by the superior firepower of the enemy, Sgt. Lynch remained to aid his comrades at the risk of his life rather than abandon them.
“Alone, he defended his isolated position for two hours against the advancing enemy. Using only his rifle and a grenade, he stopped them just short of his trench, killing five. Again, disregarding his safety in the face of withering hostile fire, he crossed 70 meters of exposed terrain five times to carry his wounded comrades to a more secure area.
“Once he had assured their comfort and safety, Sgt. Lynch located the counterattacking friendly company to assist in directing the attack and evacuating the three casualties.”
Fall car-show calendar
Because of the coronavirus pandemic, the fall car-show and concours calendar continues to evolve. Here’s the updated schedule, based on official announcements, as of June 23, 2020:
August 9-16 — Concours at Pasadera, Carlisle Import & Performance Nationals, Woodward Dream Cruise (Detroit suburbs), Street Rod Nationals Southeast (Kentucky), Goodguys Great American Nationals (Pennsylvania), Indy 500 Corvette pace car homecoming
August 19-20 — London Concours
August 21-23 — Morgan Adams Concours d’Elegance (Colorado), Geneva (Illinois) Concours d’Elegance, Street Rod Route 66 Nationals (New Mexico), Goodguys West Coast Nationals (California), AACA Southeastern Fall Nationals (Indiana) (plus the Indianapolis 500)
August 27-30 — Corvettes at Carlisle, Fountain Valley (California), Artmobilia Weekend (Carmel, Indiana), Goodguys Nashville Nationals (plus the rescheduled New York International Auto Show)
September 4-7 (Labor Day weekend) — Auburn Cord Duesenberg Festival, Greenbrier Concours d’Elegance, Lime Rock Historic Festival, Groesbeck Grand Prix Festival of Motoring (Texas), Crescent Beach Concours d’Elegance, Sonoma Speed Festival, Foothills Motoring Festival (Pinehurst, North Carolina), Royal Concours of Elegance (England)
September 11-13 — AAA Glidden Tour (Sarasota Springs, New York), Vail Classic, Goodguys Colorado Nationals, Wisconsin Dells Automotion
September 18-20 — New York City Concours, Dayton Concours d’Elegance, LaJolla Concours d’Elegance, Street Rod Nationals Northeast (Vermont), Arizona FuelFest (plus the 24 Hours of Le Mans)
September 25-27 — Salon Prive (England), Telluride Festival, Ironstone Concours d’Elegance (California), St. Michaels Concours d’Elegance (Maryland), Goodguys Lone Star Nationals (Texas), Catskill Conquest Rally (New York)
October 2-4 — Fall Carlisle, Street Rod Nationals South (Knoxville, Tennessee), Goodguys Del Mar Nationals (California)
October 9-11 — Chico Concours d’Elegance (California)
October 16-18 — Chattanooga Motorcar Festival, Keels & Wheels, Lake Mirror Concours d’Elegance (Florida), Mid-American Street Rod Nationals (Missouri)
October 23-25 — Charlotte Auto Fair, (plus the Mille Miglia race/rally)
October 30-November 1 — Copperstate 1000 vintage rally car show, Western Street Rod Nationals (Bakersfield, California), Luftgekuhlt 7 (Durham, North Carolina)
To share news of your local car shows and cruises, email [email protected].
