 | 62nd Vermont Antique and Classic Car Show August 9-11th 2019 Location: Waterbury Vermont |
Friday, August 9th
The Vermont Car Show, formally known as the Stowe Vermont show, was held on a beautiful grassy field with a mountainous background in Waterbury, Vermont. Last year the committee decided to move it to Waterbury for a better field a little farther down the road from the hotels. I had a hankering to attend this car show but something always came up. Apparently, this was the right time to go, so my daughter Kimberly drove her 1964 Buick Skylark and I drove the 1957 Club Victoria Fairlane. We began our journey on Friday at 8:00 AM.
Our plan was to start at West’s Bakery for breakfast and drive through Connecticut towns and country roads to avoid taking all interstate highways. We traveled through Voluntown, CT and then onto route 169 north, a historical road which has its ending in Southbridge, MA; a very relaxing road to travel. Next, we headed to Sturbridge, MA and then onto route 20 to Palmers, MA, onto 181 North to Belchertown and a short run on 202 to route 9 Amherst, MA. We then ended the soft ride on intermediate state roads and lastly took route 91 N to 89 to 100 which ended at the at the Commodores Inn, in Stowe Vermont.
Saturday, August 10th
We arrived at the field on pre-show day, and found our respective parking spots and met up with Dave and Pat Calebrese who we enjoyed dinners with. Many cars attended on Saturday so we walked around to check out the flea market and look at all the different cars that came from many miles away. At the field there was an afternoon costume show with everyone dressed in the period of their cars, and later there was a car parade and dance. The day was interrupted by rain on and off causing us to clean off the cars at least 3 times. Okay maybe it was 5 times.
Unfortunately, opposite the field there was road construction; therefore, our cars got a little and muddy. However, we were lucky that the Inn had already prepared an outdoor hose and extra rags for everyone to wash their cars, again. We were grateful for this nice gesture on the part of the Inn to accommodate us obsessive antique car owners. The outdoor hose and rags was a nice gesture and a standard practice provided by the Inn every year.
The Vermont Car Show, formally known as the Stowe Vermont show, was held on a beautiful grassy field with a mountainous background in Waterbury, Vermont. Last year the committee decided to move it to Waterbury for a better field a little farther down the road from the hotels. I had a hankering to attend this car show but something always came up. Apparently, this was the right time to go, so my daughter Kimberly drove her 1964 Buick Skylark and I drove the 1957 Club Victoria Fairlane. We began our journey on Friday at 8:00 AM.
Our plan was to start at West’s Bakery for breakfast and drive through Connecticut towns and country roads to avoid taking all interstate highways. We traveled through Voluntown, CT and then onto route 169 north, a historical road which has its ending in Southbridge, MA; a very relaxing road to travel. Next, we headed to Sturbridge, MA and then onto route 20 to Palmers, MA, onto 181 North to Belchertown and a short run on 202 to route 9 Amherst, MA. We then ended the soft ride on intermediate state roads and lastly took route 91 N to 89 to 100 which ended at the at the Commodores Inn, in Stowe Vermont.
Saturday, August 10th
We arrived at the field on pre-show day, and found our respective parking spots and met up with Dave and Pat Calebrese who we enjoyed dinners with. Many cars attended on Saturday so we walked around to check out the flea market and look at all the different cars that came from many miles away. At the field there was an afternoon costume show with everyone dressed in the period of their cars, and later there was a car parade and dance. The day was interrupted by rain on and off causing us to clean off the cars at least 3 times. Okay maybe it was 5 times.
Unfortunately, opposite the field there was road construction; therefore, our cars got a little and muddy. However, we were lucky that the Inn had already prepared an outdoor hose and extra rags for everyone to wash their cars, again. We were grateful for this nice gesture on the part of the Inn to accommodate us obsessive antique car owners. The outdoor hose and rags was a nice gesture and a standard practice provided by the Inn every year.
Sunday, August 11th
The day of the car show judging started at 9:00AM sharp due to the number of cars on the field. Awards started at approximately 3:00PM. The judging was based upon a Four Point System covering main areas of the car. Deductions as follows: 1 point deduction minor infraction, 2 points major, 3 points unacceptable and 4 points miscellaneous. Therefore, to obtain first place you needed 100 points. Three judges were used in the judging process. Seven cars were in my group, no one received first place. The 57 Ford was fortunate to get third place.
Monday, August 12th
The adventure home started right after breakfast. When we stopped for gas the Buick would not restart. The attendant gave the Buick a jump and luckily we were on our way again. Several hours later we stopped for gas again and the Buick refused to cooperate and again would not restart. The attendant tried a jump but I knew it was not the battery because upon testing it had 12.5 volts, I suspected it was the wires that were not in good condition or perhaps it was the starter. Although many other engine parts in the Buick were recently updated we never gave the wires a second thought. So I cut, cleaned and reworked the ground cable. But to no avail. I found a local mechanic who tried to jump the Buick but again to no avail and he suggested another shop who upon persuasion offered to help out and luckily NAPA had the starter. I called AAA and while waiting we were grateful for a Dunkin Donuts lunch.
The day of the car show judging started at 9:00AM sharp due to the number of cars on the field. Awards started at approximately 3:00PM. The judging was based upon a Four Point System covering main areas of the car. Deductions as follows: 1 point deduction minor infraction, 2 points major, 3 points unacceptable and 4 points miscellaneous. Therefore, to obtain first place you needed 100 points. Three judges were used in the judging process. Seven cars were in my group, no one received first place. The 57 Ford was fortunate to get third place.
Monday, August 12th
The adventure home started right after breakfast. When we stopped for gas the Buick would not restart. The attendant gave the Buick a jump and luckily we were on our way again. Several hours later we stopped for gas again and the Buick refused to cooperate and again would not restart. The attendant tried a jump but I knew it was not the battery because upon testing it had 12.5 volts, I suspected it was the wires that were not in good condition or perhaps it was the starter. Although many other engine parts in the Buick were recently updated we never gave the wires a second thought. So I cut, cleaned and reworked the ground cable. But to no avail. I found a local mechanic who tried to jump the Buick but again to no avail and he suggested another shop who upon persuasion offered to help out and luckily NAPA had the starter. I called AAA and while waiting we were grateful for a Dunkin Donuts lunch.
The AAA driver brought a flatbed but before loading the Buick he tried some banging and clanking and the engine started. Wow that was luck and for the rest of the ride home the engine had to stay running. We drove through many small towns that made for a much cooler ride than the highway would have on a hot day. Luckily the ’57 had a good ride except for the pesky wasp I had to swat while driving. Now it was becoming close to dinner. So, I stopped for us to rest and while keeping the Buick engine running we had ice cream for dinner LOL! After driving through a few more towns we finally arrived home at 5:00PM. The Buick has an appointment for a new starter and the new cables just arrived…after all, the old ones were only about 55 years old. We hope you will try the Waterbury, VT car show next year and we plan not to need any jumper cables!
NOTE: A few sample photos of cars that attended the event are displayed above. Below you will find a complete gallery of photos provided by John.
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