If you happen to be a person who enjoys checking out cars that you’ll likely never get a chance to drive, we have just the thing for you.
The Kiwanis Club of Concord is hosting its 31st annual antique and classic car show on Saturday at NHTI.
“You don’t see these cars driving down Main Street,” said Chris Pappas, chairman of the car show. “But when there’s a car show, the garage doors open up.”
And this isn’t going to be a small group of guys standing around in a parking lot talking shop. Last year, there were 292 cars in one of the large NHTI fields on the south side of the campus and the hope is to surpass the 300 mark this year.
“Every car has a story. Where they found the car, what they did to the car,” Pappas said.
That’s a big jump from the 60 or so Kiwanis began with 30-plus years ago.
“Every year, we always seem to gain 10 or 20 cars,” Pappas said. “It’s turned out to be a big event.”
You can expect to see all kinds of original, restored and rebuilt vehicles. We’re talking about Studebakers, Oldsmobiles, Mustangs, Corvettes, Camaros and hot rods. Basically any car that’s cool, old or rare, you could see it this weekend.
“The list goes on and on,” Pappas said. “We really attract some great cars.”
You can also help name the best in show, because each spectator gets a ballot to vote for one car. The other 21 classes will be voted on by the car owners, since they probably know a thing or two about cars.
With up to 1,000 spectators and all the work done by volunteer, the club brings in quite a bit of money. The two major beneficiaries of the car show are the NHTI paramedic program and the Capital Region Food Program’s annual holiday food basket project.
“Those are the two big ones, but we get a lot of requests for many things,” Pappas said.
Coffee and donuts will be available during the morning, while the Kiwanis food truck will be serving up burgers, hot dogs and other tasty food during the lunch hours.
“You never get in trouble with hamburgers and hot dogs,” Pappas said.
There will be a raffle with all kinds of prizes and a 50/50 raffle.
The club began the car show after hosting a water event with canoe races and kayak rides for three years at Everett Arena, and needing a bigger crowd.
“We said ‘why don’t we have a car show?’” Pappas said.
Cost for spectators is $3 and free for children 12 and under. For car owners, cost is $12 in advance and $15 the day of the event, but you will leave with a goody bag, so that’s a nice bonus.
“They can show up with a 1917 Model T or a brand new Cadillac,” Pappas said.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and the gate opens at 8 a.m. for car owners. In case of rain, the car show will be held on Sunday, same time and place.
“Everything is predicated on the weather,” Pappas said.
For more, visit concordkiwanis.org or contact Pappas at 224-1504 or cvjspappas@comcast.net
