More than 700 cars, trucks and motorcycles are expected to line the streets of downtown Delaware next weekend for the 20th annual Blast from the Past car show. The Vintage Auto Club of Delaware will host what many consider the largest downtown event of the year Saturday, July 27. The show officially kicks off at 10 a.m. on Sandusky Street. “Car shows are one of the most popular events in downtowns during the summer and anything that brings people downtown is great,” said Holly Quaine of the Delaware Area Chamber of Commerce. “The doors will all be open and there isn’t a restaurant or shop that I wouldn’t send someone to.” Owners will travel from all over the Midwest to show off their vintage and brand- new vehicles and vie for more than 100 trophies presented by local businesses. There is no restriction on the year or model of vehicles that can register for the show, which is one reason it has been able to grow, said Jim Harter. Harter, president of the Vintage Auto Club, will show off his 1955 Chevy 210. He spent 15 years rebuilding the classic car. “I rebuilt the car from the ground up, from the body work and paint work to the engine work,” Harter said. “Most all the cars you see at the show are done that way, and these guys take a lot of pride in their work, so they’ll talk to you, answer questions and rev it up for people.” During previous shows, vehicle owners were allowed to cruise up and down Delaware streets. Because of safety concerns at the growing event, police have asked the club to discourage cruising this year. Although show coordinator Jim Clements said “the cruisers” will be disappointed by the new rule, there will be plenty of activities to keep their attention during the daylong event. Bands, DJs and vendors selling food and passing out information will take to the sidewalks. “Everything is donated by local businesses so we can keep our costs low,” Clements said. “It seems like every year we get more and more positive support from the Delaware community.” All proceeds from the show will be donated to HomeReach Hospice in Delaware. While Harter and Clements look forward to the event each year and are proud of how far it’s come since 1993, when it was first held in a small parking lot, their main focus is on how much the club will be able to give back. “I’m just glad to see a big crowd because I know it’s going to make a good chunk of money for hospice,” Harter said. “Benefiting HomeReach Hospice is the most important thing about the show,” Clements added. The 54-member club has raised $195,000 for the hospice through car shows. Harter said it became a special interest for the club when it was hosting its first car show because a member had recently dealt with the hospice. “It’s an organization that reaches out and helps anyone and everyone,” he said. “They are really, really special people.” Harter said he’s known cars to begin lining up on the streets as early as 4 a.m. looking to score a prime parking spot.
-ThisWeek News – http://www.thisweeknews.com/content/stories/delaware/news/2013/07/15/delaware-car-show-
revs-up-gives-back.html
This Saturday on Sandusky Street, between Harrison Street and Central Avenue, two hundred and thirty five cars gathered in the rainy morning for the twentieth annual “Blast from the Past” car show. While the weather seems to have put a damper on things in the numbers of people and cars, it didn’t take away the spirit of the show, or the people who came out to work or visit. Jim Harter, president of the Vintage Auto Club, reported that he was very pleased with the turn out. How could you not, with “all of the hardcore cruisers that came out…in the rainstorm to show their cars off”. These, he said, were what you called ‘hardcore cruisers.’ He wished to give a ‘big old pat on the back’ to the workers for ‘giving up their whole day in the rain’ to run this event, and I join him in doing so. Each member of staff I came across was not only friendly, but assisted me in any way that was necessary, even though they had been there since six thirty in the morning to set up. Considering this event is run with proceeds from this show go directly to Home Reach Hospice Care of Delaware, the work they do is truly charitable. As I’m sure many people will do, we at DelawareO.com would like to thank you for all your hard work as well. Not only are the proceeds given to charity, but all the prizes and trophies that were given out at the car show were donated by our local downtown Delaware merchants. In Delaware, we really have began giving back, and the more we can keep our local business in Delaware to keep these events going, the better we can do. Next year, come rain or shine once more, the event will be held on July 26th at the same place with good news for those who like the cruising part of a car show. This year, the club had to make a ‘quick decision’ that led to the act of cruising to not be allowed. Cruising, simply, is where the cars drive up and down a stretch of road to show what they can do. The group is already working very hard to bring cruising back next year.
-Delaware O – http://delawareo.com/2013/07/28/rain-or-shine-the-delaware-car-show/
This 1912 Ford C-Cab Delivery, owned by Hans Peterson of Delaware, was on view at the 21st annual Blast from the Past car show in downtown Delaware on July 26. Peterson said the V-12 engine is from a 1942 Lincoln, and the restoration was a father-son project
-Delaware Gazette – http://delgazette.com/news/home_top-news/50080501/Blast-from-the-Past
Every year, historic downtown Delaware plays host to an exciting vintage car show attended by many. This July marks the 20th annual Blast from the Past car show. In the past, the car show has had as many as 600 antique cars, trucks, and motorcycles lining the streets of downtown Delaware. The cruise-in has been named one of the top ten downtown events for 2002 and 2003 by Cruisin’ Times Magazine. The car show will feature not only an impressive number of antique and vintage vehicles but also music and other entertainment—making it a great event to attend whether or not you are a fan of classic cars. This car show is free to attend and open to all ages. The Blast from the Past car show is put on by the Vintage Auto Club and the City of Delaware. According to the Vintage Auto Club, the show’s proceeds benefit the Home Reach Hospice Care of Delaware.
-Ohio Local Lawyers – http://ohiolocallawyers.com/blast-from-the-past-car-show-in-delaware-ohio/
Since 1993 Vintage Auto Club of Delaware OH has raised more than $194,000 for Home Reach Hospice Care of Delaware through car washes, auctions, dances and car shows. Each year the “Blast From The Past” cruise in brings over 500 cars to downtown Delaware. Proceeds from this show go directly to Home Reach Hospice Care of Delaware.
-AAA ® of Ohio – http://conversations.ohio.aaa.com/events/2013-blast-from-the-past-vintage-auto-club-show/
Come cruise at the annual car, truck and motorcycle show. The event features music, entertainment and cruising through historic downtown Delaware.
-DiscoverOhio.com – http://consumer.discoverohio.com/searchdetails.aspx?detail=52721