Car lovers from all over Michigan gathered in Petoskey this afternoon for a new car show.
The ‘Goodbye Summer Car Show’ took place at the Emmet County Fairgrounds.
Organizer and programming sales coordinator Austin Lavigne, wanted to recreate the big car scene that once existed at this spot.
“Back in the day they used to have hundreds of vehicles here, where they would fill up the whole parking lot, as well as the infields and other other areas here, and we’re hoping just to get right back to that and have a great show going on forward,” Lavigne said.
His favorite car here was the 1965 black Pontiac GTO, complete with stuffed tigers.
Wolverine native John Rice purchased his 1989 yellow Maserati as a gift to his wife Eunice, for their 57th anniversary—which happens to be today.
“We’re still in love and probably more so now, since I gave her this beautiful Maserati, classic 1989,” Rice joked.
British-car lover Bruce McHaney has been working on what he calls his dream car for 32 years.
“I like to take it to shows and it gives me an opportunity to teach people, especially young people, about the history of the automobile and especially this automobile,” McHaney said.
He is so proud of it, that he even crafted a miniature model of his car, completely accurate down to the license plate.
“I had to do something during the wintertime and not sit at home just like everybody else had to,” McHaney said. “And so I thought, why can’t I make a model of this—I made the car. Why can’t I make a model of the car?”
Like many other car owner’s, Tim Kabat enjoys the chance to socialize and teach those passing by about classic cars.
His 1972 yellow Buick GSX just won a trophy yesterday, at a car show in Indian River.
“I’d like to see more younger people get into it but it’s expensive, I understand,” Kabat said. “So, I hope to see everybody around next summer.”
As for awards, the ‘Best of Classic Car’ went Jim Stamm’s 1934 Packard.
‘Best of Modern Car’ went to Jeff Beaudoin’s 2020 Corvette.
‘Best of Show’ went to McHaney’s completely rebuilt Jaguar.
Emmet County Parks and Recreation hopes to make today’s show an annual event going forward.
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