Mid-Jersey Cape Rotary Antique Auto Show Evokes Memories

AVALON — There was another electric car in the borough Sat., Aug. 13, and it wasn’t the latest Chevrolet Volt or extended range pickup truck charging up at the borough’s public charging station at 30th and Dune Drive.
This one was on display at the Mid-Jersey Cape Rotary-Cape Regional Medical Center Antique Auto Show on the grounds of Avalon Elementary School. The earlier version of an electric-powered vehicle was a two-seat, white Electric CitiCar that resembled a white box on wheels, sliced at a 45-degree angle.
The humble two-seater shared lawn space with 25 others, according to Charles “Chick” Mears, of Ocean View, event coordinator.
Some were vintage motor cars, like Mears’ 1929 Mercedes-Benz convertible that was parked next to his 1959 Cadillac Coupe Deville. When the subject turned to the Cadillac’s fins, Mears said one of the most distinctive features of the 1959 Coupe Deville is its tail fins. Mears and his grandchildren, Cody and Brielle Hammerstein, who accompanied Mears to the show, posed for a photo with those pointed, rear-deck elements.
Mears said the show helped the Rotary Club’s scholarship program that assists local high school seniors attend college.
Also enjoying the motoring event were father-daughter Louis Klott and Rachel Klott, both of Court House. Klott proudly took the wheel of his 1968 Cutlass convertible, a car he lovingly restored to its present state of grandeur.
“It has a 350 Olds Rocket motor,” smiled Klott, as he revved the muscle car’s engine. The throaty sound resonated across the field as other vintage car owners drove off at day’s end, some clutching trophies for their entrance.
Shined up, and looking as good as it did on the Chevrolet dealer’s lot in 1935 was Scott Schwartz’s 1935 Chevy four-door sedan.
Proving those were the days of sparkling hood ornaments, Schwartz’s vehicle was resplendent with its silvery bird ready to take flight. In the passenger seat, ready to impress the next buyer was a promotional flyer that touted “Chevrolet for 1935. The New Standard Six.”
Not far from that antique car was G.J. Dailey’s 1931 green and black Ford Roadster with white convertible top. Of course, there was a rumble seat for those who wanted to let the wind blow through their hair.
Its hood ornament, a duck in flight, rested over the Ford emblem and a red-and-white license plate, N2479 amid a pair of huge floodlight-like headlamps. A white-canvas cover protected the driver’s side spare tire as Dailey drove if carefully off the field.
Advance a few automotive light years, or so it seemed, and there was Robert Colfer’s orange-and-black 2005 Lotus Elise. It sat low to the ground, top down, as if waiting for its own moment in the sun. Colfer said the vehicle, that could easily make a motoring aficionado drool or worse, draws a lot of attention.
The mid-engine, two seater roadster reportedly can do zero to 60 mph in 5.1 seconds, which means it could have attained that speed while some of it elder peers were shifting into first gear heading away from a traffic light.
Regardless how they arrived, all driver participants were united in their love of automobiles. Whether they personally restored their vehicles, spent nights and weekends redoing interior appointments or tinkering with engines from another time, all seemed to enjoy their time spent together, talking shop, checking out the other guy’s car, and thinking, maybe, adding just one more car to their garage collection.
Added to the show were some shiny new vehicles from Burke Motor Group of Court House. Francey Burke is club president, Douglas Burke is president-elect and vice president, David Burke is treasurer and Ronald Williams is secretary.
Frank Brad provided music for the day. An Elvis look-alike performed earlier in the afternoon. Participants were treated to lunch.
Mid-Jersey Cape Rotary’s motto is “Service Above Self.”
It meets Tuesdays at 12:15 p.m. at Wildwood Golf & Country Club. 1170 Golf Club Road, Court House.