US 30 Dragstrip Reunion

Here's a show that makes the case for my previous post. The listing was in Hemmings and not in Old Cars Weekly. So glad I found it when I did.

The US 30 Dragstrip Reunion will be held on Saturday, June 27, 2009, at White's Pit Stop in Shererville, Ind. The event begins at 9:00 a.m. The show will feature hundreds of race cars and a car show with hot rods, classics, and muscle cars. Everyone with fond memories of the famous US 30 Dragstrip is encouraged to attend and share your stories.

Here's the info:

White's Pit Stop

330 E. U.S. Highway 30

Shererville, IN

For more information call David White or Steven White (219) 865-3337

Admission is free

9:00 a.m. - ?

Show Calendar

I'm busy this summer -- the good kind of busy -- and have been attending all kinds of great car shows, toy shows, and comics shows, too.

Planning my weekend activities usually starts with a look at the Show Calendar section of Old Cars Weekly, Hemmings Motor News, or Toy Farmer magazines. And I've noticed a disturbing trend -- the calendar sections are smaller in the magazines than ever, as are their online counterparts.

It's tempting to suppose that there are fewer listings because fewer shows are being held, and it's true that many shows have disappeared from the hobbies. But I'm of a different opinion. I think that the current generation of show promoters doesn't know where to promote their shows. Perhaps they aren't tuned in to the magazines, or they assume that someone else will pass on the information, or they just don't understand how important it is to get the word out to hobbyists early. We can't attend your show if we don't know it's happening. And those Show Calendar listings are done by Old Cars Weekly and Toy Farmer for free. Hemmings will give you an online listing for free and a print listing up to 50 words for free.

Several local shows have already taken place in my neck of the woods that I never knew about. There were no listings in the car magazines and I didn't find anything in the local papers. I learned about one show because of a crude sign placed by a stop light at a busy intersection -- turns out the town was having a car show at a local park. They drew about 80 cars. They could have doubled that if they had sent notices to the magazines.

You don't need to be a show promoter to submit info to the magazines -- just send the show flyer with the event and contact information.

Here's where to send the info for car shows/cruise nights/related events:
Old Cars Weekly
Show Calendar
700 E. State St.
Iola, WI 54990
oldcars@krause.com

Hemmings Motor News
(800) 227-4373

For toy shows (I miss the calendar from Toy Shop, don't you?):
Toy Farmer
7496 106th Ave. SE
LaMoure, ND 58458-9404
(800) 533-8293
info@toyfarmer.com

And for comic book shows:
Comics Buyer's Guide
Show Calendar
700 E. State
Iola, WI 54990
showscalendar@krause.com

Peotone Swap Meet and Car Display

Sunday June 14 is the 37th Annual Swap Meet and Car Display hosted by the Tri-Chevy Association at the Will County Fairgrounds in Peotone, Illinois.

One of my favorite shows of the year, Peotone attracts cars from Illinois and Indiana, of course, but also regularly features cars from Missouri, Wisconsin, Iowa, Michigan, and Ohio as well. Because the show is sponsored by the Tri-Chevy Association, some of the area's finest 1955, 1956, and 1957 Chevys are on display. Bring your camera, and if you're a model car builder, bring a notebook -- there is no better place to do original research on these Chevys for one of your builds.

The show is open to all makes and models, antiques, classics, street machines, street rods, trucks, corvettes, originals, and rat rods. There will be a car corral with vehicles for sale.

Several years ago, I was editing the Standard Catalog of Corvette and needed a photo of a 1960 Corvette. We didn't have any photos of that year in our archives, and it was starting to look like that chapter was going to appear without any images. But Peotone was right around the corner, and I made the trip with my dad. Sure enough, a gorgeous mint-green 1960 Corvette arrived from southern Wisconsin, and the enthusiastic owner allowed me to photograph his car for the book. Peotone is that kind of show -- no matter what you're looking for, you'll probably find it.

Last year, the show took place just a day after a tornado ripped through the area and closed down parts of I-57. This year, I'm sure the organizers have put in a request for better weather. :)