Mix one part historic race track with one part pre-64 traditional hot rods and customs. Then add in two parts of hot rod folks and three parts mud. What do you come up with? The Jalopy Showdown!
It is those few ingredients that have lead to one of the most successful one-day traditional hot rod shows on the east coast. It seems as if this year news of the event spread like wildfire. "We had 600 cars on the infield alone this year," stated Larry Garner, Jalopy Showdown creator, organizer, and general law keeper. This year's record attendance found cars parked everywhere- on the infield, around the track, and scattered throughout the adjoining campground.
The one factor that folks all agree on that keeps them coming back are the people. "I come for the people, the friends I've made. I'd go back every year even with no car's as long as my friends were there," stated Tony Muscatella who brought his '52 Chevrolet pickup from Rochester, New York. His friend Mike Keller, also from Rochester, attended with his 1969 Ford F100 'Uncle Jesse' agreed. "It is the venue that brought me here but the people that keep me coming back."
Another attraction is the recent addition of the swap meet. Items range from traditional hot rod parts to other vintage goodies including coolers, literature, and the like. The swap meet area also plays host to the yearly metal working demonstration that lasts all day long. For many like Doug Pegos of Port Crane, New York who brought his 1940 Ford pick up the swap meet is their favorite stop, "I love the swap meet and being around real hot rod people."
The most popular attraction by far though are the hot laps that begin just after noon. Every participant has the opportunity to take their 'jalopy' a couple laps around the historic Latimore track. Sometimes there are even guest appearances by 'celebrities' like the guys in the nearby Eastern Museum of Motor Racing. Mike Keller fondly remembers the year that EMMR Hall of Fame member Lee Osborne "flat footed his '34 Ford around the track." While participants aren't allowed to go quite that fast, seeing an old legend in action is always a possibility! Chuck Harting who brought a '59 El Camino to this year's Showdown from Hatboro, Pennsylvania agreed, "the hot laps are my favorite!"
Proceeds from the show are donated to local charities including the nearby Eastern Museum of Motor Racing (EMMR). The museum, founded in the late 1970s and on the grounds of the Jalopy Showdown, celebrates and preserves the heritage of the rich eastern seaboard of racing. The museum covers all eras of oval racing from midget racers, sprint cars, modified stock cars all the way to the winged sprint cars of today. In addition to their static museum displays they often host 'living' exhibits bringing the cars back to life on the historic race track next door. For more information on EMMR please visit their website www.emmr.org.
In addition to the Jalopy Showdown, the Jalopy Drags are held every October at Beaver Springs Dragway. This year they will be held October 2.
For more information about the Jalopy Showdown or Jalopy Drags visit their website at www.jalopyshowdown.com.