Town of Callicoon Car Show

from Jeffersonville Journal 2022

Business Directory

he annual Town of Callicoon Car Show is a wondrous mid-summer event that I always look forward to. Like a good fishing story, it gets a little bigger each year. Old car stories are a bit like fishing stories, but the monster catfish is instead a ‘59 T

Coupe de Ville that a little old lady only drove to church on Sunday, or a ‘68 Mustang a teenager bought, put 100 miles on, then stuck in a barn where it stayed for fifty years. Tall tales aside, even the threat of rain couldn’t keep away 131 dream cars (along with a few lovely nightmares). They were all proudly showcased on the field for this seventh annual event held in the town park in Callicoon Center on Sunday, August 1st, 2021.

TOWN OF CALLICOON

CAR SHOW

I used the car show as an excuse to finally put my 1961 Dodge Polara back on the road, just in time for her 60th birthday. Moves, lifestyle, and priorities had kept her garaged in mothballs for twenty years, and taking her out was long overdue. I first spotted the Polara in a car magazine I was perusing in the summer of 1990 at the long-gone Elgin Diner in southern New Jersey. A week later I travelled to Tennessee and bought all 23,000 original miles of her for 26 crisp hundred dollar bills. Through thick and thin, from richer to poorer, and from coast to coast, I have managed to hang on to the Polara for all of these years. She kinda looks like an 18-footlong vanilla soft-serve ice cream cone jetliner that just drove out of a Hitchcock movie or an episode of The Twilight Zone. When I moved to Los Angeles in 1992, I packed up the Polara and drove straight across the country. There, parked in front of my Hollywood bungalow, the Polara was a true movie star. Years after I moved back home, I bought a house with a big garage, and now she’s semi-retired in Jeffersonville. These adventures and many more swirled through my head as I drove up Willy Avenue to the car show that day.

Everyone seemed to be in a good mood as hundreds of people turned out. For a moment it felt like the pandemic was behind us. I had nice chats with many of the car owners, including Gil Delgado who had his 1970 Oldsmobile 98 (that’s spelled out Ninety-Eight for those in the know), a car he’s cherished for 40 years. Tom Bose, supervisor of the Town of Callicoon, told me they try to always stick with the first Sunday of August for the event. Tom said the secret to the success of the annual car show is “keep it simple, stupid,” and I must agree. I also talked to Igor Kretowicz, the proud owner of a very unique 1983 Fiat 126p, AKA “The Polski Fiat” because it was made for the Polish market. Igor found it in Poland and had it shipped to the U.S., so small it might very well fit into the trunk of the Impala parked nearby. Igor told me the gumball orange car was also dubbed “Maluch,” meaning toddler or “The Little One.” Igor’s Maluch won a well-deserved Special Interest category trophy that day. Parked a few cars down from Igor was

Left page: Tom Flynn’s 1937 Packard 120 Roadster hood ornament or motor mascot.

This page: Athan Maroulis’ 1961 Dodge Polara, Igor Kretowicz’s 1983 Fiat 126p, Marion Ziegler’s 1975 AMC Pacer, Jonathan McGibbon’s 1925 Ford Model TT pickup

Gil Delgado’s 1970 Oldsmobile Ninety Eight

Tom Flynn, the winner of Best Antique Car (Pre-1939) for his chrome-tastic 1937 Packard 120 Roadster. One could almost imagine the ghost of silver screen starlet Carole Lombard smiling in the passenger seat as she gestures with a long cigarette holder.

The other winners were:

- Late Model Era (1973-1985): Ed Butler, 1988 Chevrolet Monte Carl

- Late Model Era (1986-Present): Marc and Sara Wittman, 2010 Dodge Challenger DTR8 - Pick-up Trucks: James Melody, 1966 Chevrolet C-10 - People’s Choice: Paul Ryder, 1965 Ford Shelby R Model tribute - Fat Fender Era (1940-1952): Bob Bauer, 1940 Ford coupe - Muscle Car Era (1964-1972): Andy White, 1970 AMC Javelin

- Farm Tractors: John Gleason, 1944 Ford 9N - Motorcycles: Josh Hubbert, 2009 Honda Shadow 750 - Semis: Howard Deighton, 1999 Kenworth W900L - Hot Rods: Dan Abplanalp, 1932 Ford coupe - Judges Best of Show: Jonathan McGibbon, 1925 Ford Model TT pickup

There was one fi nal winner, and you’ve already heard its story. The winner of Classic Era (1953-1963) was my 1961 Dodge Polara Sedan. My trophy sits on the mantle where I can brag to any visitor who will listen. I hope to see you at the next Town of Callicoon Car Show on Sunday August 7th. It’s always a ton of fun! I might even take my 1962 Plymouth Valiant next time. See you there. An independent press A free press is is a free press. VOL. 46 No. 46 • NOVEMBER 12-18, 2020 • $1.50 COM ...with liberty and justice for all. OPINION The spirit of service MEDICAL MEDICAL CAR SERVICE CAR SERVICE FREE FOR FREE FOR MEDICAID MEDICAID DEPENDABLE MEDICAL TRANSPORT 845-428-1674 Jeffersonville NY Laurie - What would it cost to run this 1.68” X 2” display ad as-is camera-ready for 10 issues? For 20 issues? Thanks John