Stowe Classic Car Meet

August 12, 2017 — It was my tenth year in a row at the Vermont Automobile Enthusiasts show, and their sixtieth anniversary in Stowe. I was saddened to hear upon arrival that it would be their final show in Stowe. Nichols Field, where the show is held, with many acres for show cars, a flea market and spectator parking, has been purchased by out-of-staters, and the VAE will not be able to use it after this year. Next year, the show will be moved to Waterbury, a few miles south of Stowe.

This is a serious loss for Stowe which has hosted the three-day show for its entire 60-year history. It's an exciting and profitable break in the quiet summer, drawing visitors from many parts of the U.S and Canada, in the town famous for skiing and other winter sports and the Trapp family. Residents look forward to the parade of antique cars through the village, followed by music and dancing in the street, although the dancing was canceled for the second year in a row due of rain.

I heard some positive comments about the new location in Waterbury, such as better drainage of its fields. Nichols Field in Stowe is notorious for swampy grounds and roads turned to mud in a wet season, but for many of us I think that was part of its character. We boasted about being over our ankles in mud and pushing stuck cars at the Stowe car show. And the village has an ambience that will be hard to match. For those of us who have been going to Stowe for many years, it's like losing an old friend.

It was warm and sunny all day for the show, including the car parade late in the afternoon. But as they were preparing for the street dancing, black clouds started moving in, and light rain began to fall. They announced there was a weather alert calling for severe thunderstorms, damaging winds and flooding. I had a 2½-hour drive home, so I thought it prudent to get under way. I didn't beat the storm. Just minutes out of Stowe I ran into blinding rain, wind, thunder and lightning. At times it felt like I was driving through water. This went on for several miles, but I finally drove into clearing.

I have many fond memories of Stowe, all recorded by my camera for every one of the past ten years. This year's photos and videos can be seen at:

http://www.linwoodstreet.com/stowe17/