Marlborough Main Street Car Show

June 18, 2023 — Someone once told me rain dates don't work. Most people already have other plans for your rain date. It's better to make your show "rain or shine" and hope for the best. The 13th annual Marlborough Main Street Car Show was originally scheduled for June 4 with a rain date of June 18. They rescheduled for their rain date when rain was forecast for the 4th. In the days before the 18th, meteorologists were predicting rain on the 18th, making it the third rainy weekend of June.

But as the 18th drew closer, forecast changed to just a chance of showers. Marlborough made the decision to go ahead with the show. Main Street was filled to capacity with show cars. There wouldn't have been  a parking space for one more. So many spectators filled the street it was difficult to move about, never mind take pictures. So much for the theory "rain dates don't work." This one couldn't have worked out better.

You can see my photos and a video of the second biggest show so far this season at this link:

 https://www.linwoodstreet.com/marlborough23/

27th Londonderry Rotary Car Show

May 28, 2023 — Like Bow Rotary, the Londonderry (New Hampshire) Rotary Car Show draws cars from a relatively small, local area, featuring many of the same vehicles year after year. Consequently, I continued my policy this season of skipping cars I've photographed many times before, resulting in smaller photographic selections on my website. This isn't to say Londonderry doesn't have a good mix of classics and customs of all years. They do.

So I've chosen the most interesting vehicles for this series, mostly those I haven't seen before, with a few repeats of entries so exceptional they deserve a second (or third, or fourth) appearance on my site. Hope you like my choices which can be viewed at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/londonderry2023/

Bonny Eagle Car Show

May 21, 2023 — The weather was perfect for the 43rd annual car show on the Bonny Eagle school grounds on the Standish/Buxton town line in Maine. It can almost be called two shows in one with mostly customs and muscle cars on the spacious elementary school parking lot, and oldies and classics a short walk away at the high school, although there is some mixing of all classes at both locations.

This show has always been known for its humor, with comic entries, mannequins, etc. This year there wasn't so much of that but still a show with wide variety, with late models and all the years going back to the Model T, Model A and my favorite, a 1913 Buick.

So I'll stop talking and let you begin admiring the automotive history represented in this fine gathering:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bonnyeagle2023/

Bow Rotary 2023

May 20, 2023 — In spite of a forecast for rain, the 12th annual Bow Rotary Car Show in Bow, New Hampshire, enjoyed a healthy turnout. Meteorologists seemed uncertain when rain would begin, but were in agreement it would be heavy. I came close to deciding to sit out the show, but when skies were only cloudy in the morning, I decided to go. It's only a 20-minute drive from my house, so what did I have to lose.

As it turned out, they got the whole show in before rain began. I ended up with only 38 photos, but this relatively small local show tends to draw many of the same cars year after year, and this season I'm making a conscious effort not to include cars I've photographed many times. In spite of that, there are still a few repeats, but also a few rare surprises. You can breeze through the series in a few minutes at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bowrotary23/

Wilbraham Hill Climb and Car Show

May 13, 2023 — This show in Wilbraham, Massachusetts offered a variety of events spread out over a few miles. We arrived at the Minnechaug Regional High School parking lot where we were met by shuttle buses that transported us to the Wilbraham Hill Climb. We were given a choice of observing the climb at either the start or finish. I chose the start, feeling that would offer the best photo ops.

This hill climb is a reenactment of the first one in 1908. Today, many restored racing cars from that time period participated. I got photos of most of them as they lined up for the start line. My hunch the start would have the best photo ops didn't exactly pan out. Being forced into a jam of spectators in a roped-off area made it nearly impossible to get a good camera angle. However, I did get about 45 seconds of video showing a couple of cars charging noisily up the hill.

Next, I strolled along Main Street where more antique cars and craft displays were set up. Following that, I took a shuttle back to the high school where yet another car show, this one featuring a couple of hundred cars, was in place in the high school's spacious parking areas, along with a good-sized craft fair.

Photos and a video of my long day at this varied event, spread over several miles, can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/wilbraham/

Truck Show

May 7, 2023 — The last truck show I attended at Yankee Candle headquarters in South Deerfield, Massachusetts was in 2015. Since then, Yankee Candle has been downsizing. The sprawling headquarters with its acres of parking is in the process of closing, but fortunately the show was allowed to use the property, at least for this year. There was a huge turnout of trucks, more I think than in 2015. Trucks of all descriptions, some almost as big as houses down to small pickups. Trucks towing other trucks on trailers. The weather also cooperated, providing ample sun with temperature in the comfortable 80s with low humidity. It was a great day for truck lovers.

A 10-minute drive south to Yankee Candle Village found that partially shut down. The former main building is closed and vacant, as is the popular Christmas Shop with its beautiful Christmas displays. However, the grounds with their many flowers are still well-kept. A former full-service restaurant has been replaced by a pizza parlor. I took a few photos around the reduced village which I added to the truck series. You can see it all at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/truckshow2023/

Model A Ford Dust Off

April 29, 2023 — I had never heard of this show at the Bean Farm in Sanbornville, New Hampshire, until a few days before the event. An anticipated 100 Model A Fords, along with other makes, got my attention, but a forecast for a rainy day threatened to scuttle the show. But the day before the show the forecast changed to just a chance of showers late in the day. So I headed for Sanbornville.

By the time I arrived, there were already a few dozen Model A's at the farm. More would arrive, and the final tally was 101, one more than their goal. Of course, I didn't photograph all of them, just a sampling of the more interesting in terms of condition, color, style, etc., at least in my opinion  There were other makes, including several classics of the '30s through '50s that apparently belonged to the farm.

I don't have much information on the Bean Farm. It doesn't appear to be a working farm. There were no animals and no evidence of gardens. There was no admission charge, no one greeting car owners or spectators, no one directing traffic. Signs identified areas as "Old Car Parking" or "New Car Parking." A sale of raffle tickets was the only money collected. A large buffet was served, all free. That was unprecedented. I have never before found free food at a car show, or anywhere else for that matter.

The day was cool and overcast, but the rain held off until the show was over. You can view my coverage of this rather unusual event at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/modeladustoff/