York Auto Show

June 20, 2021 — My first time at the York Auto Show in York, Maine, was a pleasant surprise. There was a large turnout of cars in a wide variety. The day was sunny and pleasant, warm but not as hot as much of the month of June so far. I could go on and on describing the great cars, but I'll just let you see for yourself at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/yorkshow/

"Betrayal"

June 17, 2021 — The Winnipesaukee Playhouse in Meredith, New Hampshire, has enlarged the outdoor amphitheater they built last year so their limited productions could be viewed in the greater safety of the outdoors during the pandemic. They plan to use it for several productions this season. They still require patrons to wear masks for the duration of the play, but they serve drinks and refreshments. All employees and performers are required to be fully vaccinated.

The current play is "Betrayal" by Harold Pinter. In the first act, Emma (Krystal Pope) and Jerry (William Wilder), apparently old friends, have a rather awkward, cautious conversation. What's unknown to the audience at this point is their past, which will be gradually revealed as the play moves backward in time over nine years (if I counted correctly) in nine acts.

The acting by the cast of three (besides the aforementioned, A. J. Ditty is Robert), is excellent. Their British accents are convincing. This play by a master playwright with its sharp dialog was great entertainment, often funny, with brief flare-ups of anger, as the characters' deceits and lies become revealed. A. J. Ditty's drunken Robert was hilarious. Jim Rogato had a brief walk-on role as a waiter in this performance. He alternates in that role with Jim Gocha.

The setting was a mostly bare stage with a white floor and backdrop. A series of large cushioned blocks was ingeniously arranged to furnish each act's location, from a flat to a living room to a restaurant and others. The actors themselves arranged the blocks according to each act's requirements. This was the brain child of artistic director Neil Pankhurst who also directed the play. Not only that, but he also gets credit for scenic design and sound design. Costume design was by Lesley Pankhurst. John Findlay was the stage manager.

 

Mill City Car Show

June 12, 2021 — The show with the ungainly title "MCCNE Mill City All Wheels Car Show," hosted by the Mustang Car Club of New England, was held on the spacious Anne Dean Welcome Regatta Field in Lowell (Massachusetts) Heritage State Park. The field, soaked by heavy rain the night before, with some areas too swamped to park a car on, nonetheless had ample space for hundreds of vehicles. It's an excellent area for a car show where a long, straight road, with a wide shoulder to park on, free, runs along the side of the field. You simply step from your car onto the field.

The show featured a wide variety of cars, dominated by muscle cars, street rods, imports, some humorous creations, but not many classics. Heavy cloud cover dulled photography somewhat, but I'm pleased with the pictures I came away with. Hope you will be too. You can view them at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/millcity/

One Day, Two Shows

June 5, 2021 — This was the first day of what would become a 5-day heat wave with temperatures of 90 degrees and over, near record-breaking for this early in the season in New Hampshire. The Goffstown Rotary show, canceled last year for the first time in its history because of the pandemic, had an impressive turnout of cars and spectators. The pandemic was in decline, new cases were the lowest since the beginning more than a year ago, vaccinations were up and restrictions were being lifted, especially in the Northeast.

In spite of the high turnout, there were many cars I had seen and photographed before, some many times. I took pictures of the few I found exceptional and passed over most of those that can be found elsewhere on my site. I came away with less than 40 photos, hoping for a better score at my second show of the day in Loudon.

Muscle at the Museum, an annual show presented by NH Muscle Cars and hosted by North East Motor Sports Museum, larger than the Goffstown show, featured "funny cars," basically drag racers covered with brightly painted and decorated car bodies. Winners of a raffle were invited to sit behind the wheel of one of these cars and rev the engine to an ear-splitting roar.

The funny cars were unusual and photogenic, and I got a brief video of the engine revving, but other than that, like Goffstown, there were many cars I had seen before, and the heat and humidity were becoming oppressive, causing me and many others to cut our visit short and escape to our air conditioned cars for a cooling drive home, which hopefully for many would also have A/C.

I ended up with fewer pictures from the two shows than I normally take at a single event, but you can view the few I got at Goffstown at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/goffstown2021/

The Muscle at the Museum photos and a video are at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/muscleatmuseum/

Granite State Season Opener

May 22, 2021 — Our New England bodies, so recently gripped in the cold, damp, frosty final days of winter, aren't really prepared for a 90-degree day in May, but that's what we got for the Granite State Season Opener in Deerfield, New Hampshire. Hosted by NH Muscle Cars on the sprawling Deerfield Farigrounds, the July-like 90 was achieved in spite of mostly overcast skies with only occasional peeks of sun.

Turnout of both cars and spectators was impressive, with food concessions and other vendors doing a booming business. The show included a swap meet, live band and police dog demonstration. Not a face mask was in sight at this show reminiscent of pre-pandemic times. With vaccinations up and COVID cases in decline, it brought hope of continued improvement and a return to normal.

Last September's NH Muscle Cars show at Deerfield featured a good mix of American classics of the '30s, '40s and 50s, along with the usual muscle cars and customs we'd expect at a show sponsored by muscle car enthusiasts. This year's show was heavily dominated by the muscle variety with less participation by other classes. But it was a good show with high turnout and hundreds of cars, and promised a life beyond COVID.

My photographic coverage of this event can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/graniteopener/

Tank Demo Weekend

May 16, 2021 — I'm really broadening the scope of my so-called "Vintage Cars" page. I'm wondering if I should change the name of it to "Transportation Page" or "Anything That Moves Under Its Own Power Page." My most recent series is an exhibit and demonstration of military tanks. In the past I've included not only cars and trucks, but trains, airplanes, boats and even horses.

The Tank Demo Weekend at the American Heritage Museum in Hudson, Massachusetts was a demonstration of tanks speeding around a dirt track, along with exhibits of arms and other equipment and memorabilia from both world wars, with re-enactors dressed in authentic uniforms on hand to answer questions.

An announcer gave a running commentary on the tanks and other activities throughout the day. A highlight was a talk by a 97-year-old former tank gunner in Patton's Army in World War II. I can only hope I have his energy, humor and memory at that age, assuming I make it that far.

All three museums in the complex were open, American Heritage, Historic Aircraft and Classic Car Barn (ah, that makes it a legitimate entry in my Vintage Cars Page). There's video of the tanks and excerpts from the World War II vet's commentary, along with photos of the various military displays, and links to my visit to the American Heritage Museum in 2019 and the Aircraft Museum and Car Barn in 2015. You can see it all at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/tankday/

Bentley's Saloon First Car Show

May 9, 2021 — My third car show this early in the season bodes well for a good year, and these weren't small shows. All three were well-attended and drew a large number and variety of vehicles. Bentley's Saloon First Show of the Season, a day-time show in Arundel, Maine, launched Bentley's long season of cruise nights. I'm not good at estimating number of vehicles, but I think 200 would be in the ballpark. Not only the number, but a surprising variety greeted spectators.

Of course, there were the usual street rods and customs. I passed up many late model muscle cars because they dominated every show in 2020, but I did include a few I thought were exceptional. The show also included some stunning restorations of American standards from the '30s, '40s and ''50s. A few European models gave the show an additional touch of class.

So many motorcycles arrived in a steady stream throughout the day, they were turned away late in the show when there was no more space for them. I included photos of a very few, but my primary goal is to present 4-wheel vehicles.

If you're a fan of late model muscle cars, you'll find plenty of them in my 2020 shows. My coverage of Bentley's Saloon show can be seen at this link:

https://www.linwoodstreet.com/bentleys/