Saturday, June 26, 1999
Classic cars strut proudly
Fairgrounds show features flames, music
BY JANICE MORSE
The Cincinnati Enquirer
Car owners, from left, Ron Wright, Debbie Carpenter and Robert McBee.
(Craig Ruttle photo)
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HAMILTON — A national car show held at the Butler County Fairgrounds last year was such a hit, it's returning this year — and for many years to come, said Debbie Carpenter of Fairfield, an organizer.
“This is where we plan on staying,” said Mrs. Carpenter, a spokeswoman for Kustoms of America Inc., the nation's oldest car club.
“Until last year, we were kind of going from place to place, looking for a home. But the fairgrounds has been wonderful, the audiences have been wonderful, and a whole lot of our members are from right here in this general area.”
About 500 cars and 5,000 onlookers are expected for the three-day event, which runs through Sunday and marks the club's 50th anniversary.
No matter what the weather, Mrs. Carpenter expects a large crowd because car fans are devoted.
“If it rains, people will bring their umbrellas and come on out. If it's hot, that's not a problem either. The cars won't melt,” she said.
The show is drawing entrants from as far away as California, Mrs. Carpenter said, and will again feature a real crowd-pleaser: tonight's flame-thrower exhibition.
Cars are outfitted with a spark plug and a coil that can be activated to ignite the exhaust fumes. The result: long trails of flames blowing from the tailpipes.
“The people who have never seen it go crazy,” said Mrs. Carpenter.
Kustoms of America, founded in 1949, has about 3,000 members nationwide. Its shows feature street rods and custom and classic cars.
Other attractions include:
• A 7 p.m. concert by a local '50s and '60s rock band, Hot Wax,today.
• A talent show at 1:30 p.m. today with a $100 prize.
• Appearances by Joe Bailon, originator of the famous “candy-apple red” paint color, and movie car builders Bill Hines and John D'Agostino.
• Gene Winfield, who did creative work on the “Star Trek” Enterprise spaceship, will be a guest Sunday.
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