2025 THEME: PONY CARS
Sunday, September 21, 2025
10am to 3 pm • Rain or Shine ADVANCE BY-THE-CARLOAD TICKETS ONLY
No on-site admission sales
For information, tickets, & registration: HAGLEY.ORG/CARSHOW
Horsepower Meets Historic Beauty
UNDER THE HOOD...
Issue #3 Summer-Fall 2025
Sneak Peek at Hot Shows....................................................................................................5
Cruising Back to My Roots...............................................................................................6-7
Carlisle
Art Director: Matthew Loeb
Advertising & Sales: Jerry duPhily
Digital Services Director: Michael O’Brian
Editorial & Research Team: Jerry duPhily, Larry Lazareff
Contributing Writers: Frank Adkins, Larry Lazareff, Ben Notaro, Lou Sitaras.
Contributing Photographers: Lindsay duPhily, Joe Grace, Ben Notaro, Bob Sliwecki
Founder and Special Consultant: Larry Lazareff
Four issues published annually (Spring, Spring-Summer, Summer-Fall, Fall-Winter)
Cruising Magazine, LLC. All rights reserved.
Cruising is designed and produced by TSN Media, Inc.
Mailing and business address: 164 Christina Landing, Wilmington, DE 19801
Contacting Cruising Magazine: Send all written correspondences to:
Cruising Magazine, c/o TSN Media, 164 Christina Landing, Wilmington, DE 19801
Phone: 302-655-6483
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Show and Go Garage
SNEAK PEEK HOT SHOWS
August 2: 13th Annual Classic Car Cruise-In
Benefiting Cancer Support Community Delaware Saint Mark’s High School, 2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19808 noon-3pm. Info: CarShows4NonProfits@gmail.com
August 16: 13th Annual Middletown Peach Festival Car Show
MOT Senior Center, 300 S. Scott St, Middletown, DE 19709 noon-3pm. Info: MiddletownPeachFestival.com
August 21-23: Covettes at Carlisle Carlisle Fairgrounds, 1000 Bryn Mawr Rd, Carlisle, PA 17013 Fri & Sat: 7am-6pm; Sun: 7am-6pm. Info: 717-243-7855; CarlisleEvents.com
September 7: 19th Annual DVCC Car Show
Bellanca Airfield Museum, 2 Centerpoint Blvd, New Castle, DE 19720 9am-2pm. Info: DelawareValleyCamaro.com
September 13: 34th Annual Downtown Millville Car Show
High Street (between Broad & Main streets), Millville, NJ 08332 11am-3pm. Info: 856-825-7000 x7394
September 14: 3rd Annual Pennsauken Car & Bike Show
Pinsetter Bar & Bowl, 7111 Maple Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109 11am-4pm. Info: PennsaukenEvents.com
September 20: 11th Annual Hockessin Auto Show
Hockessin United Methodist Church, 7250 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 noon-4pm. Info: 302-983-6966; CarShows4NonProfits@gmail.com
September 21: Hagley Car Show
Hagley Museum and Library, 200 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807 10am-4pm. Info: Hagley.org
October 4: Wings & Wheels 2025 Fall Festival
Delaware Coastal Airport, 21553 Rudder Lane, Georgetown, DE 19947 10am-4pm Info: 302-856-1544; GeorgetownCoC.com
October 12: Greater Woodbine Chamber 14th Annual Car Show & Swap Meet
501 Washington Ave, Rt. 550, Woodbine, NJ 08270 9am-3pm. Info: 609-780-3088; WoodbineChamber.com
Cruising...Back To My Roots
By Frank Adkins
In today’s world of high-end restorations and six-figure custom car builds, it seems perfection is the ultimate goal. There is no denying that those with the deepest pockets have the means to pursue perfection with more tenacity than regular folks whose pockets are comparatively shallow.
Even so, quite a few regular folks build impressive cars. They do the work that is within their capability, expanding their skills and tool inventories along the way, and they shore up the family finances to squeeze out the bucks they need to farm out the rest. The more an enthusiast can do, the more money he or she can save, but the automotive hobby is expensive no matter what level you are on. We tend to pursue perfection to the extent that our budgets allow.
The author's 2000 Dodge Dakota, a year-long restoration project. Photo courtesy Frank Adkins
Of course, hundreds of businesses cater to our needs including restoration parts, mechanical parts, body and paint supplies, and more, all of which are just a few mouse clicks away.
But it wasn’t always this way. In the earliest days of hot-rodding, men returning home after WW II needed transportation. New cars were scarce, for most auto manufacturers had shifted their production away from automobiles to support the war effort. So, the returning veterans bought clapped-out cars, swapped engines or did whatever other work was necessary, and they made do with what parts and tools they had at their disposal.
Often they adapted pieces from other makes or models in order to breathe new life into dead cars. In this sense, hot-rodding was born out of need. Of course, being gear-heads, if they could improve performance, they did.
These pioneers of hot-rodding had to figure things out on their own. They weren’t inspired by TV shows such as Iron Resurrection, Bitchin’ Rides, or Roadkill. They couldn’t Google anything or look up videos on YouTube. Nor could they order parts online with the expectation that they would be delivered to their doorstep days later. Furthermore, builds worthy of Barrett-Jackson were the farthest thing from their minds. In the early days of hot-rodding, form followed function. The goal was to build an operable vehicle for cheap. By contrast, most of today’s hot-rod builds are anything but cheap!
My first car was a ’64 Dodge Dart four-door that had belonged to my great aunt. I bought it when I was 15, and it was a year older than I was. It had a reputedly indestructible Slant Six (a prevailing sentiment that I soon debunked) and a push-button Torqueflite automatic transmission. But at a mere 67,000 miles the Torqueflite had developed internal issues. I cut a lot of grass and delivered thousands of newspapers just to be able to buy the car, and I could not afford to have the transmission rebuilt.
So, with the exuberance of an uninitiated 15-year-old, I declared, “If I have to put a transmission in it, I’m putting in what I want.” With that, I embarked on my first automatic-to-manual transmission swap. Though I had no idea what I had committed myself to, I had a close friend who had replaced the clutch in his father’s Pinto station wagon. As far as I was concerned, he knew everything there was to know about clutches and manual transmissions.
Ideally, I would have found a similar year and model donor car, but at that time there were none in any of the junkyards in New Castle County. I mistakenly assumed that Chrysler’s A-body platform had remained unchanged from 1963 through 1976, but that was not the case. Clutch linkage from a ’68 Barracuda required a lot of massaging to work in my car. Furthermore, I opted for a later fully synchronized transmission from a Duster, which required a floor shifter.
My narrow floor tunnel had no room for shift linkage, so I fabricated linkage that ran forward from the shifter, below the cross-member, and angled upward sharply to reach the shift levers on the transmission. To stiffen the linkage, I built a fire on the bank of the creek in the woods near my family’s home. I heated the rods until they glowed orange. Then, using my father’s pliers, I plucked them from the bed of coals and flung them into the creek to temper them. Despite the numerous other pitfalls I encountered, the car was operable by the time I turned 16.
During my senior year in high school I acquired a ’68 Dart GT. It, too, received an automatic-to-manual conversion as well as an engine swap, suspension rebuild, and much more. Like the ’64 Dart, I put it together on an extremely tight budget, and it was roadworthy by the time I turned 18.
I like to think that with both of these cars, I followed the formula used by the pioneers of our hobby. Both cars were 15 to 20 years old, parts were readily available in junkyards, and they were inexpensive. I was a young guy, perpetually broke, and yet I was able to infuse new life into both of these cars.
More than 40 years later I still own the ’68 Dart, but a lot has changed since then. I can no longer shop for parts in local junkyards because most yards maintain inventories of late-model vehicles. Even if I do find a similar car in a yard, anything worth saving is usually gone.
Most of what I buy for it nowadays is sourced online — used stuff on eBay or Facebook Marketplace, as well as reproduction parts from scores of suppliers. In fact, I have stockpiled several thousand dollars worth of reproduction parts for the next time I dismantle and refurbish this car. In the early 1980s, I could not fathom the aftermarket support many older cars and trucks would enjoy today.
Eight years ago my wife acquired her brother’s 2001 Dodge Dakota after his passing. She bonded with it immediately, so I promised to make it as nice as possible. I also decided to build one for myself. Soon we had four Dakotas, and I was hauling home parts from junkyards a couple of times a month. I refurbished her truck, and over a two year period I built my truck from five donor trucks. It’s a rust-free ’99 two wheel drive with a standard cab, lightly modified 5.2 liter Magnum V-8, 5-speed manual transmission, and a heavy duty 9.25 axle with 3.55 gears and a limited slip differential. I had to build it because I couldn’t find one equipped how I wanted. But along the way, I rediscovered the joy I’d found as a teen scouring junkyards and building cars from junkyard parts. Currently, the aftermarket offers little for these trucks, but they are still plentiful in junkyards and the parts tend to be affordable.
Over the last year I built a 2000 standard cab Dakota. Initially I bought it to cannibalize because I needed a bed for one of our other trucks, but I deemed this one too nice to part out. It had a blown-up 3.9 V-6, but my buddy Rob McCall, owner of Rob’s Rod Shop in Downingtown, had a very rusty 2000 Durango R/T 4X4 from which I took the entire drivetrain. I rebuilt the transmission and converted it from four-wheel drive to twowheel drive, then installed it into the Dakota along with the 5.9 Magnum and 3.92 geared 9.25 limited slip rear axle. I also had to transplant the Powertrain Control Module and the engine wiring.
Not long after completion, it made the 700-mile trip from our home in southern Delaware to our place in central Maine. Rolling up I-95, I felt the same satisfaction that I did as a teen after returning each of my Darts to the road. I enjoy all aspects of the old car realm, but it’s good to get back to the roots of our hobby and to rediscover my own roots, for they are much the same.
The Ultimate Showman
By Lou Sitaras
Ed Buczeskie is the man behind the magic of Carlisle car shows
In a modest home north of Carlisle, Pennsylvania with a most un-modest garage lives a man who has brought delight and jubilation to hundreds of thousands of Mopar enthusiasts throughout not just the country, but the world.
Ed Buczeskie (Ed B), the Events Manager for Carlisle Events, is in charge of putting together the most fantastic Mopar show in the world. The undertaking he tackles every year is enormous. The most substantial challenge? Trying to top the show from the previous year!
Ed will be the first one to tell you that hosting an event of this magnitude is a team effort and he’s right — everybody chips in to make it happen from the ticket takers, the grounds crew, the office workers . . . There are usually 100 staffers chosen to work an event from a pool of about 200 and if you look at each staffer’s badge, their years of service at Carlisle Events are prominent. Working here means attending the equivalent of car show college,
where you learn how to work and interact with both spectators and participants. Carlisle workers are known for their excellent customer service skills, and the college is a concept other businesses could learn from. After all, most full-time workers at Carlisle Events have been there 12-15 years, an impressive feat considering today’s business world of high turnover.
The one thing Ed has made clear to anyone who asks is that the Mopar community — and especially his co-workers — are not just friends, they are his extended family. Ed makes it a point to get out as much as he can during an event and really enjoys afterhours shopping on the field . . . especially the dollar piles or the Mopar tools.
During the event, he’s usually behind the wheel of a golf cart with a few of his extended family on board. That may include Brenda Walls, Joy Curran, Dennis Kohr or even Linda Vaughn herself. While the work can be grueling and stressful, it certainly has its rewards. When not working an event, Ed can usually be found at other automotive events in the country promoting the shows at Carlisle. If you see a red Carlisle Events tent, be sure to stop by and say hello.
One of the biggest and most popular features at Carlisle Events is appearances by celebrities. Getting the opportunity to chat with someone you’ve admired most of your life and then getting photographed with them is a thrill unlike any other. I’ve personally witnessed grown men and women get almost giddy when talking with someone famous. Yes, there are times when the line can be long, but it doesn’t matter. The joy in someone’s eyes and in their heart makes it all worthwhile.
A few of the celebrities who have made appearances at Carlisle include Linda Vaughn (Miss Hurst Shifter), John Schneider (Dukes Of Hazzard), Herb McCandless (Mr. 4-Speed), Cindy Williams and Paul LeMat, (American Graffiti), William Ostrander (Christine), David Rea from DB Restorations, Rick Hurst (The Dukes Of Hazzard), and one of Ed’s favorite guests, Sonny Shroyer (Dukes Of Hazzard). These and many other celebrities have helped attendees leave with a life-long memory.
One thing Ed takes great pride in is his collection of cars, parts, and automobilia. If he has something you need and he doesn’t plan to use it, he’ll gladly pass it on to you. But not for money; Ed prefers doing business the old fashioned way.
“I’ll give you something you need and you give me something I need,” he says.
It’s a novel approach and rare these days when it seems like the almighty dollar rules everything.
All of this began with the simplest of stories. In 1973, Chip Miller was prevented from selling a ’54 Corvette at a Hershey (Pa.) car show because the car was considered too new. Frustrated, Miller and his friend Bill Miller (no relation) decided to put up $500 each to host their own show at the nearby Carlisle Fairgrounds. That first show in 1974 led to more shows and finally the purchasing of the fairgrounds in 1982.
The partners’ first single marque show, Corvettes at Carlisle, became the great gathering spot for everyone who appreciated these fiberglass gems. Other shows followed: the Import Show in 1986, Mopars and Trucks in 1991, a Ford Show in 1995, and a GM show in 2000.
Today, Carlisle has become a place where all automotive enthusiasts gather to share their stories, find parts, learn new information, and spend time with friends they may not see any other time of the year. We are fortunate to live so close to a world-class classic car venue and to have employees like Ed B help keep the automotive legacy alive for future generations to enjoy.
At left: Many automotive celebrities have spent time at Carlisle. Pictured with Carlisle Events Manager Ed Buczeskie are Miss Mopar Direct Connection Claudia Abel Passalacqua (left) and the host of All Girls Garage and Garage Squad Cristy Lee (right).
Top right: Ed B with his 1967 Plymouth Belvedere powered by a 5.7 hemi.
Middle: Ed B with (l-r) Brenda Walls (Ridgely Car Show founder), Dennis Kohr (Kohrs Kustoms), and Joy Curran (CudaGirl).
Bottom: Living it up at Carlisle. These ladies are reliving the '70s in their very own style.
Brews and Cruise
The South Jersey Cruisers Association Car Club recently held their Brews & Cruise car cruise at the Glasstown Brewery in Millville, New Jersey. More than 125 rides gathered at the brewery. The event also featured a craft fair that had unique items and there also plenty of food vendors for the cruisers to enjoy.
Father’s Day Cars & Cigars
Father’s Day is the one day a year that dads all over America call their own. It’s a day where all those gentlemen who own the title of “Dad” get special recognition. Well, in the car community, some shows and cruises have dedicated their event to mark this special day.
Keller Williams Real Estate in Vineland, New Jersey held their first annual Father’s Day Cars & Cigars and the show featured some very special offerings for their participants. If the enjoyment of a fine hand-rolled cigar was of one’s fancy, they were made by Oro Cubano tobacco shop and were free to the participants. There was also complimentary Mexican food prepared by Julio’s on Main. A cool 1970s VW photo bus was on hand to mark this festive occasion.
— Text & Photos: Ben Notaro
— Text & Photos: Ben Notaro
Cruisin’ In Winter
During the off season of car activities, cruisers usually look for something automotive to keep the “juices” flowing. A few cruisers got together and made an appointment to go for a tour of a professional restoration facility. They agreed that watching a show-quality ride being constructed and being able to ask the proprietor questions can be a very motivating thing.
Cruisin’ the Expressway
The great American highway is the perfect place to take out a classic or contemporary ride for a shakedown run. It’s a good way to get the cobwebs out of the engine and cruise on a smooth long stretch of road.
Enter Tom Rightler who is the owner/operator of Mid-Atlantic Muscle Cars located in Bridgeton, NJ. Rightler is no stranger to restoring muscle cars and has animpressive list of clients and accomplishments. It’s also safe to say his passion for the Chevelle served as special inspiration.
The Atlantic City Expressway in southern New Jersey is a fine example of a way to begin the first 100 days of the summer of 2025. The AC Expressway and DonutNV teamed up to have a car cruise at the Farley Service Plaza on the Expressway route.
While at his shop, one guest (Jim Solomon) presented Rightler with his watercolor artwork depicting Rightler’s reconstructed General Lee. A walk-through had guests checking out an area that had an original contemporary Shelby Cobra frame ready for the body (as well as related parts) and assembly to be completed.
All cars were invited to a cruise that featured a variety of food vendors, entertainment, a display of emergency equipment and more. This free car gathering was a neat way of opening up warm-weather cruising fun.
8 AND 9 INCH
— Text: Ben Notaro / Photos: Robert Sliwecki
Visiting a shop that specializes in classic and specialty rides is a great way keep the spirit alive and get to see another side of our hobby. Check out Mid-Atlantic Muscle Cars at midatlanticmusclecar.com
WE SELL NEW AND REBUILT 8” & 9” Ford Third Members, all parts in stock
Department of the Interior
The interior of our rides are our rolling living rooms. The vital functions of our engine are displayed in front of us with stock or aftermarket gauges and if you are a person who likes music, your car becomes your concert hall or a tavern band — or you just listen to the sweet sounds of your engine thundering as you travel.
Like any good living room, you notice something to read is always present. Show flyers and a copy of Cruising Magazine seem to be the best way to round out your car’s interior appointments. Here are a few photos of some “comy” cabins and their inviting seats.
Wildwood Show on the ‘Boards’
Enjoying a day at the shore and taking in the sights and sounds of an ocean resort is a great way to enjoy one’s time. Add to that a boardwalk and a car show on the “boards” and you have a long-running event in Wildwood, New Jersey.
The team of JSM Promotions held their car show on Mother’s Day weekend and it was a great way to celebrate mom and fun rides. The boardwalk was alive with visitors and car enthusiasts all on a pleasant day. If you missed this show and want to come back to Wildwood, there is also a fall gathering that takes place in September.
— Text & Photos: Ben Notaro
— Text & Photos: Ben Notaro
Consigning a Car with Mecum Auctions
Just like bidding at a Mecum event, selling a car is open to everyone, and there’s no better way to do it
Selling a car at a Mecum auction isn’t just for dealers or seasoned collectors and longtime auction-goers. It’s an opportunity that is wide open to anyone looking to pass their cherished collector car onto its next devoted caretaker. Mecum strives to make the process as easy and welcoming as possible, and the laundry list of benefits that comes from working with the company is one that can’t be found anywhere else.
To consign a car with Mecum is essentially like hiring an entire team made up of hundreds of experts and well-trained individuals, all dedicated to achieving the most value possible for the car’s sale. Instead of finding a place to park the car along a busy road with a sign in the window or spending time trying to promote its availability on various websites or in specialty enthusiast publications, Mecum consignors can keep their cars parked safely in the garage until it’s time to head for the stage, and all of that promotional work is assigned to the dedicated members of the Mecum team. So, what sort of promotional work goes into the magic Mecum mix? Let’s take a look.
PROMOTIONAL BENEFITS OF CONSIGNING WITH MECUM:
• Each car receives its own dedicated page on Mecum’s website, where more than 20 images can be posted, along with a bulleted list of information highlighting the vehicle’s most important and desirable features.
• Collection offerings receive their own dedicated landing page in addition to each car’s individual webpage.
• Consigned vehicles are automatically posted as their own individual listings on many of the major collector car inventory websites, including Hemmings, DuPont Registry and a host of others.
• Show Programs are created and handed out to customers on-site at the auction, which include a picture and information for every vehicle slated to cross the auction block.
• Mecum sends out hardcopy mailers, including brochures, booklets and
other promotional materials that feature both individual lots as well as various groupings of cars.
• Countless digital email alerts are sent to Mecum’s massive database of enthusiasts and collectors featuring vehicles and collections to be offered.
• Catalog offerings receive professional photography and professionally written narratives.
• Mecum creates film segments for broadcasting on YouTube and on NBC Sports Network featuring vehicles and collections to cross the block at upcoming events.
• Dedicated domain names and more unique and powerful web-based marketing tools are also employed in some cases.
• Press releases and social media postings highlighting upcoming vehicle offerings are regularly distributed to Mecum’s millions of fans and followers.
• The digital Mecum Magazine takes an in-depth look at cars and their collectors each month and is emailed to the company’s vast marketing database.
• Additional special and one-off marketing efforts and campaigns are often employed as well with the aim of increasing public exposure and awareness of individual offerings, private collections and auction events overall.
In addition to sparing sellers the legwork of promotion, consigning with Mecum also grants vehicles nearly instant exposure to one of the industry’s largest and most diverse customer and fan bases. From placement on the company’s website, which receives millions of views every month, to hitting the auction block
Jimmy Landis, of Lancaster, Pa., gets the bidding rolling at a Mecum auction. Photo courtesy Mecum Auctions
before an audience of thousands of well-informed and highly interested enthusiasts, consigning with Mecum means getting a car in front of exactly the right crowd — and a massive one at that. Mecum bidders are serious and vetted individuals with intent to do business. From those bidding on-site to the customers bidding from home by phone or internet, there is no shortage of ready and willing buyers at any Mecum event. And the best part of all? There is no need for sellers to take a barrage of phone calls or emails from potential buyers or to haggle over the price; instead, the car hits the auction block, and within minutes, a buyer is found, and a fair price achieved.
Speaking of price, another benefit of consigning with Mecum is the ability to offer a vehicle with a reserve. A reserve price is the minimum amount that a seller is willing to accept as the winning bid; if the amount bid at auction does not reach or exceed the declared reserve amount, the seller then has the option to lift the reserve and sell their car to the highest bidder or let it go to Mecum’s Bid Goes On department for more off-the-block bidding action. While the auction platform by nature tends to ensure that the most appropriate market value for any vehicle is achieved, this level of protection is something many sellers find comforting when sending their most prized possessions across the auction block.
When all is said and done, consigning a car with Mecum means getting the best promotional team in the business, the eyes of countless interested buyers, and the ease of kicking back and watching as those buyers clamor to make it their own.
For those who’ve been made believers by what they’ve read so far, let’s take a look now at how to consign a car with Mecum.
HOW TO CONSIGN
Most often, it all starts with a phone call. Customers are encouraged to call Mecum at (262) 275-5050 to discuss their consignment options with a customer service or consignment agent, but for those who know exactly which auction they want to offer their car at, they’re welcome to skip right to filling out a Request for Position form at Mecum.com.
An online auction Request for Position form should be filled out for each vehicle a seller plans to offer. It can be completed online or printed and returned by fax or mail. Consignors are asked to provide payment information (a credit card) for each vehicle consigned, but the entry fee is ultimately based on the actual assigned lot number (which indicates a vehicle’s position among the auction lineup) and isn’t charged until that information is determined with the expertise and assistance of an agent.
Once the lot number is determined, a dedicated Customer Experience Agent will take the baton and work with the consignor to completion. The agent will email an e-signable contract and other necessary information/documentation to the seller. Consignors then collaborate with their dedicated Customer Experience Agent to submit photos, draft descriptions and complete the consignment process. Each individual car webpage can display more than 20 photos of the vehicle to be sold. Consult the Vehicle Photography Guidelines — which can be found at Mecum.com and within the consignment package — for more details and tips on capturing and submitting the best images to help sell any car.
With contracts complete, titles mailed, and photos submitted, it’s time for the seller to sit back, relax and wait for the big day.
EVENT LISTINGS
Area CRUISES
Cruising Magazine makes every effort to ensure all listings are correct. However, event listings are subject to change. Please call ahead to avoid a wasted trip. ►
Every Monday year-round
Mighty Joe’s Cruise Nights
Mighty Joe’s Gas Grill & Deli, 1231 Route 206, Shamong, NJ 08088
5-8pm
Good food, good friends, cool cars. Info: 609-268-0303
Every Tuesday through November
Millsboro Dairy Queen Cruz-N
Dairy Queen Grill & Chill, 129 Main St, Millsboro, DE 19966
6-9pm
Info: Rusty 302-934-7377
Every Tuesday through October
Kent Island Cruisers Cruise Nights
Rita’s Italian Ice, 210 Kent Landing, Kent Island, MD 21666
6pm
Weather permitting. Come on out to Rita’s Ice on Kent Island and see what old rides show up!
Every Tuesday through October
Street Rollers Cruise Night
Wood Lanes, 1173 Route 40, Pilesgrove, NJ 08098
5:30-8:30pm
All are welcomed: hot rods, trucks, classics, motorcycles. Whatever your passion is, bring it, show it off!
1st Wednesdays through October
Salem County Road Knights Cruise Night
Pat’s Pizzeria 102 South Broadway, Pennsville, NJ 08070
5-8pm
Get ready to rev up your engines and shine those wheels! Pat’s Pizzeria transforms into a hub of car and motorcycle enthusiasts. As a special treat, every car, or motorcycle entry receives a complimentary slice of pizza and a small fountain drink to kick off the night!
3rd Wednesdays through September
South Jersey Region AACA Cruise Nights
Salem County Auto Repair 595 Salem Quinton Rd, Salem, NJ 08079
5-7:30pm
Snacks and beverages (provided by Hitchners Furniture) for all drivers who bring their special. Enjoy music by Ed Counsellor. Info: Ron Scott 856-629-6085 or Martin Erdner 856-935-0537 or SJRAACA.com
2nd & 4th Thursdays through September
Mr. Bill’s Cruise
Mr. Bill’s of Winslow Twp, 453 Route 73 South, Hammonton, NJ 08037 4-8pm
Great food, custard, and friends. Cruise in for a fun time. Weather permitting. Info: 609-839-1410
3rd Tuesdays through September
Delaware Valley Road Runners (DVRR)
Cruise Night
Falls Township Community Park 9061 Mill Creek Rd, Levittown, PA 19054 6-8:30pm
Handicap accessible, food, kids, music, all vehicles welcome, 25 plaques each cruise night. Come out for a great time! New members welcome.
Info: DelawareValleyRoadRunners.com
Every Friday through October
Street Survivors Friday Cruise Nights
To the left of Burger King by Tractor Supply, Park 97 East Park Shopping Center 7988 Crain Hwy, Glen Burnie, MD 21061 5:30-8:30pm No Entry Fee. All vehicles allowed. Plenty of parking. Music and 50/50 every week. Car show flyers and club merchandise are available. Weather permitting. Food available at nearby establishments.
Info: Tom 443-838-0948 or Rick 443-829-5658 StreetSurvivorsOfMaryland.com
2nd Fridays through October
Grotto Pizza Presents Cruise Nights
Grotto Pizza, 309 Auto Park Dr, Middletown, DE 19709 5-9pm
Beginning April 11. Come out, show off your ride and enjoy food and drinks at Grotto Pizza. Rain date is always the 3rd Friday. No burnouts. Info: CarShows4Nonprofits@gmail.com
2nd & 4th Fridays through September 12
Historic Smithville Car Cruises
Smithville Village Greene, Smithville, NJ 08205 5-8pm
Cruise on down to Smithville and hang out. Drive to the side parking lot of the Village Greene and near the red covered bridge, you will see orange cones set up. Move a cone and park your car.
EVENT LISTINGS
First Saturdays
Chesapeake Cars and Coffee
Fisherman Village, 3032 Kent Narrow Way S, Grasonville, MD 21638
9-11am
All makes and models welcome. Speeding, burnouts, and reckless driving not permitted.
1st Saturdays trough October
Corvette Club Monthly Car Show & Cruise
Fox Run Shopping Center, Bear, DE 19701
3-6pm
Street rods, classic, antique, race, trucks and motorcycles. Bring whatever you have! No entry fees. Handicap accessible, food, kids, and music. Info: VetteClub.org
2nd & last Saturdays through October 11 Del Rods Cruise Nights
Greentree Shopping Center Route 8, Dover, DE 19904
5-8pm
Fee, Handicap accessible, food, kids, music, all vehicles welcome, trophies. Sponsored by Hardees.
Info: DelRodsCarClub.org
3rd Saturdays through September
Fox Run Cruise by Yesterday’s Chevrolet
Fox Run Shopping Center, 10-412 Fox Hunt Dr, (Intersection of Rts. 72 and 40), Bear, DE 19701
4-7pm
Monthly cruise hosted by Yesterday’s Chevrolet car club
Info: Warren Shanks 302-540-5604
3rd Saturdays through October Cars & Coffee
Surf Bagel, 204 NE Front St, Milford, DE 19963
9-11am
Hosted by the Historical Vintage Car Club of Delaware. Join for a casual meet. Hang out, grab a bite, and meet fellow enthusiasts. Info: HVCCDe.com/shows/cruiseins
Last Saturdays through September Cars and Conversation
St. Paul School parking lot, 250 James St, Burlington, NJ 08016
4pm-7pm
Bring your enthusiasm and your car out to St. Paul School. Enjoy a casual gathering of automotive enthusiasts! NOTE: July is reserved for the 10th Annual St. Paul School Car Show! Info: Lisa Honnig 609-820-2719 or saintpaulburlington@gmail.com
Last Saturdays through December
Caffeine & Chrome
Gateway Classic Cars of Phildadelphia 195 E. 9th Ave., Runnemede, NJ 08078
9am-noon
Cruise in with your collectible or daily driver, enjoy free pastries and coffee (while supplies last). Open to the public, no admission fee, and family/pet friendly. Info: Philadelphia@GatewayClassicCars.com
5th Saturdays (May 31, Aug 30)
Cruisin’ For Caffeine
March location: First Watch, 145 Grove Ln, Newark, DE 19711
9am start
Rain or shine. Join BRAACA every month that has a fifth Saturday at different locations. Location suggestions welcome. Info: Braaca.org
1st Sunday through November 2
N. Wilmington Cars & Coffee
Brandywine Commons II Shopping Center 1400 Rocky Run Pkwy, Wilmington, DE 19803 (Side parking lot next to Raymour & Flanigan) 8am-11am
Meet up with local car enthusiasts for morning coffee & conversation. Event won’t be re-scheduled for rain; we will just try again on the 1st Sunday the following month. No burnouts or revving of engines permitted. Info: www.facebook.com/ NorthWilmingtonCarsandCoffee
1st & 3rd Sunday through November VFW Cruise-In
VFW Post 5118, 355 Glebe Rd, Easton, MD 21601
8-11am
Socialize and connect with other car enthusiasts. All years, makes, models & flavors are welcome. Info: Don 410-463-0542
July 27 (Sunday)
Cruisin’ Cars & Coffee
Sprout Saint Michaels, 114 S Talbot Street, St Michaels, MD 21663
8-10am
Hosted by Chesapeake Classic Car Club. Beat the heat of July with cool cars, hot coffee and a great menu that will leave you feeling like a fresh paint job. Each cruiser will get a FREE 2025 Cruisin’ Coin at every event — the more coins you collect, the more chances for prizes this season!
Info: info@chesapeakecarclub.org or ChesapeakeCarClub.org
August 31 (Sunday)
Cruisin’ Cars & Coffee
The Bagelry, 101 Marlboro Ave, Easton, MD 21601
8-10am
Hosted by Chesapeake Classic Car Club. Glorious summer days are winding down, treat yourself from a great breakfast menu, the sweetest rides east of the Mississippi and ample parking. Each cruiser will get a FREE 2025 Cruisin’ Coin at every event — the more coins you collect, the more chances for prizes this season!
Info: info@chesapeakecarclub.org or ChesapeakeCarClub.org
GREATER WOODBINE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EVENT LISTINGS
Area SHOWS
Cruising Magazine makes every effort to ensure all listings are correct. However, event listings are subject to change. Please call ahead to avoid a wasted trip. Check www.CruisingMagazine.net for rainout updates. ►
July 23-26 (Wednesday - Saturday)
Mecum Auctions Harrisburg
PA Farm Show Complex
2300 N. Cameron St, Harrisburg, PA 17110
Visit website for hours.
More than 1,200 vehicles. Consign or register to bid.
Info: Mecum.com
July 26 (Saturday)
10th Annual St. Paul School Car Show
St. Paul School, 250 James St, Burlington, NJ 08016
Rain date August 2 9am-2pm
A celebration of automotive artistry, open to ALL years and makes. Family-friendly fun: games, raffles, giveaways, and DJ. Free coffee, tea, and donuts. Cafeteria with A/C. Catered lunch from G&M Caterers available. Preregistration strongly suggested, $20. Info: George 609-234-5135, Lisa 609-820-2719, or SaintPaulBurlington@gmail.com
July 27 (Sunday)
Run with the Angels Car Show
Dublin Volunteer Fire Company, 194 North Main St, Dublin, PA 18917
9am-3:30pm
1989 and earlier street rods, rat rods, customs, muscle cars, trucks and antiques are welcome. Cash prizes, trophies for Favorite 30 and Special Categories. DJ, door prizes, food, vendors, and flea market.
Info: Al Tursi at 215-893-9796 or RoadAngelsDoylestown.com
August 1-3 (Friday - Sunday)
Carlisle Truck Nationals
Carlisle Fairgrounds, 100 Bryn Mawr Road, Carlisle, PA 17013
Fri- Sat: 7am-6pm; Sun: 7am-12pm
Showcasing everything from massive Big Rigs to lifted and lowered trucks, off-road Jeeps, and more. With more than 2,500 trucks gathering on the Showfield, it promises to be a remarkable display. Featuring Monster Truck and FMX shows, truck contests, Automotive Flea Market & Truck Corral, and Manufacturers Midway. Join for this celebration of all things truck, perfect for the whole family. Info: 717-243-7855 or CarlisleEvents.com
August 2 (Saturday)
13th Annual Classic Car Cruise-In Benefitting Cancer Support Community Delaware St. Mark’s High School, 2501 Pike Creek Road, Wilmington, DE 19808
Rain date August 3
noon-3pm
Open to all makes and models. Professionally judged. Features a collection of classic ranging from Stanley Steamers to Corvettes and more, plus food and family-friendly activities.
Info: CarShows4NonProfits@gmail.com
August 16 (Saturday)
13th Annual Middletown Peach Festival Car Show
MOT Senior Center, 300 S. Scott Street, Middletown, DE 19709
12pm-3pm
Rain or shine event. Open to all makes and models. Professionally judged. Info: MiddletownPeachFestival.com
August 21-23 (Thursday - Saturday) Corvettes at Carlisle Carlisle Fairgrounds, 100 Bryn Mawr Road, Carlisle, PA 17013 7am-6pm
This event is not only the largest Corvette car show in the world but also a three-day celebration of America’s classic sports car. Join enthusiasts and over 5,000 of America’s classic sports car, the Corvette, for an event that’s filled with fun, family, great food & more. Info: 717-243-7855 or CarlisleEvents.com
August 22 (Friday)
Park in the Park Ballard Park, Broadway & Pitman Avenue, Pitman, NJ 08071 4pm-8pm 1999 and Older only; $20 preregistered only. Limited to first 75 Cars. DJ Lou Costello, 7 Awards, and coupons for store and restaurant discounts. Checks made out to: Borough of Pitman, 25 Cedar Ave; Pitman, NJ 08071. With check, include year, Car Type, Stock or Modified. All Profits Go to Pitman Police K-9 Fund. Info: wgssr@aol.com or 856-589-1941
EVENT LISTINGS
August 24 (Sunday)
16th Annual Salute to Our Veterans Car Cruise
Veterans Memorial Home, 524 NW Blvd, Vineland, NJ 08360
Rain date September 7
10am start
$5 Donation per vehicle at the gate. Cars and motocycles welcome. Music, food, 50/50, and wheelchair races. Proceeds benefit the New Jersey Veterans Memorial Home.
Info: Ben 856-305-5244 or Bill 609-381-3249
August 30 (Saturday)
Delaware Veterans Home Show/Cruise-in Rain date September 7 Veterans Memorial Home
100 Delaware Veterans Blvd, Milford, DE 19963
8am-12pm
No entry fee, but donations welcome. Dash Plaques will be awarded to the first 100 cars and all cars are welcomed. All of the proceeds benefit the Activities Fund of the Veterans Home, directly impacting the quality of life for those who gave so much.
Info: HVCCDe.com
September 6 (Saturday)
4th Annual White Haven Car Show
Lehigh Park, 300 Lehigh Street, White Haven, PA 18661
9am-5pm
Car registration 8am. Prizes, Live Music, Food, Vendors, and Tricky Trays.
Info: Info@whitehavenchamber.com or WhiteHavenChamber.com
September 7 (Sunday)
19th Annual DVCC Car Show
Bellanca Airfield Museum
2 Centerpoint Blvd, New Castle, DE 19720
Rain date September 14
9am-2pm
All years, make, and model cars and trucks welcome. Dash plaques, 30+ Awards, DJ, food truck, door prizes, 50/50, and more. Info: DelawareValleyCamaro.com
September 7 (Sunday)
Antique Classic Car Show
Historic Smithville- The Village Greene 615 ME. Moss Mill Rd, Galloway, NJ 08205 10am-3pm
Presented by the Jersey Cape Region AACA, this show gathers hundreds of antique and classic vehicles from every era in the heart of one of New Jersey’s most scenic historic villages. Free admission to the public. Vehicle registration required. Rain or shine event. Info: JerseyCape.AACA.com
September 13 (Saturday)
12th Annual Joisey Boys Fairlane Show
Victory Bar & Grill, 795 RT 73, West Berlin, NJ 08091
Rain date September 20 10am-2pm
FREE event for all 1962-1979 Fairlanes, Torinos, Rancheros and Mercury equivalents. Members and non-members welcome. Door prizes, 50/50, giveaways and dash plaques to first 40 cars registered. Sponsored by the Fairlane Club of America.
Info: Bill at bn67fairlane@gmail.com or 609-381-3249
September 13 (Saturday)
34th Annual Downtown Millville Car Show
High Street (between Broad & Main streets), Millville, NJ 08332
11am-3pm
Hosted by the City of Millville. All makes & models welcome. Registration begins at 9am. Free to all car participants. Food, refreshments, kids zone, music and more. Info: 856-825-7000 x 7394 or Millville-nj.com
September 14 (Sunday)
33rd Annual Pennsauken Car & Bike Show
Pinsetter Bar & Bowl, 7111 Maple Avenue, Pennsauken, NJ 08109
11am-4pm
Presented by Pennsauken Township and Pinsetters Bar and Bowl. There will be food, music, and fun. Awards given in every class. All spectators free. Info: PennsaukenEvents.com
September 20 (Saturday)
11th Annual Hockessin Auto Show
Hockessin United Methodist Church 7250 Lancaster Pike, Hockessin, DE 19707 Rain date September 27
12pm-4pm
Open to all makes and models. Professionally Judged. Online early registration $10 before September 15, 2025. Registration $20 from 9:45am-11am. Judging 11am-11pm. Info: CarShows4NonProfits@gmail.com or 302-983-6966
September 20 (Saturday)
40th Annual First State Meet
Indian River Marina, Delaware State Park 39415 Inlet Rd, Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971
9am-1pm
Awards for Best in Show, Top 20, People’s Choice awards, and 100 dash plaques. Breakfast and lunch provided by Dockside. Car Show Participants may pre-register their car online, or the morning of the show. Registration $20. Free admission for the public. Info: HVCCDe.com
EVENT LISTINGS
September 21 (Sunday)
Hagley Car Show
Hagley Museum and Library
200 Hagley Creek Rd, Wilmington, DE 19807
More than 500 cars from the early 1900s through late 1990s. Featuring a vehicle parade, music, and food trucks. Registration open now. Advance tickets only.
September 21 (Sunday)
Bear Creek Assisted Living Classic Car Show
Bear Creek Assisted Living 291 Village Road East & Old Trenton Road, West Windsor, NJ 08550
All makes and models welcome. Music, food & beverages, and door prizes. Goody bags to first 100 cars. Registration $15 day-of-show, 9am11am. Show begins at 11am. Peer judging plus specialty awards. All proceeds benefit charity. Info: Marie at 609-577-0456 or Pontiac571@verizon.net
September 21 (Sunday)
Soul Riders Auto Club’s Car Show
Willey’s Farm, 4092 DuPont Pkwy, Townsend, DE 19734 3-7pm
Handicap accessible, food, kids, music, trophies. Info: Chris 302-593-2377 or Day-of-Show at 302-858-3672
September 27 (Sunday)
Pitman Methodist Church Car Show 758 N. Broadway, Pitman, NJ 08071 10am-3pm
Contestants Choice Voting; Top 12 Plus Best of Show. $10.00 Entrance Fee; food trucks and events for the entire family. Info: 856-589-1941or wgssr@aol.com
September 28 (Saturday)
OG-Allstars & Coopers Riverview 1st Annual Car Show
Coopers Riverview, 50 Riverview Plaza, Trenton, NJ 08611
Rain date October 26 10am-2pm
$35 for entry fee includes indoor brunch buffet. Cash Bar. All proceeds benefit OG AllStar Cheerleading. Info: ogallstarcheer@gmail.com or 609-917-8855
October 1-5 (Wednesday - Sunday)
Fall Carlisle presented by Hemmings Carlisle Fairgrounds, 100 Bryn Mawr Road, Carlisle, PA 17013
The grand finale of the Carlisle Events calendar provides the perfect solution to the winter non-picking blues. With 8,100 vendor spaces, this event offers enthusiasts an opportunity to discover rare finds and enhance automotive
collections. Across the street at the Carlisle Expo Center, the Fall Carlisle Collector Car Auction runs from Oct. 2-3. Info: 717-243-7855 or CarlisleEvents.com
October 4 (Saturday)
Wings & Wheels 2025 Fall Festival Delaware Coastal Airport 21553 Rudder Lane, Georgetown, DE 19947 9am-4pm
Sponsored by the Greater Georgetown Chamber of Commerce, Delaware Aviation Museum and HVCCDE. Featuring vintage and modern aircraft, live music, food and cars. All makes and models welcome. Registration is $20 per car. Over 30 trophies in 7 classes. Free admission and fun for the whole family. Info: wings-wheels.com
October 4 (Saturday)
Cumberland County 4-H Fall Fling & Car Show
Cumberland County Fairgrounds 3001 Carmel Road, Millville, NJ 08332 10am-2pm
Sponsored by the Cumberland County 4-H Program. Proceeds help support the Cumberland County 4-H Program. Info: Deannja@CumberlnadCountyNJ.gov or 856-362-3747
October 4 (Saturday)
12th Annual Cars for Kacie Classic Auto Mall, 6180 Morgantown Road, Morgantown, PA 19543
Rain Date October 11 8am-3pm
50/50, food, music, meet Dennis Gage from My Classic Car. Top 100 awards, plus more than 25 6ft awards. All years, makes & models welcome. Day-of-show registration $20. Info: Andy Rumford 610-742-5249
October 4 (Saturday)
5th Annual Victory Christian Fellowship Church Car Show
Rain date October 12
Victory Christian Fellowship, 100 Wilton Blvd., New Castle, DE 19720 3-6pm
Free Event. Open to all makes and models. Professionally judged. Food trucks. Info: CarShows4NonProfits@gmail.com
October 4 (Saturday)
2nd Annual Car/Bike/Truck Show
Ewell’s-St. Paul UMC
401 West St, Clayton, DE 19938 8am-1pm
Trophies, dash plaques for the first 30 to register. Door prizes, food. Proceeds go to help fund church ministries. Info: Debra 302-943-4018 or DebraLewis58@icloud.com
EVENT LISTINGS
October 4 (Saturday)
5th Annual Pine Hill District Scouting America Car Show
1189 Rt 70 East at Springdale Road
Camden County College - Rohrer Campus
Cherry Hill, NJ 08003
Rain date October 11
9am-2pm
Hosted by South Jersey Classics. Benefits Pine Hill District of the Garden State Council, Scouting America. Food, DJ, 50/50. Dash plaques for first 50 cars. Trophies. Open to all Domestic & Foreign cars and trucks. $20 dayof-show registration.
Info: PSnyder.GSCBSA@gmail.com or 609-502-5065
October 5 (Sunday)
First State Mustang & Ford Club
2025 Fall Show
410 Ogletown Rd, Newark, DE 19711
Rain Date October 12
9am-2pm
Registration time 9-11am; show time 9amnoon. 25 Peoples Choice trophies, 11 judged trophies, food, DJ, 50/50, and charity auction. Pre-register by Sept. 22. Info: FirstStateMustangAndFord.com
October 11 (Saturday)
Greater Woodbine Chamber of Commerce
14th Annual Car Show & Swap Meet
Rain date October 19
501 Washington Ave, Woodbine, NJ 08270
9am-3pm
Show cars & antiques, muscle cars, race cars, military vehicles, and more welcome. Swap meet. Pre-Registration $15 by Oct. 1; Day-of $20. Benefits Woodbine American Legion Post 298. Info: Lisa at 609-780-3088 or WoodbineChamber.com
October 11 (Saturday)
Riverside Car Show
1 W. Scott St & Pavilion Ave, Riverside, NJ 08075
Rain date October 12
noon-2pm
Cars, trucks, Jeeps, and motorcycles. Judged show with 60+ trophies. Food, vendors, DJ, beer garden & family entertainment. $20 preregistered; $25 Day-of. Benefits DelRiverPark Unity Tour Team & National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial and Museum.
Info: RiversideCarShowNJ.com
* Shows after October 11 will appear in the next print edition. View the full list of shows online at CruisingMagazine.net.
SHIFTIN’ GEARS
By Ben Notaro • red63vetnj@comcast.net
There is something about the great American motor vehicle and songs that go hand in hand. Music, especially music that promotes cars, has a way of really getting into a car enthusiast’s blood.
Now, yours truly was around to see the emergence of the modern muscle car in the early 1960s. I can still recall the sounds of the Beach Boys and their classic tribute to a very special Chevy Impala. The song “409” would resonate in my head with the opening sound of that 409 engine revving up at the beginning of the song.
Yes, there were car songs that came before the Beach Boys. I can recall tunes like “Beep Beep” (about a Nash Rambler) and “Hot Rod Lincoln” paying somewhat tribute to fast rides but they were arguably just catchy songs of the day. Like many things in life, timing can be very important. As I was growing up in the golden age of muscle and speed, songs such as “Hey Little Cobr” by the Rip Chords gave praise to a fast and potent little Carroll Shelby sports car. Of course, the classic “Little GTO” gave the GOAT guys their musical rush. That Pontiac muscle ride anthem was a sound by Ronnie and The Daytonas.
Our friends of the Mopar persuasion had their tribute to Chrysler fast-car action with Jan and Dean and their automobile anthem to speed with “The Little Old Lady from Pasadena” hit.
Many of the old gang I knew back in the day enjoyed drag racing and back-road drag race became a popular (though somewhat dangerous) past time to gearheads. “ShutDown” by the Beach Boys became a popular theme song for these endeavors.
“Drag City”was a reminder of the thrills of drag racing. And some of the inherent danger of uncontrolled speed was captured by the tune “Dead Man’s Curve.” Both songs were by Jan and Dean and evoked the need to go fast and be the top gun of speed during the go-fast era of the great American muscle car culture.
So, it is with sadness that we say good-bye to the Beach Boys’ Brian Wilson, one of the most influential song writers of the car song era. He, along with those record artists who helped a generation get tuned into music that reflected not just a car but a lifestyle, truly helped immortalize and bring so many memories to a car culture that still goes on today.
The cruises, shows and virtually all the fun in the car hobby has a song paying tribute — reminding us of the good old days when muscle cars ruled the automotive day.
Department of Entertainment: Rest in Peace Brian Wilson of the Beach Boys. His tunes were played on many a car radio.
Department of the Environment: Cars and Coffee, Cars and Cigars, Cars and Bagels and the list goes on….
Department of Entertainment II: NO songs out for EV rides . . .
