Drop the Top: It’s Classic Car Season!

1939 Ford V8 Deluxe at a Retro McDonald's.

According to the calendar Spring is here and Summer is not too far behind. People all over are eager to enjoy some outdoor activities. One of my favorite past-times is attending area Classic Car shows.

Though I'm pretty good at finding my way around a car engine—I know difference between a distributor cap and a radiator cap, and I also know there is no such thing as “blinker fluid” or “fan belt buckles”—it is the outside of the cars that are "Objets d'Art". The rich colors of the paint, the graceful and sleek lines of the car bodies are a thing of beauty. And the details! From chrome radiator grills to padded jumpseats, art deco hood ornaments to retro tailfins, each automobile is a work of art. There is  tremendous appreciation for the engineers who designed and developed these machines over the decades, and even more awesome are the guys who painstakingly restore these pieces of history in their garages...and keep them running!

The winged Art Deco hood ornament of a 1939 Packard.

Some fellows restore the cars to near factory specifications, while others customize their “babies” to Street Rod status. I love browsing the “Work in Progress” photo albums in which proud owners display a pictorial of the step-by-step restoration process of their cars. The stories about why they like this make of car over that one; how they found the frame for this car or a specific part for that car; or what challenges they faced in restoring their cars, are told time and again to anyone who is willing to listen.

Car Buffs: Can you identify this chrome detail?

More than this, I love to hear about the memories behind the original vehicles they drove. Where did they go? Who were they dating? What songs were playing on the radio at the time?

Yeah….oh, yeah…the music of the day is a large part of those memories. Whether smooching with your honey to The Platters’ “Twilight Time” or cruising with your buddies while listening to Ronny and the Daytona’s “Little GTO”, there was always a spontaneous “soundtrack” for the appropriate moment.

The chrome grill of a 1937 Buick.

It’s no different at the classic car shows. The proprietors of some establishments that host shows provide a disc jockey to play the original tunes during the event. Others often hire live bands to play the “oldies.” One such venue is “Georgie Porgie’s” in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

A classic 1950s Tail Fin.

Georgie Porgie’s is a cool little frozen custard stand and hamburger hangout with the interior décor of a kid’s tree fort. It is loaded with nostalgic trinkets and memorabilia from Kid-dom of days gone by. A nice touch is the PA system, when taking your order, the counter clerk speaks into a tin can on a string—really an electrical wire covered by a washline. The charm is undeniable. Georgie’s has an outdoor “backyard” area where guests can sit and enjoy their purchases while listening to the live band.

One of the bands often featured at Georgie’s is Chuck Travis and the Doo-Wa-Wa. They perform a vast array of car tunes and road music from The Beach Boys “409” and Wilson Pickett’s “Mustang Sally” to Bruce Springsteen’s “Pink Cadillac”. Chuck’s band is so popular that some people will go from car show to car show just to hear them play. Part of the added fun is that Chuck will often showcase other musicians and singers who happen to be in attendance.

Yep! That's me rockin' the mic with Chuck Travis (right).

 The sights, sounds and tastes of the “good old days” are just around the corner and classic cars—restored to factory specs or suped-up to street rods—will be out in force this summer making new memories. Weather permitting.
 

AUTHOR'S NOTE: Check out the "Sweet Nothin's" music video on my YouTube channel!

Inspired by Classic Cars and Golden Oldies.