Published: May 09, 2008 01:40 pm         

Rocky Gap Car Show

Hundreds of vintage vehicles will converge on Rocky Gap State Park May 17

ROCKY GAP - Antique cars and trucks from Maine to Florida will be making their way to Rocky Gap State Park next week for the National Eastern Antique Auto Club of America Spring Meet.

More than 650 vintage vehicles from the early 1900s to 1983 are registered and will begin arriving on Tuesday. More than 250 judges from all over the United States will inspect the autos on the show field, which is on the day use area of the park. The cars must be on the show field by 11 a.m. on May 17 and will remain there until 3 p.m. that day. The public is invited to come out and view the cars during those hours. Admission is free. The show is being hosted by Queen City Region of the AACA.

Queen City Region (Cumberland) was started as a chapter of Shenandoah Region (Winchester, Va.) 45 years ago by Mac Wilson and four other men who lived in the Cumberland area. During the first year, 23 other men joined the club. Among them were Neil Furlow, Mike Blake and Garth Buckholtz. Through the years, the club has grown to more than 85 families and enjoys a busy schedule. Besides the monthly meetings and summer shows in recent years, the club has taken trips to Atlantic City, N.J., Reno, Nev., and even Puerto Rico for auto shows.

The AACA is an international organization with members in all 50 states and in more than 50 other countries all over the world. There are more than 400 regions and chapters. These groups provide local activities and represent the AACA in their areas. The members and their families are some of the most active members of various associations and clubs within their home states.

Local area residents may see many of the autos as they take self-guided tours of the area on May 14 and 15. On Friday morning, the group will board the Western Maryland Scenic Railroad for the trip to Frostburg, then it is back to Rocky Gap for a business meeting and a judging school. On Friday night there is a social, but on Saturday it's all serious as the cars line up to be judged by the experts.

On Saturday, May 17, at 11 a.m., all the cars will be in place and members of Chapter 172, Vietnam Veterans of America, will present the colors. Bands from Mountain Ridge High School and Washington Middle School will play the national anthem and the West Virginia Air National Guard will provide a low altitude flyover. That evening the awards will be given out at a banquet held at the lodge.

Steam driven and electric cars will on the show field for viewing. For more information, call Don Reid at (301) 729-1653.