Customized or historically accurate, souped up or scaled down, able to run on its own or in pieces, the cars and trucks at the 18th annual American Truck Historical Society’s show brought back a bit of nostalgic Americana, and to boot, many were sleek, shiny and colorful.
The event, held at the Saratoga County Fairgrounds Saturday, Sept. 22, and Sunday, Sept. 23, drew hundreds of fans of all ages to ogle vehicles of all ages.
Any old truck, rusty old hulk or showroom new condition, push it, drag it, tow it, join the fun, said fliers for the event, sponsored by the Hudson Mohawk society chapter.
With no judging and no vehicle registration fee, the grounds were virtual parking lots for the glistening cars and trucks sweating off their wax coats under the unseasonably hot sun Saturday.
There were also fire engines, gas engines, engine parts, a flea market and craft show, tool sales, kid’s toy sales and perhaps most importantly, tents with fresh lemonade and soda.
Most spectators were admiring the steering wheels, rooftops or front seats of the antique vehicles, but others got down on their knees to peer beneath the cars and trucks, and appeared to be sniffing liquids that dribbled on a few tires.
`There’s oil on that back tire that shouldn’t be there,` said Warren H. Whinnery of Florida, attending the show with his family members who live locally. `You look for faults, like rust or drips. It’s not just the fancy colors, although that could earn you extra points.`
Whinnery pointed to a nearly blindingly glittery gold 1950s Chevrolet five-window.
`See that color isn’t how this car came off the showroom floor, it didn’t sparkle that way, so it hasn’t been restored to its original form,` said Whinnery. `That kind of paint wasn’t even around in the 1950s.`
`Take a look at those radial tires, they weren’t around in 1955 either,` added his son, Warren D. Whinnery of Lake George.
The father and son, who have restored a few cars themselves, also admired vehicles that defy history.
`You can make a car a hot rod and customize it any way you want,` said Warren D. Whinnery. `The fact that these vehicles made it to this point with their old age is amazing in itself.`
Local Republican candidate for a Ballston town council seat, Kim Ireland, joined her mother, Mary Potter, to show her father, John Potter’s, 1960 PeterBilt truck. John Potter restored the enormous trailer, which could haul 30 tons fully loaded in its day, in time to drive Ireland to her wedding in 2002.
John Potter died in 2003, and Mary Potter now brings the trucks to show.
`This is how I grew up, going to truck shows,` said Ireland, who was raised in Cortland County. `My dad was a driver; he owned 16 trucks in his company.`
The huge trailer included seats that shift with gravity and a cozy berth behind the front seat for sleeping quarters.
`I used to take naps back there,` said Ireland. `I’d love to drive it now, but I don’t have my commercial operator’s license.`
Under a shady pavilion, people who only dream of working on the real thing browsed tables of miniature antique cars and trucks, ranging from replicas of John Deere tractors to collectors items such as a Batmobile and a Dukes of Hazzard car.
Paul Henk of Niskayuna was displaying a large table of die-cast cars and trucks he keeps separate for sale from his own private collection of hundreds he shares with his daughter, Melissa, a Niskayuna high school student.
Henk said his cars, although tempting, aren’t meant for a pretend game of demolition derby.
`Everyone that comes to a car show wants to look at these, but they’re not really toy cars,` said Henk. `They’re collectibles, so you don’t want to play with them. The idea is to keep them perfect.`
Henk said most people car shopping have one thing in mind.
`They want to find the car they grew up with,` said Henk. `That’s the greatest appeal.`
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