Car show to feature Pinty Series Nascar and much more

Aug 09, 2017

There are a few things about the Verona Car Show that set it apart from other car shows.

One of them is the variety of activities the Verona show offers for the entire family. Aside from up to 300 vintage cars, it includes performances by Elvis impersonator Berry Chumley and country star Jaydee Bixby, a Kidz Zone, a craft show in the Lion’s Hall, and the Lion’s canteen featuring both breakfast and lunch, among other attractions for the entire family.

Last year after running in conjunction with the Cattail Festival for 20 years, the car show was launched as a stand alone event, and thanks in part to a prize package for participating vintage car owners that includes a trip to Las Vegas and tickets to Barrett Jackson, the world’s largest vintage car auction, the show drew over 250 cars and attracted a large, appreciative audience to the Lion’s Park and Hall on Verona Sand Road.

This year there is more, including something that local mover and shaker Linda Bates has been trying to attract to Verona for a long time, a Pinty’s NASCAR Series Black #43 race ready car. The car will be on show with a specially designed trailer from NASCAR and audience members will be able to look under the hood. Show organiser John Nizman said that it is very difficult to get a NASCAR race ready car to a show, and it is a tribute to Linda Bates tenacity and the car show’s success that the car will be one of the features of this year’s show.

“The closest location where you can see a real NASCAR car this year is Oshawa. There is no other one between Cornwall and Toronto except in Verona,” he said. “When we went to them last year with our plans, they wanted to see if we could draw enough vintage cars and enough of an audience, and when we did, that they came through for us this year.

In addition to NASCAR joining the car show, the OPP will be involved this year in a bigger way. Roop Sandhu from the Frontenac detachment was on hand last year with his modern cruiser and was talking about community policing, and he will be back this year, but so will a 1987 vintage OPP Classic Car 7-500 cruiser, on loan from the OPP museum in Orillia. It will be an opportunity to see not only how the style of vehicles has changed over 30 year but the technology of police cars as well.

South Frontenac Fire and Rescue will also be at the show, demonstrating how they use the Jaws of Life to extricate car crash victims.

Bry the Magic Guy will be in among the crowd doing sleight of hand tricks again this year, and new feature is local Rob Fenwick, who will be doing drone demonstrations. Last year Rob used one of his drones to take overhead pictures of the car show, and this year he will be doing demonstrations.

The summer craft show in the Lion’s Hall has been fully subscribed by local artisans. The Kidz Zone will keep the little ones busy with face painting, balloon animals and rides on the Verona Racers as well as Mini Putt and Kub Car making – all unlimited with the purchase of a $5 armband – the only fee that is charged at the show, which is free to the public, is parking. There will be donation jars at the show as well.

There will be 18 classes with trophies awarded including Production and Modified Car and Truck classes as well as Special Interest Vehicles, Foreign Vehicles, People’s Choice, Best in Show and Kids’ Pick. And don’t forget the 50/50 draw. Last year the winner took home $940.

All proceeds from this event go back into the local community through Verona Community Association (VCA) sponsored events and programs. Some examples of such programs are Christmas in the Village, K&P Trailhead Project, Flower Barrel Contest and maintenance of our village signs and kiosk. Visit veronacarshow.com or Like us on Facebook for more information.

The Verona Car show runs this Sunday, August 13 from 8am-3pm at the Verona Lions Hall – 4504 Verona Sand Rd.

Free Admission for Spectators. $10/car registered The Verona Community Association is hosting the 22nd Annual Verona Car Show.