This year was a bust for me due to distractions in a house build, and issues with a new motor. I got to a couple places, but not much. MY question is.....I like to drive my car, not sit my ass in a chair all day or look at chrome motors in fiberglass cars with expensive paint jobs. Not judging, just stating a preference. So in New England , NY , PA. What is out there? I know TROG, Rodtoberfest, Gathering of the Faithful and Pinetree.... although I have been to none of them yet. For a guy that wants to drive and visit with like minded people, not look, or display.... what should I get on my schedule for 2025?
There’s got to be a lot spring, summer, and autumn cars and coffee gatherings every weekend within driving distance. I’m lucky in So Cal because it’s all year….
Go to the FALL OUT in Glastonbury, Connecticut, on October 12. It is held at the Elks club. The typical turnout is 500 cars, about 35 flea market vendors, and live music. A great deal for $ 10.00. I Have gone to all of the FALL OUTS until last year when my health got worse. I live about 5 1/2- 7 1/2 hours away depending on traffic. It was always worth the trip for me.
Just to be clear, I do drive it around town frequently. I will grab it and do a beer run etc. Like I said, looking for reliability runs, poker runs, that sort of thing. I moved back to Massachusetts a couple years ago and most of my car event knowledge is Mid Atlantic. The Hemmings Cruise-In isn't too bad, as it is a nice 40 minute drive each way. Mostly musle cars though. Glastonbury is a possibility, 100 miles each way might be pushing it. But I will check into it.
That's the problem. There are ton's of Cruise in's close by. 20 minute drive, then sit in a chair by your car or go look at all the same cars that are at all the other cruise-ins. Mostly muscle cars or big buck modern V-8 hot rods. I am trying to connect with events that are mostly pre 50's period correct type hotrods.
Good luck today…..gotta take the good with the bad. There are guys in SoCal that complain about the same cars every week end, but there are always new ones. I spread out to 4 different ones on Saturday morning depending on how I feel about driving some big and some smaller. We have one where there are at least 50-75 Super cars including McClaren’s and the like..I never walk over to their”area” (you know they are special) and look because I just don’t care.
I suspect attending things like that Jolopy Hillclimb would be a great way to connect with like minded people. From them is how you find out about the events you would like to attend. People that do stuff with their cars, that look like cars you like, tend to know what other stuff is going on in your corner of the country.
If you think that driving 100 miles each way is pushing it, I was driving 350 miles each way to go to the Fall Out before my health got worse. In my opinion, the Fall Out is worth the drive. You ask what is out there. You mentioned, New York, Pennsylvania, New England, but you haven't been to any of the meets yet.
Cars and Coffee events in your area must be a whole lot different than around here. I went to one just a couple weekends ago for a few minutes. Started at 10. At 10:30 the lot was full. There was WAY cooler stuff on the street than in the lot. Only one hot rod in the lot (my buddy's). One or two cobras, muscle cars (less than a dozen total), and the rest tuners and supercars. I don't mind seeing that stuff, but the crowd was definitely not my kind of people. Not somewhere I wanted to spend a significant amount of time. I took off and drove my car instead.
Many years ago my friend and I held a meet in Massachusetts (invitation only) for traditional hot rods. He did most of the leg work, collecting names of owners and designing a nice invitation. I supplied the rural back yard. All these cars showed up. It was a nice, sunny day. Then about 2:00 it suddenly started to rain and my wife and I passed out plastic trash bags to roadster owners for them to wear on the way home. It was an unforgettable day! But we all made many new friends, and had many more meets.
Early Ford V8 swapmeet/car show at the Fitchburg Mass. airport in April! ‘Vintage speed parts, and period correct hot rods.
Hotrod Hootenanny at the Farm at Carter hill Marlborough CT October 19 look it up you always full of Traditional cars and excellent venue
Just to be clear, I have been tied up a house build, new barn and it took way longer for the motor swap than I anticipated. I am all for 100+ mile drives to meets, just not untill I get a few more on the new motor. Most of the ones on here I did not know about. I will deffinately hit a bunch next year. This is some great stuff.
Hmm there is an idea..... when I was in maryland there was a cobwebs tour. designed to be the first run of the year. Something like that in the Berkshires could be good.
The guys from North East Vintage Drags put on a new event this year at the old Sampson Navy/Air Force training base in Romulus, NY called the Top Secret Drags. There is a massive old air strip there and they ran 1/8th mile, untimed, flag start races. For a first year event that didn't have a lot of advance notice I was impressed with the event. A couple FED's, some altereds and some seriously quick hot rods. They say they'll be back and I can only assume this event will grow. I liked it enough that I plan to build my late 50's, early 60's altered for next year's event. Plus it's in the heart of the Finger Lakes which is a beautiful part of NY
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