YORK, Maine – The York Auto Show on Sunday June 20 featured vehicles in 19 categories, from antiques and classics to brand new top-of-the-line cars to drool over.
For a small entry fee, visitors were given a scorecard to determine the winners in each category. The show is a benefit to York High School Athletic Boosters as the proceeds will help improve the facilities, equipment, fields, and safety initiatives of the YHS sport.
Judging took time. Steve Bricker, executive director of the show and a member of the Boosters Club, said he expected 500 to 600 cars at the show.
“We have a lot of trophies,” said Bricker. “In each of the 19 categories there are first, second and third place winners, and there is best of show.”
Best in Show was awarded to a 1983 GMC 1500 Pickup Truck by Scott Brouillard.
Liz and Bill Baynes, who live in Dayton, brought their 1965 Volkwagon single cab pickup truck. They also brought comfortable chairs, a coffee table, and refreshments. Liz brought her recent reading with her. They are auto show professionals.
Heidi Lumia, who lives in Cape Neddick, converted a small “truckster” by Piaggio Ape from 1994 into a mobile party called the Runaway Bar, a mobile tap truck.
“We can serve beer, wine, kombucha, cocktails, basically anything you can put in a keg,” said Lumia. “We’re starting it right now as a company. We’re coming to you.”
While Bricker organized the auto show as a fundraiser for the boosters, it wasn’t hard to guess that he had at least one car for the show. In fact, he has two.
“I’m not going in,” he said. “It wouldn’t be right since I’ve been running the show. But I have a passion for cars, and when the boosters looked for a way to raise some good money, a car show seemed like the answer.”
Annette Spencer, president of Boosters, said the car show depends on a small army of volunteers but is a great fundraiser.
“We are grateful and happy to be here again,” said Spencer. “This fundraiser serves two of our missions. The first is a fundraiser for York High School Athletics. The second is this show is designed to create a community spirit around youth athletics.”
Spencer said the booster club is aiming to build memberships. She said the best way to get involved and stay up to date is through her social media on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.
Ben Turk, of Lexington, Massachusetts, said his parents had a Volkswagen camper van by the day he blew up the engine.
“You could have replaced it,” he said. “I’m not sure. You replaced a lot of things over the years to keep things running, through the 60s, 70s and 80s. You traveled a lot. Your bus went twice to Alaska, to California, across the country to Lexington my wedding in 1986. “
The auto show was canceled last year due to the COVID-19 pandemic, but the cars rolled anyway.
“We ran six car parades in nursing homes,” Bricker said, adding that this year people seemed ready to bring back the annual tradition. “I think everyone has a COVID hangover and wants to go outside to do something fun.”
