While I did not wear sun block or a hat, I did remember to wear shorts and a t-shirt. Every time I walked by someone in jeans or a black shirt I would grimace. What the hell were these people thinking?
It took about two hours to get there, and I had to awake at roughly 6:30 a.m. on a Sunday, but once I got there and breathed the clean Indiana air and soaked in the attractions, it was all worth it.
Just before finding the fair, we passed a "Discount Bob's" cigarette store on U.S. 30. I had seen these stores in South Bend when I was in college. Back in the day, I would stop in on a Friday night just before hitting the bars. I could get a pack of Parliament Lights for around three bucks, which was a deal back in 2001, compared with the $7.50 they rape you for them in Chicago.
This particular Discount Bob's caught my eye because aside from selling smokes, they also sold coffee, via the drive-thru. What could be more American than that? Coffee and cigarettes – God Bless America.
I wanted so badly to go in the shop and observe the clientele. I imagine it was as far away as you could possibly get from the Starbucks fashionistas sitting with their portable Tolstoy reader, sipping some $8 ice-cream coffee shake. I would love to see the sushi eating, Chihuahua owning set stroll into Discount Bob's on a Monday morning looking to fulfill their chai latte craving.
I would like to think that Bob's was full of Dennis Leary types with their black coffee and their Marlboro reds, one after the other. There is a slice of Americana in these shops and I am sure the Presidential candidates would do well to learn about what was discussed among the patrons. This little shop reminded me of where I was in our great land, and what life is like outside the city.
The Blueberry Festival could best be described as a country fair. There is a travelling amusement park, various food vendors and a slew of travelling salespeople hocking everything from personalized mailboxes and kitchen equipment to obscene t-shirts and on-the-spot henna tattoos.
There is also a pretty big youth softball tournament. It's strange to see children wandering around in team jerseys while other fair-goers are decked out in "French Toast" body-builder pants various styles of cut-off jeans.
While the festival is most famous for the blueberry pies, ice cream and other calorie ridden delicacies, the classic car show was the real draw from me. Attracting the best muscle cars and vintage classics in the area, the show is a modern marvel of American engineering, style, and of course, muscle.
It's a delight for the eyes on so many levels. Some of the most backwoods people break out their automotive pride and joy for the spectators. There is even a swap meet where you can purchase everything from lug nuts to a '57 Chevy or a Playboy from the 1980's.
The beauties are all there from Chargers, Camaros, Dusters, Corvettes, Cudas and everything in between. Each owner raises the hood and the trunk and rolls the driver's side window down for enthusiasts to get their fill. Photo books and owners manuals rest just in front of the engine blocks for passerbys to peruse. Below are photos of the various hot-rods that caught my eye.
I attended the event with two gentlemen who personally contributed to the impressiveness of the show. My friend Glen owns and maintains this maroon colored 1968 Ford Mustang fastback. In essence, this is the classic Mustang that Steve McQueen drives with incredible skill in the movie "Bullitt." Arguably the best chase scene ever caught on film, it was quite a site to see the real thing up close and personal.
My other friend Russ maintains this Mercury Cyclone. The cream white leather interior looks plush and smells like it's right off the assembly room floor. Russ takes exceptional care of it and it certainly shows.
Yes, this is the old Starsky and Hutch car. The El Camino looks pretty cool up close. It even has the light that Hutch is famous for putting on the roof when the boys are in hot pursuit. This was a favorite and drew quite the crowd at the festival because of the popularity in recent years of the film with Owen Wilson and Ben Stiller.
This is an Old Studebaker. I really like the design of this one. The Studebakers were not known for being the most efficient cars, but I always felt that modern day Vikings would crave these automobiles. With designs like this one, I get the feeling that they were meant to ram things or blow through doors. They just seem fit for urban combat.
As you can tell from the sign under the hood, the car was for sale, but I was hesitant to seek out the owner and then inquire as to the price. I did not feel like giving off the impression that I was seriously considering it, for fear of getting the hard sell from someone looking to get out from under it. Getting petitioned by a sales person is one thing, but getting accosted by a redneck with a tire iron is quite another.
The Delorean is something we can all relate to. It was made famous by the "Back to the Future" series but they became even more infamous for being junkers that never get out of the repair shop. Notice the license plate on this one reads, "Entrapment." I would love to know how much the owner has sunk into this one to keep it running.
I am still kind of amazed by these cars though. They certainly have a unique look and frame and I guess that's due to the fact that they are made of stainless steel. The doors opening upward remind me of one of my favorite cars, the Mercedes Benz Gull Wing, except in an 80's look. But glancing at the dashboard, I was surprised that the speedometer only goes to 100 mph. I always thought these were sports cars that could achieve high speeds. I guess they are just movie fodder from a past generation.
This is the frame of an old Corvette but with a more modern engine. I like the old Corvettes compared with the newer ones but this one was a bit bizarre with its fluorescent green coloring. I also don't think I would be able to fit too well in a car this small, so the idea of ever driving one is far removed from my mind.
Above is a 1959 Jaguar convertible. The cherry red finish is beautiful. When walking by this model, I was almost expecting to see Prince William in the driver's seat with a group of hunting hounds sitting outside protecting it from nicks, dents, scratches, dirty looks, or offensive language.
Below are some of the other masterpieces that were around. As you can see, each owner takes meticulous care in their wellbeing. They are more than happy to chat up the attendees as to how the automobile came into their possession and the rigorous work that went into its restoration. It's not uncommon to see someone wiping the hood with a shammy while people walk by and nod in respect and appreciation.
