Record Crowds At Connecticut Bug-A-Fair
Chuck & Co do it again
It still has never rained on any show put on by Chuck & Co, and despite a huricane that travelled up the coast this past week and threatining clouds during the middle of the day, Chuck's pact with the devil held for another year. That makes 17 straight shows without wet stuff falling from the sky. Pretty impressive.
Despite a date change that caught at least 30 participants off guard (yup they showed up last weekend) once again as is tradition at these events, we had an all time new record number of entrants. 294 show cars were passed through the gates by the noon cut off. We also had 72 registered swap meet vendors although it sure looked like more to me.
We must be doing something right because once again National magazine coverage by Hot VW's vetran editor and real fun guy R K Smith was present and I saw at least two feature shoots taking place for future issues. Keep your eyes open. A few of the famous area faces spotted were Common Gear's own Steve Mierz on the hunt for some parts for his recently wounded '68 daily driver. I just heard ho found some of what he needed. Also ran into the CVA's power trio of John Kelly, John Intagliata and Bill Silvestri. Rumor has it that the CVA is regrouping and on it's way back...stay tuned.
With all the activities including Radio control car racing, clay bug sculpture contest for the kids, decorate the bugstuff car, engine blow and much more, it was a full and exciting day for all.
I arrived at the grounds at about 5:45 to find a large group of "happy campers" doing what they do best....camping out. Chuck and I marked off the show area which was expanded from last year to include room for at least two new classes, New Beetle and a seperate dunebuggy class. By the time we opened the gates for the swap vendors, the line stretched all the way across the parking field and out into the street. The vendors are wiseing up and showing up earlier to get better spots. Soon the place was jumping with music by LIMBO's Jimmy D, and expanded food and drink by the lions club was available throughout the day. Gates closed at noon and judges could be seen crawling all over the place in the hot afternoon sun. I personally considered taking a nap on Mike Zimmerman's carpeted display while I was judging his chassis(The car's!!!). By 3:30 or so the awards were given out by Chuck, Tom, Phil and myself with the Daily Driver award given by Mark Guimond who pressed for years to get that class added and then single handedly organized and judged it.
Special thanks to Chuck and Tom as well as Dorothy and Diane and all the kids for pulling off another top notch event. Also thanks to the many volunteer judges as well as Tom Bush for handling the engine blow. I probably forgot someone, so if I did....sorry
Check out the pix and the show results below.
This is possibly the only green New Beetle that you will ever see for 1998. It is rumored to be one of only 40 or so that were made before paint color match problems pulled tham off the market for now. It won first in New Beetle class. Here we see Andy Benson's 3rd place '43 kubel leading off a record line of splits.
Jeff Zieger's freshly redone Radical Custom '74 Super with House Of Color paintjob by none other than Walt Wosko of Connecticut Custom Car, got 2nd place, while Doug Fremow took third in this tough class with his "Puddle Jumper" hydraulic equipped '62. This car was displayed with what is called "Just 3" stance, meaning that one front wheel was right off the ground and posed over a little pond with real water. Incredible!! This was my favorite car of the day.
Another one of my favorites and a past best of show winner was Darryl Dillow's awesome green '63 from Suffield Ct, and yes I got something for the stock guys too including Bob Davison's immaculate '66 from Springfield Vt. (Thanx for the Ben & Jerry's Bob)
Some very nice daily drivers were present including Dan Shafer's '69. I couldn't believe what they started with, but Cheryl & June Pappas turned it into one gorgeous '74 Sunbug
The new Dune Buggy only class winner and best custom engine was Gerry & Linda Anderson. This car was just beautiful and Gerry was a big help with judging. Thanx
Bob Lesko was back to take an impressive 2nd in special interest with his Hummbug. The workmanship on this neat kit was tops. Great job Bob. When was the last time you saw a Brubaker Box???
The 3rd place ghia of Lee & Beth Jones got my pick for brightest paint. I got a headache staring at this one, but it was pretty with color coordinated mountain bike on roof. The former magazine feature car and many time award winning '68 ghia of Bill Silvestri was present and took home first place in class.
If you missed this one, you really lost out. You will never see a 100% original '57 oval window with only 26,115 miles on it and it is driven by owner Tony Davella. The car has been Davella owned since new from his families VW dealership and of cource it got first in class. Another outlook on oval was this pretty '55 owned by Mr (sorry didn't get the first name) Cantinieri.
Very impressive '66 buggy took 2nd place for owner Paul Notti. Way to go Paul. Before the bug was stuffed, it was decorated by kids young and old. Looks like Kathy Pisconski and friends making their mark.
Ok lets stuff away. I didn't get the figures but it wasn't a record, also in these pix, you can see the man himself, promoter Chuck Pisconski. He is wearing a white tee-shirt and a cap, standing on the front bumper with his back to us.
the remains of the bugstuff car and what it looked like before...just kidding. Mike Zimmerman and family were back to dust the competition again and take 1st in radical custom as well as Best Of Show Custom and one or two other awards. The car was just photographed for a feature in one of the major auto audio magazines yesterday. Cool.
show results
Stock -'53
1st Humburto Lapa
2nd Bill Collins
3rd Andy Benson
Stock '53-'57
1st Tony Davella
2nd Pam & Doug Davis
3rd Bruce & DonMarie Smith
Stock -'58-'64
1st James Arcucci
2nd Randall Bish
3rd Ted Brosius
Stock -'65-'67
1st Tim Friend
2nd Jerry Kearney
3rd Corinne & John Watts
Stock '68 and up
1st Augustin Tirado Jr
2nd George Oleyar
3rd Brett McLeod
Mild Custom -'67
1st Jim Cangialosi
2nd Dave Viselli
3rd Darryl Dillow
Mild Custom '68 and up
1st Phillipa Bane
2nd Kevin Petrask
3rd Steve Lynn
Radical Custom
1st Mike Zimmerman
2nd Jeff Zieger
3rd Doug Fremow
Convertible -'72
1st Joe & Barb Garrhy
2nd Rich & Claudia Morgan
3rd Dave Dumais
Convertible '73 and up
1st Shirley Atherton
2nd John Leuzzi
3rd Karen Farrity
Ghia Convertible
1st Arthur Jolin
2nd Robert Eaton
3rd Dave Freitas
Ghia Hardtop
1st Bill Silvestri
2nd Harold Hill
3rd Lee & Beth Jones
Special Interest, Kit Cars & Trikes
1st Ernie Giguere
2nd Bob Lesko
3rd Juan & Susan Gonzalez
Bajas & Rails
1st Mike Delaney
2nd Greg Serlenbrant
3rd Mike & Connie ?????
Tranporter -'67
1st Glenn Robbins
2nd John Kelly
3rd Chris & Kristen ??????
Transporter '68-'79
1st Dave & Carol Steele
2nd John Kleckner
3rd Keith & Laura Wallace
Transporter '80 and up
1st Beverly Doty
2nd Kenyon Fairey & Judy Smith
3rd James & Carolyn Wagner
Thing
1st James Newton
2nd Milo Lanone
3rd Art Harm
type III & IV
1st Steve Yamin
2nd Keith Park
3rd Eddie Hoffmann
Eurovan
1st Tip Gaylon
2nd John's Car Corner
Daily Driver
1st Bob Knight
2nd Joey & Armand Borgoin
3rd Mr & Mrs Ed Bachard
Dune Buggy
1st Gerry & Linda Anderson
2nd Paul Notti
3rd Rick & Sue Pierce
Oldest - Andy Benson '43 kubel
Long Distance - John Luxeder w. Palm Beach @2000 miles
Long Distance Vintage - Dave Steele 481 miles
Best Engine Stock - Pam & Doug Davis
Best Engine Aircooled Custom - Gerry Anderson
Director's Choice Stock - Bill Pickering
Director's Choice Custom - Joe Cantenari
Best Display Aircooled - Rick Pierce
Best Of Show Stock - Humburto Lapa
Best Of Show Custom - Mike Zimmerman
Sorry I didn't report the watercooled classes, but I don't really pay much attention to them (and what the heck, it's my webpage)
© 1998 i.danco@mci2000.com
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