Handy Chevrolet

The Kingman Street Klassic

Free Food, Free Face Painting, Free Fun

This past Saturday, July 25, 2010, organizer Kathleen Manahan and several local business-sponsors, including Handycars.com, put on the first annual Kingman Street Klassic, a classic automobile show for the local St. Albans denizens.

For the "first annual" Klassic, I mentioned to Kathleen Manahan that the event was nothing if not stellar. The sheer number of folks who showed up was astounding, making the event seem as though it was in a third or fourth year. I asked Dylan Berno, friend of several handycars employees and volunteer at the Klassic how this was obtained and he just shrugged and said plainly "well our crew and Kathy just did a great job promoting it. We put together a webpage, hung up fliers all around town--and I hung them all over Burlington, so that really helped. Yeah, it just came together nicely!"

I also got the chance to speak with Kathy the following day when I saw her out at a local merchant, and she was equally enthusiastic about the success of the Kingman Street Klassic as well as Handy Cars' contributions. "You guys went above and beyond what we thought we'd get out of you!" she said to me very graciously. "I can't thank Handy Cars enough, nor you and Carly for hanging around and setting it all up!" She went on to tell me that she was unsure of the amount of people who came as spectators since it was a free event, but she did say there was 61 vehicles counted out of the 70 they were hoping for, and on can only assume the 70-mark was based on limited parking spots for contestants/exhibitors.

As previously mentioned, the event was free to attend, and in order to enter the competitive exhibition, classic vehicle owner's only needed to contribute $10.00. Manahan estimates that close to $600 was made from the entrants, of which a majority of that went to the great volunteers at working for the Franklin County Meals on Wheels group. Other sources of income involved the Kingman Street Klassic tee shirts available for sale to those that were not Kingman Street Klassic volunteers.

The Handy Crew, namely myself and Carly Bushey, had a great time. I was only there for a couple hours to help set up get the media in order, but I also helped Ms. Bushey fill some balloons for kids, set up the flags you see flying below (which was a total disaster--I left one piece back in my office and it caused some major problems!), and brought the Chevrolet Avalanche down for the display.

Needless to say, those of us who were lucky enough to get a glimpse at some of these vehicles were truly blessed. Above we have a Chevrolet Camaro Z28 and a Falcon on the right. These cars were just beautiful--as far as I could tell 100% original, although I wouldn't be willing to bet on it (only due to my ineptitude when it comes to this sort of thing).

There were so many nice vehicles that I really don't know how anyone was able to designate the winner. I spoke with Dylan Berno later on Saturday evening, and he told me that one of the trucks had won the competition, the amazing 1955 Ford F-100 owned by Steve Young. But not only was there a first place finisher, there were also prizes for the following:

The winner was chosen by a panel of judges
First place (the F-100) received a trophy and a $150 cash prize
First place winner got their engraved on a plaque which was hung in City Hall here in St. Albans
The winner got to lead the parade that took place after the viewing/judging.
Finally, the first place finisher gets his/her picture taken as the poster-person for next year's Klassic
Any entrant got entered into a raffle, assuming they were present during the drawing
The winner of the raffle (Participation Award) got a trophy also and a $200 cash prize
The Peer Award, as judged by other contestants, won a trophy as well and a $50 prize
Finally, all the children got a Vote! The Kid's Choice Award-winner got a trophy, a $10 cash prize, a tee shirt, and a "mystery prize"

As stated above, since around $600 was earned from the event, I estimate about $200 ended up in the hands of the Franklin County Meals on Wheels folks, assuming there was a cost for the event (blocking off the street, etc.), although that cost could have been funded via supporters like Handycars.com.

As a contributor, Handy Cars allowed the use of two vehicles: from the Handy Chevrolet store a 2010 Chevrolet Avalanche was on display, and from our side of the business a 2010 Toyota Tundra Rock Warrior was donated for use. We also contributed the talents of one of our Internet Sales Consultants, Carly Bushey, for a face painting display along with our helium tank for filling Handycars.com "Cow Power" balloons, over which, by all accounts, the children went wild.

Handycars.com's Carly Bushey Paints the Faces of the Local Children

If you weren't able to make it to this year's Kingman Street, Klassic, be sure to do so next year! Again, for a price tag of zero dollars you really can't go wrong, and any donation you do want to give goes to feed those who are less fortunate than some others may be. And if you're like me and just love a good look at some cars of a dying breed--because let's face it folks, these vehicles aren't going to be any MORE common next year than in 2010--then come on down.

Keep up on all the Community Events going on around Franklin County by using the Handy Toyota Upcoming Community Events calender, and if you miss any great local events you can always get apprised by viewing this page. On a last note, enjoy the rest of the photos I shot for your viewing pleasure, and a quick video of the vehicles lined up and down Kingman Street.

Below, here's a compilation video from the event

Photography from the 2010 Kingman Klassic

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2010 Kingman Klassic Antique and Classic Car Show