The Sertoma Club of Lancaster, already famous for hosting the “World’s Largest Chicken Barbeque,” hosted its first Classic Car Show in Long’s Park last Saturday. Billed as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream Car Show,” the event was tinged with a Renaissance theme and drew about 800 cars. According to Jon McDonald, chairman for the event, similar shows that have been established for more than 20 years might only draw as few as 300 cars.
The event was also presented by the Vagabonds Rod and Custom Car Club.
McDonald, who has attended numerous car shows in the past, credits this weekend’s turnout largely to the superior list of amenities that the event offered. Most shows, McDonald noted, are held in church or mall parking lots—not among the natural beauty of a venue like Long’s Park. Also, the event featured three live concerts in the park’s amphitheater, a large selection of food vendors, and valuable door prizes, like a Puerto Rican vacation for two or a $1,200 diamond.
One NewsLanc contributor, who attended the event, described it in glowing terms: “Beautiful weather, lots of good food and an amazing array of cars.”
Throughout this year, the event’s committee has been hard at work to promote the show, McDonald said. The marketing campaign included an informative digital flier that was directed to over 4,000 individual car owners as well as the distribution of over 30,000 fliers at “every car show they could attend.”
Proceeds from the event will be donated to Hospice of Lancaster; Speech and Hearing Impaired Charities; the beautification of Long’s Park; and Kid’s Kamp, a summer program for troubled children conducted by Compass Mark.
From vendor commissions, registration fees, and event sponsors, the Car Show collected $25-30,000 in revenues this year; however, McDonald estimates that, for future shows, when more sponsors become aware of the event, revues will likely reach $60-70,000.
