Once again, my 1967 Mercury Comet got dusted off and drug a few streets over to be displayed for all to see. Most people wander around looking for the Utah’s always popular Chevelle, Nova, Camaro, Impala, Blazer, or C-10 pickup. Occasionally there are a select few people that enjoy seeing the less common cars. Like the Dodge Darts, Barracudas, and Hudsons; those are my people. I appreciate a nicely done car as much as the next guy, but after a few thousand LS swapped Ford hot rods, Camaros, Mustangs or Impalas you start to walk by them with little to no interest like they’re just another lds temple (If you’re from Utah, you got that reference). I call them “Cookie Cutter Cars”. They’re all the same, but different because, reasons I guess. Up the way a few blocks was a brand spankin’ newly restored 1964 Mercury Comet (with a great story). I made it a point to go up and peek at it. It was very tastefully done with just a few new things to make it more enjoyable to drive, safer to get around in. AC was added to make it a little more comfortable on days like today. I think the grand total at the show were two Mercury Comets. Mine, and this beautiful baby blue “64 (oops, I was so interested in how he did the AC, I didn’t take a picture of “the car” – Next time I see them at a show, I’ll snag more pictures).
I’m getting ahead of myself. The first thing we did was to pack up and go drop the car off. So Charlotte and I grabbed our cameras and headed over to get in line to park the car. We were a little bit early, so we had to hang out a few streets away, THEN come back around and get back in line. If you were part of a car club, you got 1st parking spot choice, but if you were a common single car unit, tough titties, you’re facing the sun, next to a beater, and an import. This year was probably the worst for traffic, but the trusty Comet and its really tired motor didn’t over heat, vapor lock, or have any issues re-starting after I shut it off between moving up in line. It does have a big block radiator, so there’s that.
I don’t know the last time Charlotte came to the 25th Street Car Show with me, but this year was a lot of fun. Dayton swung by and hung out with us for a bit, and my dad came and sat with us at the No Frills Dinner while I snarfed some fries and a mushroom cheese burger. I was really happy to see Dayton show up too so I could snag a few pictures with he and Charlotte. Every year I make a photo book for the three kids that has the previous year’s pictures, and 2024 had maybe three of Dayton. Most were of Indy, Charlotte, and me (or the cats).
After the dinner, we (me, Jamie, Charlotte, Dayton and JT) wondered around a bit, then somehow, lost the kids after the “Revive” store. 25th Street was insanely packed, so it is no surprise we lost track of them for a bit. While we were apart, I simply snapped a pile of pictures and hoped Jamie wasn’t going to kick me in the shins for stopping every 5.93 steps to take another picture.
Once we re-united with the kids, Dayton and JT pulled chalks (Air Force term for leaving). We hung out behind the Comet admiring the ass end and watching people. I snapped a few pictures while we sat.
Sometimes I can’t help but watch my hypocrisy, or oxymoronic (I think I just made that word up – spell check ain’t helpin’) attitude, or contradictory nature in full view. Like, I do enjoy car shows, to an extent. I mean, it is always fun to get the Comet out and have a purpose. After a few hours though, really? Every one? Always? Really? It is so hot though, so really? Who said all of these people ALSO have a right to be there besides me? I mean, I paid to be here, but they get to stroll the streets freely, at no financial cost to themselves, and again, all of them? Then I get to talk to a friend I haven’t seen in a while, or a stranger comes up and really loves my car, or you get to see a car or see an idea on a car you wouldn’t normally like and a wave of excitement, belonging, and enjoyment come to wash away all of that “crowds, hot, screaming kids, crappy bass infested “bro-truck” full of LED lights blasting away” stuff. Well, the Bro-Trucks and gaudy rice cars do get old beyond tolerance, but they paid to play to, so .. I guess so.
While I was roaming around unsupervised, I ran into my work buddy “Ronnie”. This’ his Mustang (“69 I think). He’s also got a scary nice “83 Ford Bronco with a blown 351W. He takes things pretty serious when it comes to his cars and such, but I can still get him to laugh on occasion 😉 (Oh I’ll touch that car! Just watch me!).
Where was I? Um… Well, when you are part of the 25th Street Car Show, you’re basically sequestered to your spot until 9pm sharp. This year them cops were ON IT! Barking orders to get the pedestrians off the street so we could all get out of dodge. I learned a few years ago that you either start and roll just before 9pm, or you stay put and simply enjoy the parade of annoying LED headlights, zippy squank creak hydraulics, mushy bass, leaking exhaust 350s, and the occasional raspy busy tight sounding good stuff. If you are real lucky, there’ll be a spicy blown big block putter by.
Tomorrow however, we have the Youth Impact Car Show – aka – The Ogden Airport Car Show. It is a morning to early afternoon show (~10am-3pm) with nothing around but a hot parking lot so we’ll be setting up a gazebo, some rugs, bringing cold ice cubes in water, and hopefully a great attitude (I can’t promise anything on my attitude though, we’ll see how it goes – that show is ran by a car club that really loves their 4 cyl turbo itty bitty cars that go vroom whooosh and have torque steer from the gobs of torque pulling them little front wheels so fast vroom whoosh vroom — I’m being factitious about the torque .. I’ll try and keep my smile genuine tomorrow, I promise’ish) .. I like attending this car show because my entry fee covers a T-Shirt (this’ my 4th show), and the funds also go towards programs for the kids around here, so it is for a good cause, so I go because, reasons.
