WALDORF, MD – The last weeks of August are usually a slow time for car shows here in my home state of Maryland as many families are away for their summer vacations or getting their kids ready to return to school in the Fall, but a fortunate internet search led me to the car show promotional information below:
"Rev Up for a Great Cause! Get ready, car enthusiasts! The Charles County Crime Solvers' 2nd Annual Car Show is rolling into town this August, and you won't want to miss it! From classic beauties to muscle cars, lifted trucks to custom rides -- there's something for everyone! Join us for a fun-filled day of cool cars, great vibes, and community spirit, all in support of Crime Solvers' mission to help keep our county safe! Stay tuned for details -- mark your calendars and shine up those wheels!" (from the Charles County Crime Solvers Facebook page).
Turns out that the Charles County Crime Solvers 2nd Annual Car Show was to be held on Saturday, August 23, at the Regency Furniture Stadium – the home of the Blue Crabs baseball team – and the show was open to all years, makes and models. Several weeks before I had attended a different show at this excellent ballpark that was hosted by a Corvette club. The parking area was huge and wide open, and excellent for a weekend event, plus it was great fun just to walk around inside the stadium and see the playing field. This location was in Waldorf in southern Maryland, for a 62-mile (or typically an hour and a quarter) drive that seemed long but one that I have driven many times to other events in this general area and enjoyed while listening to Sirius XM.
This event was listed as a judged show, which I prefer, as opposed to participant voting, which usually means that the winners were selected based upon the condition of their cars or trucks. Best of all there was a great selection of trophies available, including a Top 50 and many other 'Best Of' awards. This criteria is a growing trend we are seeing with many shows in southern Maryland where the entrants are both judged as well as competing for a wide array of awards, so if your car or truck is well-kept and show-worthy, and you can handle a slightly longer ride, then your chances for success are reasonable.
The weather for the day of the show could not have been better. It started cool and only rose to about 80 degrees with low humidity, so it was pleasant all day. I left home by 7:30 a.m. and arrived by 8:50 a.m. and began another 90-minute recleaning. I went through every area, except the undercarriage, and had my Mustang looking pretty good! I caught up with good friend Tony Cruz, who is the original owner of an '06 triple-black Mustang GT convertible that had taken a Best of Show trophy only a few weeks earlier at a Mustang show. We spent time catching up while prepping our cars for the judges, which was enjoyable.
The Charles County Crime Solvers invited many other state and local law enforcement agencies to this event to display their police cruisers and talk to those who were interested. There were quite a few police vehicles in attendance, and many were Ford products. But the police cruiser that impressed people the most was one that our Maryland State Police were still maintaining at their Easton, MD, location despite its age, and that was a marked 2011 Crown Victoria (albeit now using it for occasional shows).
The trooper I spoke with said that this was the last Crown Vic, and it was now retired to display duties. There were many years in the Maryland area where these Crown Vics controlled the interstates. As I overheard one officer say, the Crown Vics slowed traffic down when they came upon a few folks who were in a hurry on the highways, If only cars could talk – imagine the stories this older cruiser could tell!
There were many early Mustangs in attendance, but the most unique was an original '65 Playboy Pink Mustang convertible. The current owner spent three years restoring it to like-new condition. There were also a number of late model Broncos in attendance, and many other Ford pickup trucks, as well as pre-war cars. Add in several late-model Shelby Mustangs as well as a few visiting new Ford trucks from nearby Waldorf Ford, and in total there was a great selection of Ford vehicles from many eras.
This was a judged show as noted, although I did not see my Mustang when it was reviewed as I was photographing cars, but Tony said that there were three or four people reviewing each entry. We did not know what their criteria was for evaluating the entrants though. The show organizer said that there were close to 100 trophies available, and about 140 entrants were registered. Tony's '06 Mustang won second place out of three of the “Best Convertible” trophies. My car was eligible for either one of their “10 Best American Muscle” trophies, or their “Top 50” plaques. But despite extensively prepping my Mustang, it was not to be, and I was not called.
Overall, there was an excellent assortment of unique Fords at this show, and they made for a great assortment of pictures. And with so many visiting police agencies there from other jurisdictions, I am reminded of something a friend once said at a similar show many years ago where there were visiting police, and that was, "I have never felt so safe at a show as I did at this one!"
FORD RACING PHOTOS / COURTESY RICK MITCHELL
