Smooth ride

Area car enthusiasts muscled their way through hundreds of spectators to get a closer glimpse of perfectly polished vintage vehicles that lined Davis Street on Sunday.

With clear blue skies and temperatures reaching a sizzling 95 degrees, folks were able to cool down with delicious ice cream and ice-cold beverages.

A total of 189 vehicles filled Davis Street from Main Street to The Depot for the 11th annual 4th of July Car & Bike Show sponsored by Culpeper Renaissance Inc.

“It’s a great way to share America’s love of the automobile on the day of our independence,” said Missy Vesuna, CRI events coordinator. “It goes hand-in-hand with the revitalization of downtown and brings lots of new folks in to experience our community. And it’s also a great way to highlight all of the work that’s been done downtown.”

This year’s selection of vehicles included custom, classic, muscle, antique, hot rods, street rods, motorcycles and trucks.

Among the classic cars, there was a black 1950 Ford F1 pickup parked near a bright red and white 1964 Chevy Impala. A sleek, black 1969 Chevy Camaro Z28 drew quite a crowd, too.

Mainly enthusiastic men and a few women poked their heads underneath hoods as they ogled the pristine condition of various engines.

Surprisingly, a few not so classic vehicles were also on display at this year’s show, garnering some strange looks.

Warrenton resident Ryan Gaunt entered two vastly unique vehicles: his 1994 Geo Tracker featuring black and purple zebra stripes and his 1971 rust-colored Cadillac hearse.

“(The GEO is) a car that I enjoy showing. I don’t win very many shows with it, but I do it for the heck of it. It’s fun to show it off,” said Gaunt. “It’s one-of-a-kind.”

Gaunt placed a skeletal zombie next to the vehicle and various skulls underneath the hood, drawing even more attention to the already eye-catching automobile.

“I do it just to raise eyebrows,” said Gaunt, who picked up his hearse in West Virginia. “How many times do you see a hearse in a car show? That’s what I go for. I’d rather have something unique.”

And the winner is…
In addition to the vast display of vintage cars on Davis Street on Sunday, organizers of the 11th annual 4th of July Car & Bike show also handed out trophies for Best in Show and Best Featured Corvette.

Todd Brown, one of the event’s 15 judges, listed specific criteria that the judges had to keep in mind when looking at the vehicles.

They were: exterior paint; interior; body mold and chrome; engine; wheels and tires; cleanliness; other accessories and presentation.

Culpeper resident Tony Tharp won Best in Show and Best Corvette for his 1963 Chevy Corvette split window.

Missy Vesuna, events coordinator for Culpeper Renaissance Inc. said organizers started featuring a particular vehicle last year with the Thunderbird.

Dozens of sporty Corvettes were parked in front of The Depot during the contest.

“The quality grows every year,” said Brown before the winner was announced.