By Gary S. Hatrick
The Laker correspondent
ZEPHYRHILLS —Vintage cars are rolling into town in great numbers for the 25th annual Fall Auto Fest, which will take place Nov. 12 to 15 at Festival Park on US 301, south of Zephyrhills.
The Auto Fest features a variety of activities for the serious car lover or the casual observer.
“There will be quite a variety of cars and excitement — there’s nothing like hearing the sound of a racing Offenhouser engine or watching a ’57 Chevy round the track,” said Chris Drews, an Auto Fest organizer.
The festival begins each morning at 8 a.m. and includes an Automotive and Swap Meet. Exhibits will display and sell tools, auto parts, restoration supplies, toys and collectibles.
A daily 8 a.m. Car Corral matches sellers with buyers. Owners of hundreds of antique, collector, street rod, exotic and other cars are available to talk with potential buyers. Sales are frequently negotiated on site.
A Vintage Auto Exhibition Race takes place Thursday at 11 a.m. and features sprints, midgets, two-man speedsters and stock cars driven by drivers who competed in the vehicles in their hey day. Warm-up races continue Friday through Sunday, also at 11 a.m.
A Collector Car Auction is scheduled for Saturday at 9:30 a.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. Cars sold at this auction must be antique or collector cars that are at least 20 years old. There is no age restriction for convertibles, Corvettes, Rolls Royce, Bentleys, Porsches, street rods, muscle cars, or exotic or special interest cars.
Buying a collector car is good business, according to Drews.
“If you buy a classic car, you can drive it down memory lane and re-live your youth,” he said.
While acknowledging that car values go up and down, Drew added, “At least you can always enjoy your antique car, unlike coins that you keep in a safe deposit box or real estate that you have to take care of it and pay taxes on.”
For the competitive car owner, a car show will take place Saturday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. for antique, collector, street rod or exotic cars, trucks or motorcycles. Call the Auto Fest at (800) 303-CARS (2277) for eligibility criteria. Each show car receives a dash plaque and entrants are eligible for three $100 drawings a day.
Camping is available at the Fall Auto Fest. RV and tent campsites are located next to the swap meet area with 24-hour shower and rest room facilities as well as RV dump and water-fill-up facilities.
Admission is $8 Thursday and Friday and $10 Saturday and Sunday. Children under 12 are free. There is no charge for parking. Packages for all four days are available.
For more information, call toll free (800) 303-CARS (2277) or visit www.zephyrhillsfestivals.com.
