St. Ignace Car Show

June 13, 2007

In 1975, in honor of its bicentennial, Ed Reavie and Jack Goll organized the first Straits Area Antique Auto Show in St. Ignace. That summer, 130 collector cars showed up in the tiny town without a stop light. Thirty-two years later, the nationally-known event – as well as its 11-year-old counterpart, Antiques on the Bay – attracts car enthusiasts from across the country.
The Antiques on the Bay car show takes place Saturday, June 23 at the St. Ignace Marina. Comprised of 1982 and older original vehicles, this year’s show celebrates the 75th anniversary of 1932 cars.
A bridge rally begins on Friday, June 22 at 4 p.m. at the Mackinaw City Information Center. Join the parade across the Mackinac Bridge to St. Ignace or be in viewing position as the cars make their way to the other side.
A restored 1950s GM Futurliner – one of only 12 ever made – will be featured. “They have to trailer it here, it’s so big,” says Ed Reavie, Director of Nostalgia Productions, which puts on all St. Ignace car show events. “They want this Futurliner to lead the parade here crossing the bridge.”
The buses were showcased in GM’s Parade of Progress – a sister vehicle recently sold for over $4 million – which traveled the country displaying U.S. inventions such as radio, refrigeration and flight.
“This will be the centerpiece of the Antiques on the Bay,” reveals Reavie. “It’s the only place you’re going to see it in Northern Michigan this year.”

CAR COLLECTOR’S DREAM
The Kewadin Casino Cruise Night kicks off the 32nd Annual Straits Area Antique Auto Show on Thursday, June 28. Cars will begin at 7 p.m. at St. Ignace’s Kewadin Casino on Mackinac Trail and travel down Main Street.
Hear the low rumble of muscle-era engines as collector cars in Mopar shades of sublime green, plum crazy purple and bumblebee yellow cruise by.
On Friday, June 29, The Down Memory Lane parade begins at 7 p.m. north of St. Ignace and heads south, showcasing cars, floats, bands, music and more.
Dennis Gage, host of “My Classic Car,” from the Speed network will be in attendance Friday night and Saturday filming segments for upcoming shows.
By 8 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, collector cars will be in position for the day.
“It’s right downtown; it has been for almost 30 years,” says Reavie. “It runs the full length of Main Street and it’s on Saturday only the cars are actually in a static display.”
“Chevrolet brings a huge exhibit. They’re king of the centerpiece on the waterside next to the Galley restaurant.” NASCAR displays and close to 25 Chevy vehicles from past and future are expected.
Also featured are 30 hand-picked cars chosen by Reavie himself: “We generally choose an original car, a hot rod, a custom… but they’re really all nice vehicles. We invited them to all of our functions and show them off downtown.”
Saturday’s guest of honor will be Jack “Doc” Watson. “[He’s] an industry icon,” explains Reavie. “He created the Hurst Oldsmobile in 1968 and we’ve invited all of the Hurst Olds members in the area and from all over to come on down.”

ONCE AGAIN – A FAMILY AFFAIR
“1985 was the year it kind of went nuts,” recalls Reavie. “We called it Woodstock North.” Crowds and gridlock caused hassles for local police forces, especially when the show featured two cruise nights.
“It was great fun,” remembers Reavie, describing record hops and downstate DJs playing tunes behind the local Big Boy. “We even had people get married back there. [Drivers] would do burnouts in front of policemen and pass hubcaps to pay their fines.”
It took several years to get the show down to a more manageable scale, but both car shows have become more of a family event.
“Spend the day here,” says Reavie. “You don’t have to pay to get in, you don’t have to pay to park.” Free off-street residential parking is close by or visitors can choose to pay $5 to park at St. Ignace’s Little Bear East Hockey Arena on Marquette Street and walk or take the shuttle bus.
If you’re not into cars, there are other distractions: food and swap meet vendors selling everything from elephant ears to die cast cars to jewelry, downtown shops on Main Street and Mackinac Island. “There’s virtually something for everybody here,” says Reavie, “but it helps if you like cars a little bit.”

For more information, visit
www.nostalgia-prod.com