Stephens City Set for 16th Annual Shawquon Ruritan Car, Truck & Tractor Show

Stephens City — Shawquon Ruritan Club’s Car, Truck, and Tractor show is back for its 16th year on Saturday August 3, 2024. Details for the annual car show are as follows:

• Stephen City’s Newtown Commons: 5165 Main Street, Stephens City, VA 22655
• Registration: 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.
• Rain date: Sunday, August 4
• Entry Fee: Free Will Donation
• Awards: Twenty for 1982 and earlier, ten for 1983 and later, and eight for tractors. Each participant votes for their favorite car, truck, or tractor between 10:30 a.m. and Noon.
• 2024 Best in Show awarded.
• Dash Plaques and Goodie Bags – First one hundred vehicles.
• Door Prizes
• 50/50 Drawing and Pull Tabs
• Raffle for a VIZIO 65 Inch Smart TV.
• Live Auction by Max Hausenfluck who is known as an entertaining auctioneer.
• DJ and music on site.
• Food Concessions on site include coffee, sodas, water, sloppy joes, hot dogs, and sandwiches.

For more info call 540-662-7349 or 540-535-5528 or email pamshiley@gmail.com or harry.newman@comcast.net.

Harry Newman is a Ruritan Club member and each year; he helps organize the annual car show. Newman says he is expecting over one hundred cars, trucks, or tractors to cruise into Stephen City’s Newtown Commons for the 16th annual show, which runs from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m.

2023 Trophy Table. Trophies for cars and trucks have a solid base with the year of award. The pedestals have the Ruritan logo centered with a steering wheel on the top. Trophies for the tractors are the same style with a tractor on top instead of a steering wheel. All photos courtesy Harry Newman.

“The show is always on the first Saturday of August each year. As a fundraiser, the car show supports the club’s high school scholarship program. In 2023, five $1,000 scholarships were awarded to deserving graduating high school seniors in the immediate area,” Newman said.

If you have never been to a car show before, you may not know exactly what to expect. Why do the masses go to these local car shows? Car events are usually attended by people of all ages who have one thing in common; they love cars. It does not really matter if they have been to dozens of shows or if they have never been to a car show and just come to simply view cool looking cars, trucks, and tractors. It is amazing how many unique cars are exhibited in the Lower Shenandoah Valley area. Everyone is always welcome to attend.

2018 Best in Show. Jack Jackson, a Stephens City resident, is the original owner of the 1986 Chevy El Camino. He used it as a work truck until 1998 when he had it painted and added “retro” accessories to include tear drop spotlights and lake pipes. Jack’s El Camino has won 23 trophies culminating in the recent Best in Show at the 2018 Shawquon Ruritan Car Event. The 86 El Camino comes with 305 ci V8, 4 speed auto trans, posi-traction rear, bucket seats w/floor shift console, power: steering, widows & locks, and sport suspension.

Car Shows are usually localized, typically consisting of car enthusiasts who meet to socialize and share their enthusiasm with other car owners who love to exhibit custom, classic, or exotic cars. Many know each other and their vehicles, but occasionally, someone brings a new acquisition and a recently completed project.

There is always something the others have not seen before! Car lovers usually flock to the ever-popular Shawquon Ruritan Car, Truck, and Tractor Show to seek out those rare beauties, and participate in the now well-known and valued, Live Auction.

2019 Best in Show. John Muia, a Bunker Hill, WV resident received the award. John purchased the 1958 Chevrolet Impala in 2013 and fully restored it himself over a period of five and a half years. He began entering shows in 2018. The Impala has since won Best in Show at 5 events. This 1958 Impala comes with a 348 V8 with 3-2’s, 2 speed power glide auto transmission. Now converted to disc brakes, power steering, alternator, and air conditioning. Car has been finished with interior LED lightning throughout.

Harry Newman has attended all the Ruritan shows dating back to 2009. “My favorite entry was a 1939 Dodge, pulled out of a chicken coop and wonderfully restored,” Newman said. Like many who present at these car shows, Newman appreciates the work required in restoring a vehicle to showroom quality for the enjoyment of others. He relishes photographing a wide variety of vehicles at the shows too, from old and new tractors and cars to a go-kart with a ‘custom body.’

Newman remembers three beautiful Corvettes – two vintage, one late model. Another Newman favorite was an old 1940’s Dodge that may or may not have been a Virginia moonshine runner at one time. And finally, a 1978 Dodge ‘Little Red Truck Express.’ According to Newman, there are not many of those left.

In the past, Harry has taken photos of each vehicle entry, and has also captured a series of photos concentrated on specific parts of the vehicles, such as hood ornaments, wheels, or hubcaps, or taillights. “Modern cars just do not have the flare or uniqueness of design of the older vehicles,” said Newman.

2022 Best in Show. 1960 Ford Galaxie 500 two door hardtop with the 351 CI V-8 engine. Ford introduced the Galaxie as the top trim name for the Fairlane 500 in 1959. The Galaxie became its own model in 1960. Now, as collector cars, Galaxies have quietly, increased in value.

Newman addressed the Ruritan’s sponsorship of Stephen City Troop 159 Boy Scouts and Cub Scouts. “Time and energy are significant resources, and the Ruritan’s are always appreciative of Troop 159’s willingness to volunteer. The Boy Scouts will assist the Ruritans with the car show this year, as they did last year. The scouts sell raffle tickets, keep track of auction items, move picnic tables, collect loose debris, and bag trash around the venue.” Scouts can fulfill merit badge requirements by performing these types of community service.

Unusual Cars

There are always unusual or seldom seen vehicles. In the 2018 Ruritan car show, there was a 1988 East German Trabant brought to the show (there are very few in the United States). Produced in East Germany prior to the Berlin Wall coming down, it was produced in various models for thirty years, unchanged from one year to the next.

Newman explains, “During the Cold War, East Germans were on a waiting list for often ten years to acquire one. The Trabant had a steel frame, with the roof, and body parts made of duroplast, a hard plastic-like material made from recycled cotton, which supposedly was made from waste from the Soviet Union and phenol resins from the East German dye industry.

The build quality was nothing to write home about. The engine was two-stroke, requiring oil to be added to the fuel. It smoked mightily and it was a huge air polluter. It took a full 20 plus seconds to reach top speed, which was about 60 MPH. Although a terrible example of an automotive vehicle, it has become a collector car with a few hundred currently existing in the United States.”

2023 Best in Show. 1955 Chevy Delivery with original 265 CI V-8 engine. Chevrolet began to build two-door station wagons in 1955. Chevrolet modified the body shell by eliminating the windows and replacing the tailgate with a hatchback rear door. Fitting only a front seat left a large cargo area available to carry items for delivery, or tools and supplies to a job site.

There have been other unusual or rare vehicles to appear at the Shawquon Car Show.

How about a 1963 Studebaker pickup truck (only produced 1960 – 1964), that was made in Canada?

Or a Subaru SVX, one of only 640 imported in 1997 (only a bit more than 14,000 imported between 1992 and 1997)?

Or a 1929 Paige (produced from 1908 to 1927)?

These vehicles have all been seen at the Shawquon Ruritan Car Shows over the past sixteen years. So come on out to visit the Stephens City historic district at Newtown Commons and view over one hundred fascinating vehicles.

About the Shawquon Ruritans

Shawquon Ruritans in Stephens City was founded in 1956. Currently the organization has twenty-two members and meet at the Anthony’s Pizza on Warrior Drive at 7 p.m. every third Thursday of each month. Come join us and become a member. We are dedicated to supporting and building a better America through Fellowship, Goodwill, and Community Service within the rural and urban communities.