Engines Roar at Fifth Chatham Car Show

Drivers revved their engines as they rode into Thursday, to show off their vintage and classic motor vehicles for all to see.

Chatham Township's 5th Annual Car Show began started 6:30 p.m. as car owners gathered together to have fun and compare vehicles.

Krazy Kat DJ Productions provided the music, with hit rock classics from The Beach Boys to The Beatles. According to Krazy Kat, he has worked at this event for two years now, a testament to his ongoing popularity and amazing track list.

Cars rolled into the high school's front lot, where they were put on display. Drivers made their way over to the reception area, where they registered their vehicles with Anna M. Riker, President of Riker Conference Connection and the Car Show's event planner.

“We get cars dating back from as early as the 1930's all the way up to present day,” said Riker. “Sometimes, we also get military vehicles to come in, things like Jeeps and motorcycles.”

According to Riker, this year's car show received contributors from all over the state of New Jersey, besides Chatham's usual slew of participants. Riker also advertised the event at other car shows in the area with her son, which helped to increase the number of attendees.

“I started this event five years ago because Chatham didn't really have its own car show,” said Riker. “Every year shows something different, and this year, we have a lot of variety."

Joe Schirripe, one of the many car owners who attended the event, proudly showed off his 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire, a classic beauty sporting a glossy red coat. A Chatham resident, Schirripe came to the car show not just to get his car attention, but also for a much friendlier purpose.

“Being at a car show is all about the comradery between car owners,” said Schirripe. “It's about talking to other drivers and just having fun.”

Pete Van Seggern, another driver, brought in his 1963 Chevrolet Corvette, a vintage car donning a coat of sky blue. Seggern, a Florham Park resident, saw the Chatham Car Show as an opportunity to show off his prized possession.

“I got this car back in 1966 and hasn't had a car wash since 1969,” said Seggern.

One car in particular turned several heads. Donald Davidson drove to the show in a 1917 Detroit Electric. According to Davidson, the vehicle was made by the Anderson Electric Car Company and runs completely on electricity. The car is powered by 14 six-volt golf cart batteries and reaches speeds up to 25 mph.

“On normal output, the car can go on for about 60 miles on its own,” Davidson said. “But if pushed to maximum, it can probably travel up to 90 miles.”

Local restaurants provided opportunities to grab a drink or a bite to eat. River Grille volunteered to provide burgers and drinks for the car show's attendees. As an added bonus, a classic ice cream truck rolled in with some frozen delights for the kids. All refreshments were free of charge.

Sponsors of the 5th Annual Car Show included RXR, Comcast, River Grille, Investors Savings Bank, Touchpoint Pediatrics, Kings Super Markets, Short Hills Hilton and Shop Rite, who helped make the event possible, Riker said. Investors Savings Bank had a booth at the car show to lend their support.

“Anna Riker came and asked us to be a sponsor, so I said sure,” said Jill Greg, a branch manager. “We also wanted to get out into the community and help out.”

The Investors Savings Bank offered a bunch of free swag to all those who attended the car show. But as a complement to the community, they held a raffle for a basket prize. The prize included a $25 gas card, a cooler and a blanket.

Attendees voted by paper ballot for their favorite cars, and handed them in to be tallied by judges. Prizes were prepared for two separate categories; the Kid's Choice Awards and the People's Choice Awards.

Among the Kid's Choice Award winners, the 1954 Ice Cream Truck won third place. Second place went to John T. Dean for his 2011 Shelby GT500, and Scott Butler won first place for his 1965 Shelby Cobra 427 s/c.

For the People's Choice Award, John and Ida Sgroi won third place for their 1969 Z-28 Camaro. Second place was stolen by John Carini for his 1965 Ford Mustang. Davidson's 1917 Detroit Electric Car won first place.

The show was temporarily interrupted by a heavy rain shower. Attendees flocked into the high school building, seeking refuge from the sudden surge of rain. After 10 minutes of patient waiting, the storm shortly ran its course, and the event continued without any further hindrance or delay. Another impending storm ended the show ended prematurely at 8:30 p.m. rather than 9:30 p.m. as originally intended.