A trip to this year’s Retrofest could wind up with you being on television.
My Classic Car TV will feature the massive celebration of all things automotive, with show host Dennis Gage and his crew staying at the Retro Suites Hotel and doing TV clips throughout the weekend, to be produced into a 30-minute TV show to be aired at a later date.
Kelvin Halbawer of the Chatham-Kent Canoe Club and a fan of Retrofest, made the request of Gage three years ago and this year, Gage contacted Len Langois of the Kent Historic Auto Club.
“We’re celebrating our 45th Anniversary and we were very receptive to Dennis coming down,” he said. “Retrofest is a terrific community event.”
In order to commemorate the club’s anniversary, RetroFest’s “Sweet 16” hallmark year and My Classic Car TV, the Historic Downtown Chatham BIA is selling t-shirts, hats and hoodies.
BIA project co-ordinator Connie Beneteau said the shirts will be two sided with the front of the shirts prominently displaying RetroFest 2016 and the KHAC logos, and the back of the shirt will feature Dennis Gage from My Classic Car TV and his notorious handle-bar mustache.
She said sponsors Ray-Mac Auto Parts, Retro Suites and Ericson Manufacturing were key to bringing the show to Chatham.
The commemorative T-shirts will be on sale now for pre-orders through the BIA. For information on ordering email the BIA info@downtownchatham.com or through its RetroFest Facebook page.
Although the event will take place May 27 and 28, festivities will get revved up with a special appearance by legendary auto manufacturer Malcolm Bricklin who will appear at the Capitol Theatre May 25.
The 77-year old Bricklin, a founder of Subaru of America, sold his stake in the firm in the 1970’s to develop an auto manufacturing industry in New Brunswick.
There he produced some 3,000 of the iconic gull-winged cars that bear his name.
The Friday night festivities will kick off with the OLG Classic Car Cruise, a 600-vehicle event featuring trucks and cars spanning several decades.
Downtown King Street will be closed Saturday as the Kent Historic Auto Club car show takes over the downtown area with hundreds of classic cars parked along the streets for the competition.
The event is being expanded with rides, entertainment and attractions at Tecumseh Park featuring a larger than ever section of free and sponsored rides, a beer garden and entertainment sponsored by Big Brothers and Sisters.
Live entertainment will take place from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Saturday morning will feature a soapbox derby adjacent to the park on William Street.
