Andrews – Veterans Foreign Wars Post 7620 held its fifth annual Hot Summer Nights Car Show & Fundraiser on Aug. 10 along Main Street downtown.
Moving its usual location from the “Ronnie’s,” or the Andrews Commons Shopping Center parking lot, helped provide more room for more vehicles along with vendors and food trucks this year, according to post Commander Scott Ramler.
“We had over 70 vehicles along with 14 vendors, including several nonprofits and four food providers, so it’s been a great move for us this year. We appreciate the town’s support,” Ramler said.
A staple of the local car enthusiast community, the show provides the local post with a way to raise funds for their various projects throughout the year.
Ramler said this year’s show provided almost $1,500, which will also be used to support national VFW programs in local schools. That includes Patriot’s Pen and Voice of Democracy, which help teach middle and high schoolers about basic themes of America’s founding and democratic principles.
These programs provide students an opportunity to write essays at the local level with support from each local VFW post which then can be entered at regional, state and national levels. Ramler also acknowledged that the post uses the monies to further community aid and projects for individuals and organizations.
While there was no formal judging, the crowds picked their favorites while lingering in front of several cars including a DeLorean, several iterations of Jeeps, a Studebaker, plus several vintage and newer model Corvettes and Mustangs with plenty of muscle cars and trucks also decorating the closed street.
The DeLorean’s owners, Bob and Linda Schaffer, were quick to regale folks dropping by for a gander about the time they found a questionable powdery substance in the vehicle.
“Well, we found these bags full of white powder and thought it was Borax. So we started cleaning the car with it. ‘I said, Bob, it’s not cleaning anything,’ which is about the time it dawned on us it wasn’t Borax but a substance found further South and not quite as natural,” Linda said.
That substance also was reminiscent of founder and designer John DeLorean’s troubled sting operation in 1982 in which the FBI accused the carmaker of trafficking cocaine which resulted in both his infamy as an automotive pioneer which only helped solidify the car’s place in automotive history.
Bob went on to detail how he rebuilt the entire engine and replaced parts, with the mostly stainless steel vehicle which was difficult since most of the parts had been manufactured solely by the DeLorean Motor Co. Too, he recalled much of the history of the car’s production with the cars originally being assembled in Northern Ireland.
“When I tore out the headliner there were all these signatures of the workers who’d built the vehicle. It was pretty impressive how they made their mark on it.”
The Schaffers were also quick to let everyone know they drive the car frequently and regularly, noting its personalized tag which reads “OUTOFTYM.” Bob also added “She’s no trailer queen. We drive her everywhere, all the time.”
“We also field a lot of Back to the Future references as well,” Bob said of the car’s distinctive body type including gull winged doors and its iconic role in the popular 1980s film. But Linda says that’s not what made her want to purchase the vehicle.
“I saw one on TV and fell in love with it. I said we have to have it and it was mine,” she said of the 1981 model.
“He’s redone everything from the ground up and kept it running. It’s mine. All mine and we have such a great time with it.”
Also in attendance were the Cherokee County Veterans Service Office and local Chapter 1-8 Combat Veterans Motorcycle Association of Murphy and Parts City, offering free car cleaning grab bags.
The post has also recently installed two mini-splits to help refurbish the building. These costs will also be offset by the funds raised.
VFW Post 7620 also welcomes veterans for coffee from 9-11 a.m. Tuesdays.
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