Classic Car Show Shines At Ashlar

By Eliza Hallabeck

If you thought you heard Bobby Darin singing while passing by Ashlar of Newtown on Toddy Hill Road this past Saturday, you did. The 7th annual Going Back in Time Classic Car Show and Sock hop was held from 11 am until 2 pm, and residents and visitors were invited to view and vote for their favorites among the classic cars on display while the DJ played classic songs.

 Classic cars lined the parking lot, and each car that was entered into the show was numbered. A tent was set up for food and as a place for the votes to be cast and counted. There were 46 cars entered into this year’s show. Last year there were 35 cars on display, according to Peggy Loulis, who is in charge of customer service for Lockwood Lodge. She said she has been working for Lockwood Lodge at Ashlar of Newtown for 21 years.

“We do it for the residents,” said Ms Loulis.

Ms Loulis’s husband, Fred Loulis, made the announcements for the event; he is also president of The Classic Nights Car Club of Monroe, which put on the event with Lockwood Lodge.

At the end of the event, Mr Loulis announced the three top vote-getters. Ernest Fisher of Fairfield won first place for his 1965 Shelby Cobra. As the winners were announced, Mr Loulis had them pull their cars around to the front of the tent. They received their trophies in front of the crowd and their cars. Mr Fisher was unable to get out of his car to receive the trophy, because he had to keep the car running. Mr Loulis handed him the trophy, and the green Cobra roared off.

Paul Shortell of Woodbury won second place for his 1932 Ford Hi Boy.

“I just picked this up a couple months ago, I can’t take all the credit on the work,” he said, but he added that he was grateful for the award.

Gary Arnone, a resident of Newtown, won third place for his 1972 Chevy Van. Mr Arnone’s mother is a resident at Ashlar of Newtown, and she sat near the tent watching as Mr Arnone received his prize.

“We’re still working on it a little bit,” said Mr Arnone, “but we are getting there.”

Mr Arnone said he has owned the van for more than 30 years, and he recently spent time restoring it.

“It’s a small, enjoyable, really nice show,” said Mr Loulis, while explaining the why The Classic Nights Car Club of Monroe likes to hold the event each year.

One Newtown resident with his car on show was Richard Mulligan. Although he did not win one of the three trophies for the day, Mr Mulligan said he was enjoying the event. His daughter and grandsons, who help him work on the car, and their friend, were there to show support for Mr Mulligan’s 1974 Triumph Spitfire.

Mr Mulligan said he bought the car last year.

“With a new car you can’t work on them you need a computer,” he said.

His grandsons, Brandon Bennett and Keenan Bennett, help change bolts and keep the car well oiled, Mr Mulligan said.

“I zip around town in it sometimes,” said Mr Mulligan.

As visitors entered the designated parking spot are for the classic cars, the first car on the right was a black 1939 Ford, and the owner, Joseph Donovan, who has been a Newtown resident for ten years, sat right next to his car.

“I had one when I was 15, and I waited 54 years to get another one,” said Mr Donovan.

Mr Donovan said the car was completely original. When he got the car ten years ago, he said the dial clock in the dashboard would not work. He sent the clock to a friend in England to fix it, and now it is restored.

“You probably wouldn’t find five in the country like this one,” said Mr Donovan.

Mr Donovan said he had wanted another 1939 Ford ever since he no longer had his last one, because it was his first car.

Another Newtown resident stood next to his car, which was parked next to Mr Donovan’s Ford. Mike Urban bought his silver 1969 Chevelle in 1994.

“It’s only been on the road for the past three years,” said Mr Urban. He said he and his son have been working on the car together.

“I love Chevelles,” said Mr Urban.