Record entries roll into New Hanover UMC Car & Bike Show

Event benefits Happy 2 Be Home, an organization that provides funding for home improvements for chronically ill children

As you well know by now, 2020 is the year of the pandemic and many car shows were canceled. The lack of summer events, combined with fantastic weather, brought out a record number of entries for the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car and Bike Show in Gilbertsville.

“We had such an amazing time at our 10th Annual Classic Car and Bike Show this past Saturday. Thank you to everyone who came out to support this event and to our volunteers who made this amazing event happen! Thanks to your generosity we were able to raise over $7,500 for Happy 2 Be Home,” Pastor Gil Vining posted on the New Hanover United Methodist Church Facebook page on Sept. 10.

The annual event, now in its 10th year, benefits Happy 2 Be Home, a 501c3 certified organization that “provides funding for improvements to a family’s house in order to make it suitable for their chronically ill child,” according to the organization’s website: https://www.happy2behome.org/

The 386 vehicles entered in the show offered something for everyone’s automotive tastes; cars, trucks, motorcycles, antiques, classics, muscle cars and more. It was also the first opportunity for many of the car show enthusiasts to see each other face to mask-covered face since October of last year.

Special awards were presented for Best Antique, Best Custom, Best Truck, Best Paint, Best GM, Best Ford, Best Mopar, Best Import,

Best Engine, Best Motorcycle, Best Street Rod, Best Competition, Best Classic Muscle, Best Modern Muscle, Best Street Machine and of course, the coveted Best of Show.

AWARD WINNERS

Happy 2 Be Home Pick: Harrison Fromm - 1923 Ford T-Bucket

Best Engine: Mick Dornes 1932 Ford

Best Paint: Paul Santoni - 1968 Chevelle

Best Motorcycle: W. Walker -

1940 Harley-Davidson with Side Car

Best Ford: Ron Heidenreich - 1957 Thunderbird

Best GM: Joe Williams 1967 Chevelle

Best MOPAR: Ken Schell - 1972 Road Runner

Best Antique: Alan Kaufold - 1929 Willys Dump Truck

Best Street Rod: Claire Bingman - 1938 Ford Coupe

Best Classic Muscle: Ken Bennett - 1965 Mercury Comet

Best Modern Muscle: Mike Althouse - 2005 Chrysler 300

Best Custom: Wes Cassel - 1955 Chevy

Best Street Machine: Mark Sagrantz - 1969 Camaro

Best Competition: Lil & Ron Kistler - 1963 Plymouth

Best Truck: James Rothrock - 1956 Chevy Pickup

Best Import: Bob Daniels - 1956 VW Bug

Best of Show: Danny Pacifico - 1940 Chevy 2-Door Business Coupe Street Rod

In addition to the aforementioned Special Award winners there were also Top 40 Trophies awarded.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP John and Joyce Stine of Chester Springs enter the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car and Bike Show in Gilbertsville on Sept. 5 in their 1934 Ford Pickup Street Rod. The truck, which has had the same owner for over 60 years, is powered by a 1953 Mercury flathead.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP You simply couldn’t ask for a better day for the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car & Bike Show and the fantastic weather brought out a record number of entries for the popular event.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP W. Walker entered a pair of vintage Harley-Davidsons and his 1940 EL with a matching sidecar took top honors in the motorcycle class.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Tim Reid of Boyertown drove his 1935 Chevy Coupe street rod to the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car and Bike Show in Gilbertsville on Sept. 5.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Colorful modern MOPAR muscle cars lined-up and showing off what’s under the hoods at the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car and Bike Show in Gilbertsville on Sept. 5.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Wes Cassel of Boyertown accepts Best Custom trophy for his immaculate 1955 Chevy Bel Air. Sharing the moment with Wes is his grandson Austin Cassel, age 11.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Andy Yonkovitch’s 1948 Pontiac Torpedo is a rare beauty and I’ll bet it turned a lot of heads between Gilbertsville and New Hanover driving to and from the show.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Here’s a car that you rarely see at the car shows. Dan DiPasquale of Norristown brought his 1953 Buick Special 2-door sedan with a 1972 402 big block under the hood.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP Danny Pacifico of Muhlenberg Township, Berks County, captured the coveted Best of Show trophy for his 1940 Chevrolet Business Coupe street rod.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP This chrome eagle adorns the hood of Jerry Schussler’s 1930 Chevy Coupe. Jerry hails from Hatfield.

PHOTO BY CARL HESS - FOR MEDIANEWS GROUP At the 10th Annual New Hanover UMC Car and Bike Show in Gilbertsville on Sept. 5, you never know what might pull up to the registration tent next. This military relic is Boyertown’s Julius Banyai’s 1954 Dodge M.37 Weapon Carrier.