David Overmyer of Lindsey brought his restored 1963 Chevy Corvair to the Erie-Ottawa International Airport Vintage Airplane & Car Show. Overmyer said the show was one of the biggest shows he has attended. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

BY SHERI TRUSTY

Erie-Ottawa International Airport Director Clay Finken enjoyed a huge success in managing his first big event since taking over leadership of the airport about a year ago. The Vintage Airplane & Car Show in late summer not only attracted about 160 cars and hundreds of visitors and was a harbinger of things to come in 2023, said Finken.

“This was our first car show post-covid, and my first car show as the director,” Finken said. “I was astonished at how many cars were here. We expected 50 to 80.”

Because of that success in an area where car and truck shows are extremely popular, The Vintage Airplane & Car Show is set to return to the Erie-Ottawa International Airport on Saturday, Aug. 19 in 2023.

Also important for buoying airport financial resources are the major events being held throughout the year at the Liberty Aviation Museum adjacent to the airport.

Although Airport Director Clay Finken expected about 80 cars for the Aug. 21 car show, about 160 vintage and classic cars showed up. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

“Music, along with a lot of advice, was provided by Cruisin Zeake’s D.J. Services. This wouldn’t have happened without Cruisin’ Zeake,” Finken said.

The event featured cars from every era, from a Model T to a 2016 Z06 Corvette. David Overmyer of Lindsey brought his restored 1963 Chevy Corvair.

“It took five years to restore. I repainted it and did some of the interior and everything underneath,” Overmyer said. “A guy had it sitting in his garage for 20 years, so body-wise, it was pretty good.”

Craig Huffman, 52, of Wauseon bought this 1937 Chevy Coupe when he was 17 years old. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)

Overmyer said he has attended several car shows with his Corvair, but none of them compared to the airport show.

“It’s one of the biggest I’ve ever been to, and it’s the nicest I’ve ever been to,” he said.

For the Erie-Ottawa International Airport, its spacious area is ready to accommodate a variety of events in the coming months. Also on the schedule will be the Liberty Aviation Museum offering rides on such historic aircraft as The Tin Goose, which debuted passenger flights to the Lake Erie Islands decades ago, as well as memorable military airplanes that are still in operation.

Cars from every era were represented at the Airport car show, including this bright yellow Chevy from 1935. (Photo by Sheri Trusty)