It was a hot one on Saturday for the IHHS Car Show which was raising funds for the hockey team. The heat was on, but the cars were cool, as were members of the hockey team who stayed wet with a car wash for the regular folks in their regular cars. Going to a car show is fun for every generation, boy and girl. America, for good or bad, is still in love with cars, the way they look, the way they ride, and the romantic memories they inspire.
Romance in this sense does not just imply drive-in movies from days gone–although Warwick still has one— but Romantic in the sense of freedom the invention of the car brought to America, especially the youth. It was the invention of the car that brought on a new youth culture in America at the turn of the century, and ever since has become a milestone for Americans who remember with fond affection the family car of childhood, their own first jalopy, or the first car they bought themselves.
The cars at the IHHS car show covered the whole century, and they all displayed that artistry in design that in today’s world is usually an afterthought. Some cars are built for practicality, some for power, and some just to look cool. The cars at the show had a bit of each, and each one was on display by owners who beamed like the proud parents of a gifted child. And just like a parent that can rattle off the accomplishments of their offspring, these owners knew their cars inside and out. Most folks were hands on with their upkeep, and it’s interesting to note that back in 1922 the NYC YMCA was offering free car maintenance instruction using 13 reels of motion pictures–one of the first video instructions. Electric cars were still popular back in those days, but the diminishing price of gas was making the gas powered cars more attractive to Americans wanting to travel further afield.
The IHHS show featured an array of raffle prizes for all, and trophies for the participants. There was music, sausage grilling, and troops of hockey players marching in the heat between the car wash and the food stand. Local sponsors such as Commerce Bank were braving the heat manning tables filled with free goodies for kids and adults alike. For most people, banks have always been essential players in helping people make cars and buy cars. The beginning of the 19th century had a long list of car makers before the market became dominated by a few major players. From 1920 to 1930, the number of cars in America went from 7 million to 27 million, and most of these purchases were made through banks who encouraged Americans to invest in the purchase.
