The Strawberry Classic Car Show, Plant City’s longest-running automotive event, will be celebrating its 18th full year of existence this Saturday.
Turning 18 on the 18th means it’ll be old enough to vote, buy cigarettes or join the military tomorrow – a proud day for those in charge.
“It’s the 18th year. It’s the longest-running monthly car show in this area,” chairman Benny Lubrano says. Hopefully, if the weather holds out for us, we’ll have a good turnout.”
Lubrano hasn’t been with the car show for its entire existence – he became chairman in 2010 – and doesn’t bring a classic car to put on display every month. Instead, what’s kept him so active in the program is his love for being around the people, and his love of their cars.
“t’s just neat to see what somebody had envisioned,” Lubrano says. “They may have found something that was pretty much ready for scrap, but they had a vision. Other guys may have found cars that have been in better condition, and have taken the time and the money to restore them.”
Saturday’s event will be business as usual, though. From 4 p.m. until 8 p.m., people can show off their sweet rides at the parking lot. All automobiles made in or before 1990 are welcome to join the party.
Food and craft vendors will be on-site, and children will be able to play in a bouncy house and get their faces painted. Adults will be able to get t-shirts and dashboard plaques commemorating the car show’s 18th anniversary.
Also joining in on the fun will be the Lakeland Region Model A Club. The Ford Model A was automobile magnate Henry Ford’s follow-up to the Model T, the original automobile, and also enjoys a sizable following.
“If we didn’t have those guys that are out there restoring the cars, it’s like a lot of things: you can only find them in pictures in books,” Lubrano says.
While the car show turning 18 is at the front of Lubrano’s mind right now, he’s anxiously awaiting to see it turn 20 in 2017. Twenty-five year-old cars today were manufactured in 1990, but Lubrano and everyone involved with the car show prefer cars from an additional 25 years prior.
“Everybody has their passion,” Lubrano says. “It’s neat, about automobiles, to remember what you saw 25, 30 years ago. It’s neat to see the old 50s, 60s and 70s automobiles that people have restored.”
Contact Justin Kline at jkline@plantcityobserver.com.
IF YOU GO
Where: 100 N. Collins St.
When: Saturday, April 18, 4 p.m. – 8 p.m.
Cost: Free