Somernites Cruise 2008 See ya next Spring

The weekend of October 24th and 25th wrapped up the Somernites cruise series in Somerset Kentucky. Just short of a thousand cars and trucks, not bad for the last weekend of October. From now until April of 2009 the Wal-Mart parking lot will just be another parking lot on Friday nights. No sounds of v8 are roaring through the lot setting up for the Friday night block party. The fourth Saturday of the month will be lonely in downtown Somerset without the classic cars and trucks lining the square. So eat some turkey and drink some eggnog, come spring the hotrods come back out of the garage and head for Somerset

A True RAT Rod

The 33rd Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals

The 33rd Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals
We’ve all been to big shows in big cities, Columbus, Indianapolis, Nashville, and the list goes on. Nothing compares to going to a big show in a small town and trying to catch up to your buddies on the back roads. It’s what hot-Roding in America is all about. Hotrods line the parking lots of gas stations and restaurants along the route.
Mention the word Owensville to any rodder in the Midwest and automatically they think of The Pumpkin Run, the biggest and coolest car show in Southwest Ohio. The first weekend of every October the rods and classics roar from every direction to make that journey to the Clermont County Fairgrounds. No sport tuners inside the gates at this show. No Honda civics with gull wing doors. Just good ole fashioned pre 1970 hotrods and classics spread throughout every open space of grass and dirt.
At six am on Friday morning the show gates opened with the Fastiques members cars already in place. Within hours the fairgrounds were filling up as rods circled the track looking for the perfect spot to settle in.

The Fastiques Rod and Customs Car Club really know how to put on a show. The 2008 show marked the 33rd Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals, a show that keeps getting bigger and better every year. This year’s was no exception. Three day’s of hanging out and trading car stories with your buddies. If you look hard enough you just might find those missing bumper jack’s in the swap area. Jed. Hughes provides the live entertainment on Friday and Saturday night to keep the party going till midnight.
No matter what show I attend one car always draws me to it like a magnet. The Cadillac convertibles have a show presence that will stop you on the way to the port o John after drinking a 32oz big slurp. This blue 1958 Eldorado convertible did just that. I circled the car trying to picture myself behind the wheel of this magnificent beast. I stood back and tried to picture this large American Classic in my garage. I immediately ruled out moving my car out of the garage. My wife’s car would have to go in the driveway and I could put the 58 caddy in her spot. I thought about trying to find a new place to live after I’m kicked out and quickly rethought the purchase. I circled the sleek blue Eldorado admiring the fins and chrome, the attention to detail in the dash and controls that are an artwork that has been forgotten long ago. Nothing say’s I’m the most important person at the show than a 1958 Cadillac Eldorado.
With almost three thousand cars registered, you’re sure to find a new idea for your project. If you see a design or pin stripes that might look good on your ride, then fire that beast up and roll over to Darin Allen’s booth from Killer designs and have him hook you up. While you’re checking out the continuous line of hot rods pulling into the show, Darin will be painting custom lettering on your ride. Tell the wife you saved money, you don’t have to get a paint job now. You never know it might work.
If you have never been to this great show than you have no idea what your missing. If you wait all year for this show like me then enough said. Thanks to Frank Witt and a great bunch of guys from the Fastiques Rod and Customs of Southern Ohio for putting on a one of a kind show. Every dollar raised from the shows supports numerous charities. For more information on the Fastiques, check out their website at pumkinrunnationals.com.
So on the first weekend of October, early Friday morning before the first rooster crows, tell the wife to stay in bed, cause you’re making breakfast. And while she’s smiling nice and snug under the covers, she’s suddenly awakened to the realization that it was too good to be true. The walls are shaking with each lope of the cam, the thunder from the straights pipes are so loud that she cant even hear herself screaming your name. By the time the front doors opens you’re already shifting into third. All she see’s is two red tail lights while your blowing by the line of minivans and SUVs in the brick and vinyl jungle of suburbia.
By sunrise nothing could be more romantic, than you and your baby, the love of your life on the road to the Pumpkin Run.

William S. Stephens

Pumkin Run 2008

32 East