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Huge Classic Car Event Syracuse Nationals Hopes to Give Back to the Community More Than Ever

The Metamorphosis of the State Fairgrounds will be dually new territory for car enthusiasts and attendees alike at this year’s Syracuse Nationals.  It’s a feeling of “what the heck happened here?”  But as shiny, pinstriped vehicles fill in to park on what will serve as the new midway in a little over a month, eyes will concentrate more on some of the hottest wheels in town.  The kind people dream of owning as kids playing with scale cars.  It’s all about the paint and what’s under the hood.  Spokesperson Bob McClean says the fairgrounds’ transformation is very accommodating.

“There’s a lot more room for displays and vehicles… a lot more camping spots with more hookups.”

Syracuse Nationals Friday thru Sunday @ Syr Fairgrounds

  McClean says the show typically gets in excess of 8,000 cars.  Registration continues through the weekend at the Holiday Inn on Electronics Parkway in Liverpool before they cruise crosstown.  McClean concedes he’s not an expert on the economy; however, he’s heard some impressive stats of the impact on people from out of town spending money.

“They’ve (Syracuse Convention and Visitor’s Bureau) just recently mentioned, again, this year that the whole week that the show is on and people do start coming in the week before and have been here all week...  the impact with hotels rooms and meals and restaurants and things is in excess of about $11 million dollars in the economy for that period of time.  We’re very proud of that.”

He adds that Nationals are also happy to give back to the community.  Their goal this year is to reach or surpass the $1 million dollar mark in the total of charitable donations raised through the 17 years the show has been in existence.  

Credit John Smith/WAERNews
Artie Schilling continues his pinstriping competition to raise money for local charities.

  Pinstripers are donating their time and talent to create panel art through Artie’s Party to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald House of Central New York.  Last year, bidders generously raised $78,000.   Owner Artie Schilling has even worked on some of Comedian and former NBC Tonight Show Host, Jay Leno’s vehicles.  He says the artists in attendance this weekend are extremely talented.  He recalls some of the items they’ve auctioned off over the years.

“…refrigerator, pinball machine, a lot of guitars, pedal cars.  We have people (who) actually bring us things to do.  I just saw on Facebook one of the girls did a trash can that is out of this world.  It looks like bomber art from World War II.”

Speaking of which, Schilling showed us a very patriotic looking kid’s plane striped with the American stars and stripes  on its wings and a leather seat for the pilot.

Credit Jason Chen/WAERNews
Visitors can purchase a wide range of auto accessories.

  Heading over to the new camping grounds, a bunch of Canadian car enthusiasts were already in place this morning.  Ron Keller owns a 1978 Ford Granada that he purchased while he was in high school.  He’s attended every Syracuse Nationals show.

“The fact that they get between 8 and 10 thousand cars, which is the biggest, closest show for us.  Hot Rods and muscle cars, that’s why we come here.”  

The Syracuse Nationals runs July 15th through the 17th.

John Smith has been waking up WAER listeners for a long time as our Local Co-Host of Morning Edition with timely news and information, working alongside student Sportscasters from the Newhouse School.