Click here to subscribe today or Login.
EXETER — Car shows have long been an American summertime tradition, and the owners of one restaurant in Exeter are trying to make a car show on Memorial Day a tradition of their own.
For the second year in a row, American Grill on Wyoming Avenue held a car show the day before the unofficial start of the summer.
Bill Pambianco, who owns the American Grill with his son, William Pambianco III, and Shaun Cruz, says that the car show is really just a way to get the local community out.
“It’s just something for Exeter,” Pambianco said. “There’s not a lot, so we thought it would be a nice thing to do.”
Held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., the show required car owners to register for a price of $15, which included a barbecue meal. According to Pambianco, over 30 cars were registered.
One of those cars was a 1973 Corvette Stingray, which was owned by Jim Gordon, of Exeter. Gordon said he’s been bringing the fire-engine-red vehicle out to car shows for some time.
“You get to come and talk to the car nuts, the motorheads,” Gordon said. “It almost gets to feel like a family after a while.”
Gordon, who said it was a “beautiful day” for a car show, was just about to start voting for the people’s choice award, handed out to the fan favorite car. Awards for best car, best truck, best paint and other categories also were handed out to car enthusiasts.
John Hall, of Edwardsville, was there representing HoleShots Car Club, showing off his 1982 Oldsmobile Cutlass. Much like Gordon, Hall said that going to the car shows was about the camaraderie, but he also added that he had another reason for being there.
“It’s a day out, just killing time before the party later,” Hall said, referencing his Memorial Day plans.
The car show isn’t the only summertime tradition happening at American Grill over the long holiday weekend.
According to Pambianco, the restaurant will also hold its second annual “Bikes & BBQ” event, a motorcycle run aimed to raise money for local veterans, on Sunday.
Registration for the bike run begins at 10 a.m. at the restaurant, with kickstands going up at 11 a.m. Featuring live musical entertainment, the bike run will raise funds for The Valor Foundation.