Jackie Morrissette, Clifton resident, with her “Dusk Rose” 1957 Ford Thunderbird. “You have to drive them or they’ll deteriorate. Of course I get a lot of attention. They think either Mary Kay or American Graffiti. Of course this came before Mary Kay.” Photo by Tim Peterson.
The Labor Day Car show in Clifton had humble beginnings. Fifteen years ago, it was only founder and organizer Jim Chesley, and 24 other car enthusiasts. They raised $100 to donate to charity.
Each year they brought it back, it grew, and so did the donations. By the fourth year they cracked $1,000. The event has now raised over $245,000 -- not including this year’s efforts.
“It’s a beautiful part of Fairfax County that opens its doors for charity,” said Supervisor Pat Herrity (R-Springfield). “It’s a strong community here.”
The 2014 edition was the biggest yet, with 330 show cars, as well as a number of trucks and motorcycles. The two beneficiary charities are Life with Cancer (www.lifewithcancer.org) and the Northern Virginia Therapeutic Riding Program (www.nvtrp.org).
“I love [the show], I spend all year working on it,” said Chesley. “I’m 66. At my age, the best thing I can do is help people who need it. These two places, I see them, feel them. You see faces; it’s not like giving to something online.”
The show’s primary food sponsor was the Clifton Lions Club, whose members helped park cars at dawn and arrived the night before to begin cooking 30 pork butts for sandwiches. “It basically takes all 34 of our active members,” said club president Richard Kurz. “And 100 percent of the proceeds go to the charities.”
Another major draw of the car show was the Richard King Annual Fireman’s Chili Challenge, which took place by the main performance stage, set back behind Clifton Road.
This year’s winner was Station 42, the county’s newest station in Wolf Trap. First price includes a $1,000 donation made to the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) in the station’s name, as well as half a day off. And, naturally, bragging rights.
“There’s a lot of trash talk,” said Captain II Willie Bailey. “I heard one [firefighter] say ‘Yours is only good on hot dogs.’”
Second place went to the Fire & Rescue Training group, earning a $500 MDA donation in their name. The highly competitive event was judged by a panel of four blindfolded judges selected from motorcycle clubs in attendance. Their decision was unanimous.
The day was capped off by a performance from rock ’n’ roll legends The Fabulous Hubcaps. It was the group’s first time playing at the Clifton Car Show. Despite the heat, it’s fair to say they got the crowd’s motor running with covers of old favorites like “My Girl” and, appropriately, “Hit the Road, Jack.”