Organized by the Classic Cars Friends Club of Pattaya the show of Classic Cars was held in ‘tent city’ on the front lawns of the Asia Pattaya Hotel with 82 classic cars and 15 classic motorcycles on display.
The majority of the classics came from Pattaya itself, with some from Bangkok but the prize for the greatest distance covered went to a team of five classics from Malaysia who had undertaken the epic two-day drive to be with like-minded folk in Pattaya. True enthusiasts.
Classic cars are a world-wide phenomenon, with the Goodwood Revival in the UK hosting several hundred cars on display, and thousands of interested spectators as well. This is an annual event.
While today’s motorists are getting the onslaught of research into autonomous motoring (cars that have no human driver) and ending up with vehicles that no ‘ordinary’ motorist can work on, the classic movement is getting stronger. The classic enthusiast recognizes spark plugs, coils, valve tappets and can work on them and adjust where needed. There is so much to motoring more than going from A to B. The classic car owner understands these things.
The Classic Car Show also appealed to the general public, with over 2,000 people coming through the gates, some of the younger folk having never seen such classics as a 427 Mach 3 Mustang, 1966 Alfa Romeo Spider (two of them) as used in the movie The Graduate with Dustin Hoffman, early 1970’s Ford Escort Mk 1 (two road going and the third being an all-out race car), 1961 Jaguar E-Type (probably the most beautiful car ever made), 1955 MGA 1500 (three of them) and a 1951 MG TD, two magnificent Bentleys and a Mercedes Adenaur turning the clock back to pre-WW2. Other makes included Volvo, Audi, VW, Chevrolet, Pontiac and Dodge, Porsche, Bentley, Mercedes Benz, Austin Healey, Buick, Ford Europe, Ford America, Corvette, Citroen, Lincoln, Range Rover, Triumph, Plymouth, Morris, Dodge, Chevrolet Pick Up, Austin, Fiat, Mini, Wolseley, and even a total restoration of an Opel from 1909.
There was more to the Classic Car Show than just static old motor cars as Jo Klemm, President of the Classic Car Friends Pattaya and his team arranged with the authorities a Classic Car Parade with the priceless vehicles stopping the traffic in downtown Pattaya.
In the evening there was a charity BBQ held in the Asia Hotel which was an unparalleled success, being a sell-out, with the proceeds going to the Human Help Network Foundation under the care of Ratchada Chomjinda (Khun Toy), director of the foundation.
Before the BBQ dinner the children of the Drop in Center Pattaya performed a dance show.
After 262 charity tickets were sold the doors had to be closed because the Asia Hotel terrace restaurant reached its limit.
After dinner was an auction of motoring memorabilia. The fun entertainment of this year’s show was “Classic Cars meet the Blues Brothers” with 100 guests dressed with a “BB hat and BB dark glasses” dancing to the “Blues Brothers Revival Band” with Paul Jackson.
Sponsors of the event included the Riviera Group, being one of the majors. Riviera presented a totally restored immaculate Buick Le Sabre from 1960 (simply huge). At the venue the Liqui Moly ‘brolly dollies’ outfitted in eye catching blue-white and red checkers and net stockings, were kept busy all afternoon posing for photographs. Media partners like Pattaya Mail and Der Farang handed out free newspapers and magazines.
The proceeds totaled 350,000 baht from the Classic Car Show. Will there be another next year? Pattaya enthusiasts hope so.
