River Valley Cruisers Car Show Newaygo part four

River Valley Cruisers Car Show in historic downtown Newaygo. This is part four of four.

Here is the last of the beautiful, kool and hot cars in Newaygo, 2009. It was a great day in spite of the rain. The rain did hold off until the end, but started just as they began to hand out the trophies. I didn't get all of the winners, but did get some pics of a few of the recipients. So gather round, take a look and get excited for the next show!!


American Motors did make some hot looking cars. This AMC AMX is a prime example of what they did at their best. Very exciting design restored to its original condition. Thanks for bringing your car today!

Like most cars in this show, quality was the number one job of restoration. Hot Rod lovers can drool. What a nice, clean, straight car. The paint job was remarkable.

Not just another pretty face, this Hot Rod came with all one needs for buzzing around town. Great looks, great paint and nice folks. I would love a ride in this kool Hot Rod!

I noticed that I chose these two '55 Pontiacs to feature last year. Both are top notch cars with that kool hood ornament. I have always wondered....do they light up at night? If not, I think I would put some bright lighting system inside and make them GLOW!!

This neat Cushman sits inside the next truck. Colors match and all. A very nice display, guys! Does that little Cushman still run? I remember the day.....

This is the Ford that hauls the Cushman. A very good job in restoration and display set up. I always say, presentation is everything and this was presented very well. Great job....

Note the jacket on the back of the seat. Man, would I love a River Valley Cruisers jacket!! What would I do for one of those? Someday, when I join, I will have to steal...er..buy, a jacket like that!

Studebaker Lark, I do believe. So glad someone took the time to restore this car. I have so many memories of riding around town in my buddy Lee's Lark convertible. Wild times! Well, that is the way I remember it anyway, Lee!



Hot little VW. My daughter got her pic taken sitting in this bug. She is a true bug lover. I got to talk to the owner. They have the bug and Elvira sitting next door. Very nice folks, enjoying a day at the car show.



Elvira standing tall and looking good!

And the winner is....

Another winner!!

Great looking Chevy wins an award!!

Well, that is all from the River Valley Cruisers Car Show in Newaygo, Michigan. Hope you enjoyed the pictures as much as I enjoyed taking them. Some very special cars were at this show and I regret that I didn't get a pic of every one. Maybe next year I will get some more!!

Our thanks to the River Valley Cruisers who volunteered to put on the show, and the many sponsors who donated time and money for all of the awards given. Our thanks again to Jim Mieras for his great job of Masters of Ceremonies. Like always, he was quick witted and ready with something interesting to say at any time! To the Dairy Queen and Mugsy's Drive In, thanks! Great sauerkraut dogs, too. I will cherish the mustard stain I got on my new River Valley Cruisers T-shirt.....

My thanks also, to Hagerty Collector Car Insurance for providing me with so many things to give to this show for their contestants. I am sure everyone enjoyed the bags, magnets, pens, etc!

See you at the next show. Mike's Show-N-Shine loves comments so be sure to add yours to the list by clicking on the "comments" below. If you would like to be notified each time I post something new, please go to the side bar (to the right) and click on "follow this blog" or one of the other links.

Make sure you visit our great advertisers, like American Muscle-(neat Mustang stuff!,) Hagerty Collector Car Insurance, Meguires Car Care and Deltran, the Battery Tender people. They all help Mikes Show-N-Shine sparkle!

See you next time. And remember- "If you don't like the show, leave."

River Valley Cruisers, Newaygo 2009 part three

This is part three of the River Valley Cruisers Car Show in Newaygo, Michigan. Come and see the classics, hot rods, hot trucks and everything in between!


A show short on "hot rods" this one really stands out. Kool ride guys!

Ok, I guess I did get a shot of the two sharp Mach I Mustangs. Looking good!!

I believe this one got a trophy. Straight, clean and like many, super paint job.

Hot looking truck, this was a unique color. It looked even better when the sun was shining!

Not too many vettes. I found out that last year I had also been impressed with this vette and took a shot of it then, too!!



This Pontiac Firebird looked like new. Good job guys!

I just love the '57 Chevys. How about you? The chrome was mint on this one.











A nice line up of MoPar was waiting to be reviewed. All could be award winners!!

This was an extraordinary car. Interior was immaculate and very well done.

My son-in-law just loves these Chevys. He has one in his garage needing complete restoration. Anyone looking to do one for free??!!

Love the model car on the air cleaner.



Pretty sure this was an award winner, too. Fabulous enough to get the best of show award, that is for sure.....

One more post coming up soon! Stay tuned!

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River Valley Cruisers, Newaygo, part two

This is the second post of the River Valley Cruiser's Car Show in Newaygo, Michigan. The trophies are lined up and ready to go. Mike's Show-N-Shine had left the show earlier, but came back for the presenting of the trophies. I will include a few of the winners at the end of the final post. Stay tuned.......

And now, presenting Mike's Show-N-Shine's pick for "Best of Show." Well, I really have no authority to present that award, and I am VERY prejudiced toward all Mustangs, but here is a story about a very special Mustang that chose to come out for its first showing after undergoing a complete concourse restoration.

This is a 1968 1/2 Ford Mustang Shelby CobraJet GT500 428 KR. One of only 900 made. This car is completely restored and shows like a 400 point car.

I first spoke to the family of the owner. They gave me lots of info about the car. I later actually met the owner who confirmed the information. Every nut and bolt is correct.

Not a scratch, dent, blemish of any kind. Looking at the license plate, I wonder if he has collector car insurance? Hmmmm. I hope he gets one of the fliers for Hagerty Classic Car Insurance!

The badging alone is spectacular! The car color is original to the Cobra as is everything else inside and outside the car.







If it hadn't been raining, I think I might have asked for a test ride. I could be like the "certified car nut" and have my mustache blow in the wind as we drive through the streets of Newaygo! Whoops, I slipped out of reality for a minute there.



The real thing! Imagine sitting behind the wheel of this kool ride.

This is the owner, Sam Mancha, from Comstock Park, Michigan. Sam, thanks so much for bringing your awesome car to the River Valley Cruiser's Car Show. And thanks for allowing Mike's Show-N-Shine to honor your car in my blog! Good job, my man! Hope to see you in some other upcoming shows.

It looks like I will have another 2 or more posts with the cars of River Valley Cruiser's Car Show.
I just took so many pictures! Please stop back and see more real soon. See you then.

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River Valley Cruisers, Newaygo, Car Show #1

This is the second show at Newaygo that Mike's Show-N-Shine has attended. Again, Big Red was not with me, but maybe, if we can get our home sold (see sidebar), we will be living in Newaygo and can drive her there next year.

Again, a very friendly crowd and a show put on by some great people. The River Valley Cruisers is a large group of locals who know where to go to get their cars painted, or they just do it themselves in that big pole barn behind the house!

The day started out great with cool weather for looking at kool cars. As the day progressed, the clouds rolled in and, darn, it started to rain. The cars fired up and all headed for home....oh, no! They did not!! I don't think one car left even with the rain coming down! What a group!

Mike's Show-N-Shine showed up with some goodies for the crowd, thanks to our friends at Hagerty Insurance. We had Hagerty bags, pens, magnets, "Don't touch my car" stickers and some fliers telling why Hagerty is the greatest insurer of classic cars. I hope all of the people got some of the freebees. Take a minute and click on my sidebar to get more information about Hagerty Insurance!

I spoke to many of the car owners and all were happy to speak to Mike's Show-N-Shine about their rides. And what kool rides they were. Last year I mentioned the awesome paint jobs. I was even more impressed this year. You know, when you go to a show, you see a few fab cars, a few "ok" cars, and some that are under construction. I would safely guess that 85-90% of the cars were fabulous! Clean, straight and standing tall!

Ok, enough of my chatter. Take a look for yourself. I hope I didn't forget to take a picture of your car. I just couldn't get all of them. Maybe next year!!

The tables were set, the volunteers ready to go, and the show was on!!

Do you think there are enough trophies to be given out? Same last year. But believe me, there were not enough to recognize all the beautiful cars here today. I never got a final count, but my guess was about 170-180 top notch cars. So if you didn't get a trophy, I hope a picture on Mike's Show-N-Shine will make you feel a little bit better. You deserved a trophy, too!

Ready for a nice long day. Bring on the baskets of food. Mugsy's would deliver to your car. They are a real, old fashioned, drive in diner. Our waitress was a nice young lady who did a great job!
They were all pretty busy feeding this large crowd!

Can you believe it? You could actually get a tattoo. That young man looks a bit underage for a tattoo, mom.....OH! They are not permanent! But they looked very real!!

I believe this was a trophy winner. A real two door, no post, coupe. I bet there are very few of these around. I actually saw one more later in my walk.....



You know how they have a spot on the window sheet (the one that you have your assigned number on) that asks what is the "special" item about your car. This one just had "paint" listed. And he hit it on the head. Tremendous paint job. The striping was deep into the paint and looked so sharp. I wish I could have seen it in the sunshine.

I had to take a second look at this car. First look, well, just another black car. But, second look, a really, really, sharp!! car!! What a paint job. Another one of those "Newaygo" paint jobs. Now, don't tell me, it was painted in another city. Underside was as clean as the top. Needed some mirrors underneath and maybe a slight tilt to the side to show it off better.

Another trophy winner. Again, paint so well done that it looked an inch deep. Great job guys



Set on a side street, this great '55 should have been in the main show area. Nicely done, paint clean and special, under the hood, well, see for yourself!

Not only was this Fairlane a block long, the color was just as well done as the length was, well, lengthy!

Very nice 442. I run out of things to say about the quality of the paint and the efforts of the owners to make their cars so pristine. You succeeded here.

There were a lot of Ford Model "A" cars at this show. I can't put a finger on which one is the nicest, so congrats to all of you Model "A" drivers. Great cars, one and all.

Great paint, great engine, great car. Thanks for bringing her today! Or him, if you please....

Not too many of these Studebakers made it through the 70's and 80's. I am glad they did. I once had a '55 Studebaker President Speedster. I am sure the owner loves this car as much as I loved mine. It is probably the reason I love classic cars to this day.

Plenty of early Mustangs here today. The GT body style seems to be popular with the Mustang crowd. I got a few pics but there were so many, I just couldn't get them all. But they all were looking great and standing tall. The two blue ones sitting side by side got my attention, but not the camera shot. But, rest assured, I loved the cars.

Early 50's Chevy, like a 53? Like new paint, interior and the owner enjoys the ride, I bet! Nice car!

Up here in Newaygo Country, a 4x4 is a necessity. Well, this is a "show" 4x4. Hope he doesn't take it for a ride on the two tracks. Nice job getting this thing looking so sharp!

Next post will be about a car that really caught my eye. The entire post will be on this "special" car, so don't miss it! Since this was a big show, I will be doing multiple posts until I get through all the wonderful pictures of the show cars present.

Remember, Mike's Show-N-Shine loves comments! So take a minute and write a comment by clicking on the "comments" button just below.

See you soon! Mustang Mike