John Jarrett, left, and Tony Richardson, right, both of Mt. Washington, Ky., work on a 1939 Chevy coup during the Pumpkin Run Nationals Oct. 5.

John Jarrett, left, and Tony Richardson, right, both of Mt. Washington, Ky., work on a 1939 Chevy coup during the Pumpkin Run Nationals Oct. 5.
By Kristin Bednarski
Sun staff

Antique car enthusiasts from hundreds of miles away made the trip to Owensville Oct. 5-7 for the 37th annual Pumpkin Run Nationals car show held at the Clermont County Fairgrounds.

“It’s a good show,” Calvin Foust, of Indiana, said. “There is a big swap meet, a lot of vendors and a lot of cars.”

Foust came to the show Oct. 5 with his wife, Connie, and the couple said they enjoy spending the weekend at the show.

“We like to bring the car down and relax,” Connie Foust said.

Pumpkin Run Nationals is the largest show in southwest Ohio, and draws a number of people who travel in with their antique cars.

All cars at the show must be 1970 or older, and the show featured antique cars of all makes and models, all in running condition.

In addition, the show featured a variety of activities, contests, live music, vendors and a swap meet, where car owners can find parts and car accessories.

Danny and Doug Dalton, brothers from Owensville, said Pumpkin Run Nationals is a great show to attend.

“They do a good job putting it on,” Danny Dalton said.

Jamey and Angie Neeley, of Union City, Ind., said they have attended the show for a couple of years.

“I like it because there is a lot to do,” Jamey Neeley said.

Neeley said the main reason they come is because Fastiques Rod and Custom, the club that hosts the meet, raises money for local charities.

“That’s the main reason we support the show,” he said.

Since the club was founded in 1972, Fastiques Rod and Custom has raised more than $750,000 for Shriners Burns Hospital for Children.

Tanya Beaumont, public relations officer for the club, said they try to donate $50,000 each year to the hospital. She said the rest of the proceeds are also donated to local charities including the Earth Angel Foundation, the Hillbilly Clan and St. Rita’s School of the Deaf.

Beaumont said they had a great turnout at the event this year with 2,535 cars registered throughout the weekend.

“Friday went really well for a Friday,” Beaumont said about the first day of the show. “We were really pleased with the participation.”

Beaumont said they had the best turnout and nicest weather on Saturday and cooler weather with a little lower attendance on Sunday.

She said car owners from as far away as southern Florida and Canada drove out to the show, and they also had many local residents without cars attend the event.

“I think we have a very large turnout in just the local community,” Beaumont said. “We keep it affordable and that gives a lot of families a chance to come out.”

In addition to the Pumpkin Run Nationals, the Fastiques Rod and Customs hosts an annual spring swap meet and members attend several other car shows during the year.

For more information about Pumpkin Run Nationals or Fastiques Rod and Customs visit www.pumpkinrunnationals.com.