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07/06/2016 07:00 AMNot many people can say they got their first car at age 12. Not many people can say they still own their first car at age 52. Not many people can say they restored their car not once, but twice. But all three describe Phil L’Heureux and his 1957 Thunderbird.
L’Heureux’s obsession with classic cars began when he was just eight years old. His dad brought him to a car show where he saw an old, beat-up Model A. He begged his father to buy it.
“He didn’t and I think I cried the whole way home,” said L’Heureux. “I wanted to restore it.”
Just four years later, in 1975, L’Heureux’s father bought a 1957 Thunderbird and, his father started fixing it. After running into several setbacks, L’Heureux’s father set the car aside in the yard. L’Heureux jumped at the opportunity to work on the car himself.
He had it running by the time he was 16. He and his high school sweetheart—who is now his wife—were riding in the car in 1980 when they were hit by a drunk driver.
“I had to buy it back from the insurance company and fix it again,” said L’Heureux, who now lives in Meriden. “That car’s been part of my whole life.”
A few years later, L’Heureux joined a local car club—the Connecticut Area Classic T-Birds, Inc.—and has now been involved for 30 years. He finished restoring his car in 2002 and enjoys bringing it to cars shows four or five times a year.
This year he is chairing the Time Machines Antique Car Show & Swap Meet in Guilford, on Sunday, July 24. While this is his first year chairing the show, his club has run that show for more than a decade.
“I enjoy the car shows because there is such a camaraderie,” said L’Heureux, whose 19-year-old son also enjoys cars. “Plus our show also has a swap meet with car parts, antiques, and other flea market finds, which draws a lot of spectators, as well.”
Cruise Night
Marty Forbes of North Branford also enjoys the camaraderie he finds at car shows, so much so that he brought back the Friday Night Cruises in the McDonald’s and Dairy Queen parking lot in North Branford four years ago. The cruises are held Friday nights through Sept. 30.
“I have a few friends who have cars and we go to car shows and cruise nights—the people who are into it are really nice,” said Forbes. “It’s a lot of fun and we have a good time.”
Forbes has a lowered 2001 Sonoma pickup truck with metallic cherry red paint and flames and chrome on the engine. He has been interested in cars for the past two decades and enjoys his membership with his truck club.
Bill Arute, who lives in Westbrook, has been involved with the Connecticut Volkswagen Association for the past 15 years, serving as president for the past five years. He enjoys meeting people with similar interests through the club and through the shows the club hosts with the annual Volks-Meet, a German car show, scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 25 in Westbrook.
“I like meeting people and hearing about car stories—especially with the Volkswagens because everybody has a story since we grew up with them,” said Arute. “People of my age had these in high school and everybody likes to come out and see them again. It’s a trip down memory lane.”
When he was growing up, Arute’s dad was the sales manager at a Volkswagen dealership and Arute and his siblings each had a VW as their first car. Arute now has four—two Microbuses and two “bugs”—from 1965 to 1974.
Lots of Looks, Attention
“I just love the looks of it, the sounds of it, and the upholstery has horse hair so it’s a certain smell,” said Arute. “When we go to other car shows, everyone is into the ‘Punchbuggy’ and the adults are showing the younger generation how it’s different with the motor in back. Most of our cars aren’t pristine but still get a lot of looks and attention.”
Chris Rosati of East Haven also has a passion for showing his car—a 2013 Camaro SS. A self-professed “car guy,” Rosati started doing car stereo installations and car detailing as a side business.
“The very first car I redid was a Camaro so true to me I got another one,” said Rosati. “I like being able to show off the car as well as having fun, meeting new people, and seeing the other vehicles out there and seeing the modifications or tweaks people have made.”
Rosati enjoys sharing his love for cars with his young twins, who know “cool cars.” He shows them the work he does on his car and also brings them to car shows.
Forbes, L’Heureux, and Arute all agree that car shows draw a good number of spectators for a number of reasons. Because car shows have proven to draw a crowd, the East Haven Fall Festival decided to add a car show on the Sunday of its annual event 22 years ago.
Two years ago, the Vietnam Veterans Chapter 484 Fireworks Committee took over the car show as a fundraiser. While chairman Dom Onofrio doesn’t have a car to show, he enjoys the car show, which will be Sunday, Sept. 11.
“Some of these cars are awesome looking,” said Onofrio, whose favorite car is a ‘57 Chevy. “Just to see these cars and the perfect condition they’re in, they’re beautiful, is great. We want everyone to come down, check out the cars and stay to enjoy the day.”
Upcoming Car Shows on the Shoreline
Fridays through September 30
Friday Night Cruises
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Dairy Queen and McDonald’s
Corner of Route 80 and Route 139, North Branford
Cost: Free
For info, call 203-481-4476
Sunday, July 10 (Rain date: July 17)
Corvette Show and Swap Meet
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Moroso Performance Products
80 Carter Dr., Guilford
Cost: $6 per person; free for children younger than 12. All proceeds benefit Connecticut Food Bank. Guests welcome to bring non-perishable food item. Rain date: July 17.
For info, visit clubcorvettect.com.
Sunday, July 24
Time Machines Antique Car Show & Swap Meet
8 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Guilford Fairgrounds
111 Lovers Lane
Cost: $4 for adults; $3 for seniors; free for children younger than 12.
For info, visit tbirdsofconn.org/timemach.html.
Sunday, July 24
WPC Classic
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Old Saybrook Chrysler, Dodge, Jeep and Mopars in Motion
255 Middlesex Turnpike, Old Saybrook
Cost: $10
For info, call Robert 860-829-1777
Friday, Aug. 5
North Branford Potato and Corn Festival Car Show
290 Forest Road, Northford
5:30 to 8:30 p.m.
Cost: $5 donation
For info, call 203-484-6017 or email admin@nbpotatofest.com
Saturday, Aug. 20 (rain date Sunday, Aug. 21)
Saturday Nite Cruziers 6th Annual Car Show for Down Syndrome
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Peckham Park
161 Strickland Road, Middlefield
Cost: $10 per show car. Spectators are free but donations appreciated.
For info, call Charlie at 203-980-8343 or June at 860-919-8514, email Jdanovich@snet.netClub, or visit saturdaynitecruizers.org
Sunday, Sept. 11
East Haven Fall Festival Vietnam Veterans Chapter 484 Fireworks Committee Car Show
9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
East Haven Town Green
Main Street, East Haven
Cost: in-show cars $10
For info, call Dom 203-494-3702 or Butch 203-710-5101
Sunday, Sept. 11
Deep River Fire Department 3rd Annual Antique Automobile Extravaganza
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Devitts Field
1 Southworth St., Deep River
Cost: $10 car entry, $5 walk-in, and kids under 12 are free
For info, call 860-526-6042.
Sunday, Sept. 25
Volks-Meet
9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Westbrook Elks Club
142 Seaside Avenue, Westbrook
Cost: $10 for show cars, $20 for swap space,general
admission is free.
For info, call Bill at 860-395-9964 or visit Ctvwa.org.