A classic gathering

June 30--With classic tunes blasting through all corners of Market Square, hot rods, muscle cars and antique trucks straight out of "Sanford and Son" were all on display during yesterday's Ring Reckers Classic Car Show.

For six hours, Market Square was converted into a massive parking lot as about 400 cars spanning several decades of automotive lore came for the occasion, one of the signature events of Amesbury Days.

"It is quite literally like stepping back in time," Amesbury Days chairman Julian Thompson said.

Thompson, wearing clothes befitting the 115th anniversary of the weeks-long Amesbury event, was spotted inside a new feature for the car show, a Pabst Blue Ribbon drinking area.

"Classic American beer with classic American cars," Thompson said.

The cool suds were likely a welcome sight to the thousands of over 21 attendees as temperatures reached the upper 80s. The large crowd certainly benefited Ring Reckers vice president Mark Corso who could not have been happier with the overwhelming turnout. Ring Reckers is an Amesbury-based car club that has been hosting the event for seven years.

"We're definitely growing," Corso said, alluding not only to the number of visitors but the growing number of classic car owners who took part.

With an estimated 100 more cars than last year, organizers were able to secure additional parking space along Friend Street, Main Street and the municipal parking lot in between the Morning Buzz Cafe and the Barking Dog.

Among those participating was first-term Mayor Ken Gray, who snagged a prime parking spot next to Gould Insurance for his red 1957 Ford Thunderbird. Sporting blue jeans and a wild Hawaiian-type shirt, Gray proudly showed off his beauty to all those who came over to greet him.

Accenting the historic feel of the classic cars, dozens of Pin-Up girls mingled through the crowd, passing out free water and overseeing events related to the show. Pin-Up Girls dressed in outfits last seen in the 1950s and 1960s sported high hairdos and plenty of makeup.

Pin-Up Girl Chantal Martin of Manchester, N.H., who was in charge of the event's 50/50 raffle, said the idea was to augment the experience for attendees.

"It's a car show, it's what girls do. Match the cars," Martin said, in time-befitting fashion.

The Ring Reckers, according to Corso, features only American cars built before 1967 with particular attention paid to hot rods and dragsters. But Corso pointed out that the show was open to anyone with a car built in 1972 or before.

Some of the highlights included a dune buggy from 1969, its car radio playing Beach Boys tunes. Parked next to that was a green Buick Special 8 from 1952 with its hood opened sideways to allow folks to inspect its engine. A few spots down, a black 1967 Mustang GT fastback harkened back to the days of Steve McQueen and his classic film "Bullitt" (although that Mustang was green). A little farther away, a 1966 Mercury Monterey featured a hula dancer figurine inside the back nestled between two speakers.

Amesbury Days continues through the Fourth of July. Among the highlights in the next couple of days is a performance by the Beatles cover band Studio Two tomorrow, Kids Day at the Park on Wednesday and fireworks at Woodsom Farm on the Fourth of July.

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