Cool cars hit the coast

Last Updated on Friday, November 02, 2012 01:12 pm Written by SHAUN SMITH Monday, October 15, 2012 12:22 pm

VENTNOR – Even standing still, the cars that lined Atlantic Avenue Saturday looked fast.

More than 150 cars rolled in for the inaugural Ventnor City Autofest Oct. 13. Lining Atlantic Avenue from Sacramento to Avolyn avenue and from Newport Avenue to the beach, the classic, new and restored cars were shining under the afternoon sun.

Presented by the Ventnor Tourism and Promotion Board, the event featured not only cool cars, but an afternoon of music, vendors, face painting and food.

Board member Michael Einwechter said the event was a success for the city and a boom for local businesses.

“I think we had a good outcome for the first-year event,” Einwechter said. “A lot of people were happy to see how well everything went. We’re going to do it again next year in the same location.”

He said more than 20 volunteers assisted with the event, and many others helped make it a success.

“I want to thank everybody for coming out, all the participants, Ventnor City police, public works, all the volunteers that help us and sponsors that actually helped us put on the event. Without the sponsors it would not have been done,” he said.

Board member Rand Snyderman of Ventnor volunteered as a videographer. He said he was looking forward to upcoming events from the tourism board.

“We’re letting people know Ventnor is open for business,” Snyderman said.

Among the live performers providing music were Mia Bergmann, the Philadelphia Blues Messengers, the Kenny Young Band and Ventnor’s own Bob Sterling. 

Mayor Mike Bagnell said he was pleased with the event, especially since the city took less than a month to plan and execute its first Autofest.

He credited Einwechter and Patti Curran for their energy, perseverance and dedication in making it a success.

“You put the ball in their hands, and they run with it and they don’t stop,” Bagnell said.

He said all the volunteers and participants deserve a lot of credit for their hard work.

“I want to thank the participants, the band members and the people who brought their cars; whether they came from Ventnor Heights or Southern Delaware – the event wouldn’t have been a success without them,” said Bagnell.

He also thanked everyone for helping keep the park clean.

“I was really happily amazed at how clean the place was when I left,” said Bagnell. “For the people that were there, I can’t thank them enough for policing their own areas.” 

He said the board will be assisting with the upcoming holiday parade and Polar Bear Plunge and is planning a music festival in the spring.

See www.ventnortourism.org.