- December 25, 2024
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Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
John Fuller poses with his 1933 Plymouth before the start of the Gaslight Parade. He has had the car since he was 15 years old. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bob Pastor, of Ormond Beach, sits with his class winning 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bob Pastor inherited his 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook from his grandfather when he was a teenager. Photo by Michele Meyers
The 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featured a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. This Rod snuck in at the end. Photo by Michele Meyers
The 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featured a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Antique cars cruise east on Granada Boulevard in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade. Photo by Michele Meyers
Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
The 64th-annual Gaslight Parade features a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Participants wave to the crowd as they cruise in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade featuring a variety of antique cars dating 1997 and older. Photo by Michele Meyers
Antique cars cruise east on Granada Blvd. in the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade. Photo by Michele Meyers
The Ormond Beach police control traffic at the 64th-annual Gaslight Parade. Photo by Michele Meyers
Marion and Doug Hunsworth sit with their 1939 Ford Tudor Sedan at the Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Their car is featured in the 2022 movie remake of D.O.A. Photo by Michele Meyers
Rob Gish cruises through Fortunato Park after the Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show wraps up. Photo by Michele Meyers
Car enthusiasts check the antique vehicles out at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
The 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show was home to many cars of the past. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jenny Brown of serves food to the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show at Fortunato Park. Photo by Michele Meyers
Siblings Robert and Randi Gish hang out at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show at Fortunato Park. Photo by Michele Meyers
Siblings Randi and Robert Gish (center) in 1970 standing in front of the Ormond Garage before it burned down. The antique car show has been a part of their lives since then. Courtesy photo from Rob Gish
Nine years ago, Jim Coyle purchased his 1966 Volkswagen Bus and spent two years modifying it into a camper. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bill Wright of Ormond Beach drives his 1984 Chevrolet El Camino in Fortunato Park at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
J.P. Silvestri drives his 1976 MG Midget in Fortunato Park at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Donna and Walter Elliott sit with their class winning 1964 Ford Thunderbird and their 1953 Chevrolet Bel Air at the antique car show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Jack and Linda Taggert are selling their 1987 Buick Grand National at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Ormond Beach resident Leo Garcia, still fantasizes about owning a Volkswagen bus after having one in high school. Photo by Michele Meyers
"The running joke in my family is that I know when my car was born but I don't know when my grandchildren were born," said Jerry Janaro of Ormond Beach, owner of a 1953 MG TD. Photo by Michele Meyers
Christopher Silvestri, owner of Christopher John LTD. and son J.P. Silvestri stand next to their 1959 Morgan and 1976 MG Midget at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Isaac Smith wants to be friends at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Bud and Jan Smeenck's 1946 Dodge was showcased at the 64th-annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kim and Mike Meyer's 1947 Lincoln Continental won the Judges' Best of Show at the 64th annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mary Ann Echelberry's 1973 Dodge Dart won class 13 for production vehicles at the 64th annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Kim and Mike Meyer's 1947 Lincoln Continental won the Judges' Best of Show at the 64th annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mayor's Choice Award winner, Ormond Beach resident Frank Peburn, owner of a 1936 Ford two-door. Photo by Michele Meyers
Joel Looney leaves the 64th annual Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show in his 1913 Stanley Steamer Touring car, the winner of the Bud Pike Memorial Award for oldest car. Photo by Michele Meyers
David Slick's 1966 Oldsmobile 442 Convertible won class 12 of the production vehicles category. Photo by Michele Meyers
Mayor's Choice--Frank Peburn's 1936 Two-door touring car of Ormond Beach. Photo by Michele Meyers
Owner of Christopher John LTD., Christopher Silvestri and son J.P. Silvestri stand in between their restored the 1959 Morgan and 1976 MG Midget. J.P. learned how to work on cars in their shop. Photo by Michele Meyer
The AMC Gremlin was introduced in 1970. Photo by Michele Meyers
Owner of Christopher John LTD., Christopher Silvestri, leaves the car show in his 1959 Morgan. Photo by Michele Meyers
Photo by Michele Meyers
Debbie Nolen accepts the Rick D'Louhy Memorial Award for Tom Nolen's 1960 Pontiac Ventura from Linda and Diane D'Louhy. Photo by Michele Meyers
The 64th-annual Gaslight Parade and Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show cruised into town on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 25-26, fueled by nostalgia and family ties.
Siblings Randi Gish-Smith and Rob Gish have been a part of the car show since 1970, before the Ormond Garage burned to the ground in 1976. The garage was a historic landmark that had been used during the speed time trials held on Ormond beaches in the early 1900s. The two ended up in Ormond Beach after their parents moved from southeastern Kentucky, where they were born.
“Cars are the reason why we live here. Our parents hung out with a bunch of other folks who traveled and went to Nascar races. They went to Daytona and decided it was a great place to live, just like Bill France.”
ROB GISH, Birthplace of Speed Antique Car Show participant
“Cars are the reason why we live here,” Gish said. “Our parents hung out with a bunch of other folks who traveled and went to NASCAR races. They went to Daytona and decided it was a great place to live, just like Bill France.”
He brought a 1970 Volkswagen EMPI Imp and Chevrolet Blazer to the show. Gish-Smith’s husband and her daughter, Seabreeze High School senior Jordan Smith, have been restoring a Volkswagen Kharmann Ghia for the past three years and hope to bring it next year.
The parade and car show are hosted by the Volusia Region Antique Automobile Club of America. Every year, the club chooses an automobile to showcase. This year, the club chose Bud and Jan Smeenck’s 1946 Dodge.
“This was my grandmother’s car,” he said. “I’ve had it 55 years. I’ve had it longer than my wife, which is about 46 years.”
Traditionally, families have gathered for the car event during the Thanksgiving holiday weekend and this year was no different. The Ferguson family was invited by a family friend, Joanne Zimmerman, of Ormond Beach, who has attended the event for about 40 years. They arrived from St. Augustine, Orlando, Ohio and Utah to feast and attend the parade Friday night.
Ormond Beach resident Bob Pastor showed his 1951 Plymouth Cranbrook, which won class 9 in the production vehicle category. He had inherited the classic from his grandfather and driven it for a couple years before purchasing another car for work. The Plymouth sat unused before he decided he wanted to restore it.
In 1987, he began to take it to car shows.
“I still remember my grandmother joking about it," said Pastor of restoring the vehicle. “She’d say ‘Bobby, hurry up before I die’. She got the very first ride. I made sure of that.”
