This issue of Wheel Tracks is dedicated to Bob Chase and Duane Leach, two gentlemen who have made the Vermont Antique and Classic Car Show what it is today.
The VAE honors Bob Chase and Duane Leach for their tireless work over these many years to continuously put on the best show in New England. Through rain, wind, mud, excessive heat, they’ve made it happen. If you get a chance when you see them, give them a hearty handshake or hug with a big thanks!”
“Thanks, Bob & Duane, for a job well done! We couldn’t have done it without you.”
– Fred Gonet
I started going to the Stowe Car Show around 1978. I was very impressed with the show, how big it was and how organized it was. Around 1980, I started driving antique cars that I had restored up to Stowe for the day. Just on Saturday. It was a long drive from Proctorsville for the day.
In 1982 I restored our 1926 Chrysler, and I wanted to see how it would do at a show being judged. I brought it to the three major shows in the
Northeast: Hildene, Bennington and Stowe. My wife, BJ, and I won 1st in each. Then in 1985 I bought and restored our 1908 Locomobile and brought that to all three shows. That won in all three also; but in Stowe, we decided to go camping for the weekend at the original Smugglers’ Notch State Park. Our family made a long weekend of it, going to the car show and playing tourist with the kids in our 1908 Locomobile. It was a great time.
The Stowe Show kept getting bigger and bigger each year. We camped and did the Show for a number of years until they destroyed the original Smugglers’ Notch campgrounds. Then we started going to an inn, but we were hooked on the car show. It was a
highlight of the summer.
The thought and all the work that has been put into the VAE Show is evident, being the only big car show left in northern New England, proof of the time and work that Duane Leach and Bob Chase have put into it. If you talk to anyone in New England who is into antique cars, they all know of the VAE Show. And that thanks to Duane and Bob, and all the volunteers who work so hard to make it happen.
“Thank for all your hard work over all these years, Duane and Bob.“
Fred is a long-time VAE member and has been the owner and operator for many years of G&G Restorations in Proctorsville, VT, one of the premiere restoration shops in New England.
Bob and Duane have done a wonderful job putting the car show together each year, and the last 3 years or so they’ve made time for me to have a golf cart to get around the grounds to see the cars. They’ve both given a lot of time and really have done wonders with the show, even the fact they didn’t give up when notified Stowe wasn’t available. That was quite a task to find a new location and start from scratch.
– Clark Wright
“Thanks, Bob & Duane!”
Clark & his wife, Isabelle, are long-time VAE members and live in Milton, VT.
On the surface, Bob Chase and Duane Leach could appear as just members of the Antique and Classic Show Committee, but they have been much more than that. Without them there would’ve been no show. That’s right, no car show. Bob and Duane have been co-chairmen and that means they had to be on top of all the parts of creating the annual show.
– Chris Barbieri
We all know how successful our show is year after year. Since I do the show marketing, I innocently walk among show car owners, flea market vendors, etc., asking how the show’s going for them. Last year, one – only one – had a gripe, and that was the weather!
“Thank You, Bob and Duane, for all you have done to make the show a winner year after year.”
P.S. I had a call last April from a gentleman from the state of Georgia. He had heard nothing but good things about our show. He said he might come up and take a look. I told him he would not be disappointed. He came up, found me and said he was very glad he came!
I wish to thank Bob for all he’s done over the years for the show car Registration before the show at all of our monthly meetings and during the show! Bob has helped coordinate our materials/folders with the Waterbury Revitalization folks (and the Stowe area Chamber of Commerce previously) and given thoughtful suggestions to their contents and our work. He supports us on the field too, checking in often and getting us help as needed.
– Laurel Barbieri
“Special thanks, Bob, from all of us in the Registration Tent!”
Laurel & her husband, Chris, are long-time VAE members and have been involved in the car meets for many, many years.
I wish to thank Duane for all his thoughtful, careful, and proficient efforts to set up the show car Registration Tents and the car show fields over the years. He has been so considerate about locating the Registration where there are easy, ready access lanes for pre-registered and to-be registered show cars, and about making sure other displays don’t interfere, obstruct, or distract from the registration process. Duane has had his crew set up our Registration area with equipment, flags, and signage in preparation for us and he and they have been ‘at-the -ready’ with any problem we meet. We can’t thank him enough also for all he and his crew have done setting up the show car field with registration numbers first, then switching them around to reflect the classes every Sat. night. I also wish to thank Duane again for rescuing my flower vase that I accidently left on the field after the show. He kept if for almost a year and returned it to me for the next show in perfect condition! Finally, we wish to thank Marnita and her crew as well for all the delicious foods they have planned, purchased, stored, prepared, and served over the years to provide for the volunteers all throughout the show days.
– Laurel Barbieri
“Thank you both, Duane and Marnita, for all you do in support of all of us and the success of the show!”
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