ST. PETERSBURG YACHT CLUB
VINTAGE MOTOR CLASSIC
- - - - HISTORY - - - -
As the Yacht Club grew in membership, and as parking became a bigger problem for the members, it became apparent that the club needed to build a parking garage. After the construction was complete, it was suggested that the club hold some sort of party to celebrate the opening of the new garage. What would be more fitting than a car show? So in 1999, and for the next two years, Fay Baynard chaired a successful annual Car Show in the garage for the club members to showcase their cherished rides.
In 2002, avid vintage car, motorcycle and boat enthusiast and club member Bill Waters thought that an undiscovered opportunity lay waiting at the Club if he could resurrect the car show, open it to the public, and move it out onto South Straub Park, for what could be the most prestigious vintage auto, motorcycle, and boat show on the west coast of Florida. He saw the potential of the adjacent South Straub Park, its shade trees, lush grass, the beautiful fountain, the winding walkways, the waterfront, and of course the prominent St. Petersburg Yacht Club, with its impressive facilities and staging area as a backdrop. This was a prominent vintage vehicle show just waiting to take place.
So, in the summer of 2003, with a small but dedicated committee, the first St. Petersburg Yacht Club Antique Auto Show was scheduled for the third Sunday in October. With a core group of auto owners and enthusiasts from the Yacht Club, along with a few folks from the local area, this show registered 33 beautiful antique and classic cars and their friendly owners. Local folks and club members that owned classic and antique cars, 1979 and older were invited to display on the lawn that day. The setting, weather, activities food, music, and enthusiastic people made for a wonderful event culminating with an awards and trophy ceremony on the steps of the Club.
Hoping to attract some additional attention, the 2004 show was scheduled for the second Sunday in November, the same weekend as Rib Fest, and its 150,000 attendees enjoying the festivities just a couple of blocks north of South Straub Park. Bill, a vintage 1967 Corvette owner, asked his friend and fellow club member, J. Wood, who was also a dedicated enthusiast and owner of a vintage MG, to assist him with this and future shows. Bill and J. had the same appreciation for restored vintage vehicles and a vision as to what a show like this could become over time. With J’s help and a hard working committee, spectator numbers grew and the show added more features. Not without difficulties, however, as about six other auto shows were scheduled in the area during the same weekend! Never-the-less, the show grew and registered 36 cars. Once again, the Club put out on the lawn a full linen table restaurant and made available food and drink for all attendees while music from the 20’s to 50’s was played from the second floor pool balcony of the club. An appearance was also made by St. Petersburg’s Mayor, Rick Baker, presenting the first Mayor’s Choice Award among others.
By 2005, the Antique Auto Show had not only attracted more interest in automobiles, but an interest in vintage light trucks and motorcycles. So, in 2005 the name was changed to the Vintage Auto & Cycle Show, and as word of our show spread, several vehicles came to us on trailers from as far away as Naples, Marco Island, and Orlando, Florida. Ann Lynch joined the committee that year and was charged with acquiring vintage motorcycles and scooters. Her work in acquiring these vehicles was displayed around the beautiful Straub Park Fountain, where folks were able to see many long forgotten two-wheelers. The quality and uniqueness of the vehicles was also becoming more impressive, the spectators were becoming a larger number, and vehicle display attendance grew to 87 vehicles in the park. To gain more advertising and local support, the Show partnered with the City of St. Petersburg, and provided an area for the City of St. Pete / Honda Grand Prix Race Team to advertise the April 2006 downtown road race event.
The 2006 event was a very significant year for the show. South Straub Park seemed full to capacity as the displayed vehicle attendance grew to 202, which included not only beautiful original and restored automobile examples from the early 1900’s, but several motorcycles, a sizable number of custom cars, and a nice showing of restored light trucks. Cars were once again brought to the show from throughout the west coast of Florida, including noteworthy vehicles such as the famous Bobby Allison’s restored 1969 Dodge Challenger race car from Pensacola, Florida. That year, we also had tremendous TV and radio coverage, St. Petersburg Times newspaper coverage, plus an appearance by newscaster and TV Anchorman John Wilson to help with award and trophies. Not only was this a great and fun event for all the attendees, but the show raised almost $1,000 for the Shriner’s Hospital for Children.
In achieving its significance as the most prestigious vintage vehicle event on the west coast of Florida, the 2007 show attained the vision that Bill had in the earliest years of the show. This year the show’s Platinum Sponsor was Bentley – Tampa Bay, along with Gold Sponsors including AAA, Mastry Marine and Spectra Boats. Silver Sponsors, dedicated sponsors from earlier shows were Action Wheelsports and Glenn’s MG Repair. The event commenced with an Owner’s & Guests Welcome Reception held on Saturday evening prior to the show, in the lobby of the Bank of America Tower in downtown St. Petersburg. Over 250 guests were greeted in the lobby by 10 vintage automobiles, 6 motorcycles, a band, displays by our sponsors, as well as catered refreshments and entertainment. Throughout the evening, a group of Shriners also held a silent auction. By the end of the following day, Sunday, the show saw a total of 238 vehicles on the lawn of the park. Besides our sponsor displays, Shwann Ice Cream sold ice cream treats donating all profits to the Shriners, and the Shriner’s continued auction and raffle items. With the Shriner’s hard work and the generosity of many local businesses, over $2,500 was raised for the Shriner’s Hospital for Children Transportation Fund. There was also a display by the USF Wakeboard Club, which had 14 members assisting with the huge job of parking 238 vehicles in an organized fashion in just 2 hours! It was certainly the largest and most prestigious vintage vehicle show ever held on the west coast of Florida with vehicles brought in from around the State, Georgia and South Carolina.
In 2008, avid boatman, vintage boat owner and Club member Steve Lattmann joined the committee and was charged with the project of adding vintage boats to the show, and that he did with a spectacular vessel display along the waterfront. Owners of some of the most beautiful restored vintage boats were found by Steve and were in attendance. With the variety of vehicles now including automobiles, motorcycles, trucks, and now boats, there was again a name change for the 2008 show to encompass all of our exhibit categories. It was decided that future events will now be known as the St. Petersburg Yacht Club Vintage Motor Classic.
Founded in 1909, The St. Petersburg Yacht Club celebrated its Centennial year in 2009. The 2009 Vintage Motor Classic garnered extra attention during this year, and was held Sunday, November 15th. Over 215 vehicles were registered for was certainly the best show held to date. Special appearances were made by the Club officers including Commodore Rich Doyle and St. Petersburg Mayor, Rick Baker choosing their favorite vehicles. Centennial Year Commemorative T-Shirts were awarded to the first 200 vehicle owners registered, along with 2009 Centennial Dash Plaques, and a uniquely beautiful Commemorative 2009 Centennial Trophy Plaque was awarded to vehicle category winners.
Every year of the event, showing her love for the Club and support of the now ‘St. Petersburg Yacht Club Vintage Motor Classic’, Fay Baynard has volunteered to photograph the award ceremony, coordinate names, write an article about the event, and submit this all to the Club’s secretary for insertion into the monthly membership magazine, Smooth Sailing. Thanks Fay!
The 2010 St. Pete Yacht Club Vintage Motor Classic is presently scheduled to take place on Sunday, November 14th. Please check our web site for up to the minute details. If you are interested in becoming a sponsor, please contact us soon.
Visit our web site: www.spyc.org/classic for photos of past shows, registration form, annual flyer
Questions: Call Bill Waters at 727.580.1804 or email Bill at bill.waters@raymondjames.com .
**Registrations are completed and paid for “on-line” at the St. Petersburg Yacht Club web site along with all details of this year’s event. The Registration Form and show information will be posted in September. Discount for early registration ($25), Day of Show registration at normal price ($35). Dash Plaques awarded to first 150 registrants, T-Shirts awarded to first 100 registrants. Vehicle staging will begin no earlier than 8:00 AM, show starts at 10:00 AM, and trophies are awarded at 3:00 PM on the steps of the Club.
