Locals Parade Vintage Autos at Monmouth Park

While the horses were still scheduled to race as normal on Sunday, July 10, the Grandstand Entrance to Monmouth Park was loaded with classic automobiles. While all of these vehicles had the opportunity to win trophies in numerous categories, they were all winners as each of them brought something different to the Haskell Classic Car Show.

Until approximately 3 p.m., a live broadcast by New Jersey 101.5’s Big Joe Henry served as the soundtrack for the event. And in case you weren’t sure where the broadcast was transmitting from, 101.5 yellow Frisbees were being thrown out to the crowd by the station’s staff letting attendees know where to look.

Mike and Diane Rizzo were on hand showing off their blue 1966 Chevy Corvette. This StingRay has been owned by the West Keansburgcouple for eight years. Appearing at several Cruise Nights and Car Shows, Mike Rizzo said, “I put about 2500 miles each year on her.”

With Corvettes being the most popular car at the show, Rolfe Blodgettof Long Branch was sitting behind his 1967 model. Blodgett had the car for 13 years.

Martin Solaas of Navesink had his 1973 Chevy Corvette on display. Painted in the original Engelhardt Green color, the model took him three years to restore.

Dennis Cataldo of Marlboro had an impressive 1949 Studebaker at the show. “I finished painting it about seven years ago,” said Cataldo. “The interior was done about six years ago.”

Jim and Linda Nordin didn’t have to ride very far to get their 1950 Pontiac Woody Wagon to the show. The Oceanport couple has owned the vehicle for 15 years.

Rob Murray of Spotswood was boasting a green 1930 Ford. Owning the car for seven years, Murray was proud to show off the section of the dashboard that was signed by actor Paul Le Mat, who portrayed JohnMilner in “American Graffiti.” Murray likes to drive the car around town with a cardboard cutout of Curly from The Three Stooges looking out from the driver-side passenger rear window.

With a Grateful Dead sticker on the rear window, a 1968 Chevy Corvette was on display courtesy of Scott Teixeira of Middletown. This car has been in his life for 27 years.

This was a car-lover’s dream as every inch of this side of the park was filled with automobiles. There was a beautiful black 1939 Ford Convertible, a stylish 1968 Mini Cooper, a restored 1934 Ford S and a rare 1967 Citroen.