Big and Small, Old and New at the Pumpkin Run

 

When an event draws nearly 3000 cars and trucks, it's a good bet that there will be a nice variety. The 49th Annual Pumpkin Run Nationals, sponsored by the Fastiques Rod and Customs Car Club, saw vehicles big and small and old and new. Among them was a Pontiac Bonneville, a Ford Fairlane, a Packard 110, a Buick La Sabre, a 1939 Buick Roadmaster, a Chevrolet Impala, a 1962 Impala, and a Chrysler that was used in the movie The Public Eye.

a

A Car Had to be 50 or Older to Attend This Show

 

The 49th Pumpkin Run Nationals, as in the past, had a rule that every car had to be at least 50 years old in order to enter. For most shows that would limit the number of vehicles but not the Pumpkin Run. Nearly 3000 cars and trucks rolled into the Clermont County Fairgrounds over a beautiful early autumn weekend to take part. Among them was a 1937 Ford coupe, a restomod Chevrolet Impala, a pre-war Chevy coupe, a Ford Deluxe, a Ford Crestline, a 1965 Chevy II, a 1964 Ford Galaxie 500, and another Galaxie 500.

Great Weather Brings Out Great Cars

The weather for the 49th Pumpkin Run Nationals was absolutely perfect. Above average temperatures for the whole weekend and mostly clear skies. In the past that hasn't always been the case, but this year saw nearly 3000 cars and trucks, all from 1974 or before, pour into the Clermont County Fairgrounds to help raise money for the Shriner's Hospital and numerous local charities. Among the cars on display was a 1967 Oldsmobile Delta 88, a 1968 Olds 442, a 1969 Olds Cutlass, a Cutlass convertible, a 1967 Chevrolet Nova Super Sport, a Ford Standard, and a Ford Coupe. 

 

Pumpkin Run Variety

As in years past, the 49th Pumpkin Run Nationals saw a nice variety of cars and trucks among the nearly 3000 vehicles on hand at the Clermont County Fairgrounds. Sponsored by the Fastiques Rod and Customs Car Club, this event attracts ride, all from 1974 or earlier, from not only all over the region but from all over the country. Among the cars on hand was a Chevrolet Corvair, a 1973 Checker Marathon station wagon (yes, Checker made something more than just taxi cabs), a Chevy Impala convertible, a Puerto Rican Chevy Impala, a Ford Model T, a Pontiac Firebird, a pretty rare Chevy Yenko Vega, and an Oldsmobile Cutlass. 

 

The Largest Show in the Region

The Pumpkin Run Nationals is by far the region's largest car related event. It regularly draws over 2000 cars and trucks, some of whom come as far away as Florida, Maine, Alaska, and Canada. What makes it even more impressive is that all of the cars for this past year's 49th installment had to be made in 1974 or earlier. So, pulling in close to 3000 of those is quite an impressive feat. Among the cars on display for the event was a 1965 Chevrolet Chevy II, a Pontiac Chieftain station wagon, a Pontiac Catalina, a Chevy Chevelle, a 1968 Lincoln with suicide doors, a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda, a 1951 Crosley, and a 1968 Studebaker Lark.

 

Overrunning a Village

The Village of Owensville has fewer than 1000 residents but once every year it is overrun by thousands and thousands of people and vehicles. Owensville is the home of the Clermont County Fairgrounds and that is where the annual Pumpkin Run Nationals occur. This past year's 49th edition of the Pumpkin Run drew nearly 3000 cars and trucks. What makes that number even more impressive is that all of those automobiles had to be made in 1974 or before. Among the numerous vehicles on hand was a bright green Dodge Challenger, a 1969 Pontiac GTO, a Pontiac coupe, a restomod Ford Model TT truck, a Buick La Sabre, a 1967 Pontiac Tempest, a Ford Pinto, and a Plymouth Super Bee.

 

Charities Benefit from the Pumpkin Run

Each year thousands of cars and trucks roll into the Clermont County Fairgrounds to take part in the annual Pumpkin Run Nationals. The show was started in 1975, missing only the year of the Covid pandemic, by the Fastiques Rod and Custom Car Club in order to raise money for charity. The primary benefactor to the event is the Shriner's Hospital which has seen in excess of one million dollars in donations over the years. Other local charities such as the Clermont Northeast School District whose students run the numerous concession stands through the fairgrounds for the event, also get support. It's the car owners and the guests who come to admire them that bring in the money. Some of the cars that were on hand for this past year's event include a Chevrolet Chevelle Super Sport, a Studebaker pick-up truck with a wild paint job, a Chevy Fleetmaster, a 1949 Ford Deluxe, a Ford Galaxie 500 XL, a Chevy Vega Stinger, and more.