Sunday! Sunday! For those growing up in the New York/New Jersey area, those two words shouted over WABC radio meant there would be some fine-looking Detroit iron on display and racing in Englishtown. But while those days are long gone, that same two word cry can echo up the Hudson as hot-rodders, street-modders, and classic car enthusiasts gather in the center of the Saugerties village, closing it to traffic, for the ninth annual Sawyer Motors Car Show, July 8 from 1 to 6 p.m.
It’s not known as the Best Little Car Show in the Northeast for nothing.
“We have more registrants than we have had in a long time,” said Ray Tucker, general sales manager for Sawyer Motors.
More than 400 cars have been registered to take part so far, and Bob Siracusano, owner of Sawyer Motors, said if the weather is nice there should be another 100 to 150 car owners registering on the day of the show. One local collector will be bringing his stable of 21 vehicles to show, and 50 members of a ‘vette club will be bringing their vintage and new Corvettes.
But the one car that might just be the star of the show is a 1949 Woody that’s valued at more than $100,000, Siracusano said.
For the motor heads, there will be GTOs, Hemis, Camaros and ‘stangs; cars that have been chopped, channeled, lowered, and equipped with engines no right-minded engineer would ever accept. There will also be mods and rods that would be the envy of George Barris and Ed “Big Daddy” Roth.
And while all this pure Detroit muscle is showing off its chromed engines, and candy apple red paint jobs, the more sophisticated cars will be turning up their collective well-bred noses. The 12-cylinder Jaguar E-types, along with their brethren, the MGs and Triumphs, will be enjoying a bit of tea and jam and wondering what all the excitement is about.
For those who like music with their Novas and Chargers, there will be four bands – The Big Smoothies, Souled Out, the Encounters and the Devotions — performing throughout the day.
To get an advance peek at the cars as they assemble prior to moving onto Main and Partition streets, check out the parking lots of Sawyer Savings Bank on Market Street and by “cow flop” field across from the Cahill School before the show.
Tucker said more than 100 volunteers, including Sawyer Motors employees and many of its customers, will turn out to make the day a success.
Shops and restaurants along Main and Partition streets will be open all day as well, Tucker said.
When Bob and his brother, Larry, who owns Sawyer Chevrolet in Catskill, began the show nine years ago, they really had no idea how long it would last or how successful it would be. “We just take it one year at a time,” Bob said.
“We’ve already begun planning for our big tenth anniversary show next year,” he said. “We all just hope the weather is nice and the people have a great time.”
And while there may already be more than 400 cars registered to take part, there is always room for more, Bob said. Registration is still open and anyone interested in bring out their car can call the dealership at 246-3412.
All proceeds from the day-long event will be going to the Make-A-Wish Foundation to help make local youngster Dakoda’s wish to go to Disney World to see Captain Jack Sparrow a reality.
Join the family! 
