Saratoga Automobile Museum’s Spring Auto Show

The Saratoga Automobile Museum’s (SAM) longstanding Spring Auto Show and Saratoga Invitational, the traditional kickoff of the region’s auto show season, have undergone a slight format change for 2015.

This year’s fundraiser for SAM’s Distracted Driving educational program, which has a primary focus of educating both teens and adults on the dangers of texting while driving, cell phone use and generally not focusing on safe driving, is set for Saturday, May 16 from 10 am-4 pm with a Sunday rain date. It will no longer include the Saratoga Invitational as a separate entity but will still feature world class automobiles.

“In recent years, we have presented two separate shows on the same field at the same time,” said SAM trustee Ron Hedger. “This year, we will organize our largest event of the year under one banner, the Spring Auto Show, to make it easier for enthusiasts throughout the Northeast to participate.

“We found that we were missing some beautiful, very interesting cars using the Invitational format because we were not aware of them and therefore they weren’t invited. The traditional auto show attracted outstanding vehicles of all makes, ages and types and we want to expand and build on that tradition by inviting everyone to participate.”

To smooth the transition, a handful of separate classes will be used to enhance the traditional “Top Twenty” auto show judging. Entries in these categories will be displayed together on the huge Saratoga Spa State Park lawn and Reflecting Pool area adjacent to the auto museum.

One area will be set aside for British cars of all types to preview the auto museum’s upcoming summer exhibit, “The British Are Coming!” There will also be awards for Pre-War American Cars, Race Cars/Motorcycles and Future Classics.

With the traditional “Best in Show” and “People’s Choice” awards to be presented along with trophies for the “Top Twenty” and the four additional classes, everyone will have a chance to have their pride and joy in the show ending awards ceremony spotlight.

Advance registrations at $15 per vehicle will be taken online or at the auto museum through May 1, with registrations after that date and at the show set at $20. As always, car clubs are encouraged to come as a group, with members who arrive together parked together.

The show field will also have a variety of new cars on display along with automotive and food vendors, while the vintage racers of the Atlantic Coast Old Timers and sleek cars of the Sports Car Club of America’s Mo-Hud Region will grace the space in front of the auto museum. As always, the $10 Auto Show admission will include a visit to the museum, where “Luxury Automobiles Through The Ages” will be the featured exhibit.

More information on Saratoga Automobile Museum activities and programs, as well as auto show registration information, is available online at www.saratogaautomuseum.org.

Photo provided.