Life is slowly beginning to adjust to a new kind of normal and car shows are returning to the scene and adapting.

On Sunday, hundreds turned out at the 35th Annual Anthracite Region Antique Automobile Club of America Car Show in McAdoo.

AACA Treasurer Dave Bielen of Hometown said it was the club’s first show since 2019 and enthusiasm appears to be running high, partly due to a change in timing.

“We always did it in July but I think this is a better day.”

Quakake residents Tom Fegley and his wife, the former Sue Pruett, were on hand featuring their 1971 Chevy Nova SS, and the couple was pleased to be part of a return to normal.

“The weather is nice and this event is close to home,” Sue said.

More than 200 show cars registered, a turnout that filled the Tri-County Little League Baseball Field and evoked memories of the heydays.

Bielen said the show once drew 300 entries, but the hobby, like everything else, has seen fluctuations. Still, any show that registers 200 or more cars is considered a huge success, members said.

In fact, volunteer Bill Kennedy of Hometown brought out his rare 1959 Lincoln Continental and was surprised to discover it wasn’t the only one.

“There’s another ’59 here,” he said.

Bill Harleman, of Hometown, dusted off his pristine 1928 Studebaker Dictator, a show car complete with a set of interior Depression glass flower vases.

He, too, said September is a perfect month for a car show.

“It’s nicer today than it would be in July.”

A few local enthusiasts showed up with multiple entries.

Wayne Postupack of Rush Township registered a 1970 Plymouth Road Runner and 1970 Dodge Challenger, a flashy vehicle in Hemi Orange. He said it was a complete restoration and family project.

“We redid every nut and bolt,” Postupack said.

Attendees said all of the hard work by car lovers and the AACA Club is much appreciated.

“I think everyone should be delighted with this turnout,” said Linda Miller, of Sheppton. “People are tired of the quarantine and are ready to circulate.”

Some were drawn to the unusual.

“I like the white CMC car. It reminded me of a Cadillac,” said Bonnie Mohrbach Jones of Lehighton.

She was referring to a 1980s Tiffany produced in Fiberglas by Classic Motor Carriages of Florida.

Jones spent the day admiring the show cars with husband Rick, a car collector, and friends Bill Klotz and Joanne Potosky Hafer of Hometown.

Barnesville resident Frank Garenty, 81, registered his 1989 Chevy Z24 convertible and was happy to see the return of local car shows after a long hiatus. He said he’s enjoyed the hobby his entire lifetime.

“I’ve been doing car shows for 60 years.”

Music was provided by The Legends Oldies Band and hot food was served by the Tri-County Little League Association.

Awards were presented for preregistered AACA Senior and First Juniors, best of show stock and best of show modified, along with the Sonny Kress Memorial Trophy.

The first 150 registered vehicles received a collectors slate plaque and the first 200 were presented dash plaques.

The show is popular because it’s open to all vehicles, including antiques, classics, street rods, rat rods, modifieds, street machines, trucks, customs, muscle, 4X4 trucks and motorcycles.