Tag Archives: hood ornament

Bellmore, New York, U.S. July 30, 2021. Cardboard cutout of movie star Burt Reynolds holds up fingers making ‘V for Victory’ sign from driver’s window of 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo 4.8, at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, held at the Bellmore Long Island Rail Road parking lot, with hundreds of visitors enjoying classic and customized cars and pleasant summer weather. (© 2021 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Bellmore Friday Night (Lights) Car Show

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
August 2, 2021

Classic cars light up the town

. WHEN: Fridays, 6-10 PM, May 15th through October 1, 2021, weather permitting  [2022 UPDATE:  Fridays, May 6th through October 7, 2022]
. WHERE: Bellmore Long Island Rail Road parking lot
. ADMISSION: Walk through = Free • Parked car = $5
. HOST: Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores

“Bellmore, New York, U.S. July 30, 2021. A classic black 1955 Chevrolet with airplane hood ornament, and ONEHOT55 license plate, gleams during sunset at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. A classic black 1955 Chevrolet with airplane hood ornament, and ONEHOT55 license plate, gleams during sunset at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Friday night, July 30th, brought unusually comfortable, cool weather, and Bob and I were fully vaccinated for Covid-19, so we visited the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show for the first time since 2019.


1959 Chevrolet Apache picks up L.I. spirits

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. RUSS KOHLER of Seaford is sitting in driver's seat of his orange 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache truck at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. RUSS KOHLER of Seaford sits in driver’s seat of his orange 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache truck at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry, AnnParry.com)

Past sunset, I noticed an awesome orange 1959 Chevy Apache, with its owner, RUSS KOHLER, of Seaford, sitting in the driver’s seat, with his face lit by the instrument panel lights.

Through various non-profit events, Kohler uses his classic car to bring cheer to his fellow Long Islanders, and driving it in birthday car parades struck me most powerfully.

Starting in 2020, when the Covid-19 pandemic first struck Long Island, Kohler put a big Happy Birthday banner on the side of his truck while joining many dozens of birthday car parades, helping people celebrate without the risk of spreading or catching the virus.

Covid-19 has killed over 600,000 Americans, but “more than 99.99% of people fully vaccinated against Covid-19 have not had a breakthrough case resulting in hospitalization or death, according to the latest data from the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.” –  CNN, August 2, 2021

However, children under 12 aren’t eligible to get the vaccination, so their Covid-19 prevention options are to wear a mask and socially distance. My grandsons and granddaughter are all under 12 – one is nearly 12 years younger than that.

Those who can and do choose to get vaccinated, wear a mask, and socially distance are the truest good neighbors possible to those who cannot choose to get the Covid-19 vaccination – whether they live together or half way around the world from each other.

“At the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, RUSS KOHLER of Seaford shows, on his mobile phone, a video of his 1959 Chevrolet 3100 Apache truck the person he bought it from sent him. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. At the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, RUSS KOHLER of Seaford shows, on his mobile phone, a video of his 1959 Chevrolet Apache truck the Texas owner he bought it from sent him. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)


Polaris Slingshot autocar – 3 wheels & a pinup

“Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. A Polaris Slingshot, a three-wheel autocar, is colorfully lit and has a WWII sailor pin up girl illustration on hood, at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. A Polaris Slingshot, a three-wheel autocar, is colorfully lit and has a WWII sailor pin up girl illustration on hood, at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)


1984 Buick Regal – flat out of luck?

“Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. A blue 1984 Buick Regal has eye-catching driver’s side front wheel in air and a passenger side front flat tire, and the license plate DAVESSAL, at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)

Bellmore, NY, U.S. July 30, 2021. A blue 1984 Buick Regal has an eye-catching flat tire on front passenger’s side, and wheel high in air on front driver’s side, at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)


FEATURE PHOTO Smokey and the Bandit (at top of post): Bellmore, NY, USA. July 30, 2021. Cardboard cutout of Burt Reynolds making a ‘V for Victory’ sign, at driver’s window of black 1981 Pontiac Trans Am Turbo 4.8 is at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2021 Ann Parry/AnnParry.com)


Bellmore Friday Night Car Show 2021:  my PHOTO GALLERY

Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores:  SITE JOIN

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Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows 2

From LONG ISLAND – by Ann Parry (ann-parry.com)
August 17, 2017

Last Friday, my friend Bob and I walked out of International Delight Cafe where we had dinner, and plunged into the tide of cars, motorcycles and fellow walkers heading to the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show at the Bellmore LIRR Station parking lot.

    • UPDATE: see 2019 Schedule for Friday Night Car Shows at end of post
Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. Hood ornament closeup is shown of 1938 Pontiac 2-door sedan parked at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA.  August 11, 2017. Shown is hood ornament of 1938 Pontiac 2-door sedan at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Before long, we were in a colorful sea of parked cars and enjoying the breezy evening. Then we met up with friends and started to explore.

As usual, I spent most of my time lingering at just a few cars, so I could pay careful attention to them, and chat with their owners when possible.

  • Click on each photo below for larger view 
Bellmore, New York, USA. August 11, 2017. Red RAM lifted underlit truck drives past onlookers at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 11, 2017. Red RAM lifted underlit truck drives past onlookers at the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

1958 Oldsmobile “Bugmobile”

“Bugsy” is embroidered on FRANK MARTOCCI‘s  green cap, which matches the color of the 1958 Oldsmobile Super 88 4-door sedan he fondly calls his “Bugmobile.”

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. FRANK MARTOCCI, of Bellmore is owner of green Oldsmobile, 1958. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA. August 11, 2017. FRANK MARTOCCI, of Bellmore, owns the green Bugsmobile 1958 Oldsmobile at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2017 Ann Parry, Ann-Parry.com)

What first drew my attention to Martocci’s classic Oldsmobile were the colorful plastic cheeseburger, ketchup and mustard bottles on the food tray suspended from the passenger window partly rolled down – but it just as easily could have been the colorful plastic bugs strewn on the car’s exterior and top of the cheeseburger.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. Chrome hood ornament is seen closeup of green 1958 Oldsmobile, owned by Frank Martocci, of Bellmore, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. Marocci calls the classic car his Bugmobile. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. Chrome hood ornament is seen closeup of green 1958 Oldsmobile, owned by Frank Martocci, of Bellmore, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. Martocci calls the classic car his Bugmobile. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

The Bugsmobile is the first and only car Martocci has ever had. He used it for his driver’s license Road Test, and by next month, September 2017, he’ll have had it for 40 years.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. At Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, Frank Martocci, of Bellmore, is owner of Bugmobile, owner of green Oldsmobile, 1958, with left taillight shown in detail where chrome piece is swung open to reveal opening the gas is put in tank. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. To fill tank with gas, chrome piece swings open on left tail light of 1958 Oldsmobile owned by FRANK MARTOCCI, at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show  (© 2107 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

1967 Volkswagon Wunderbug Woody

MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, is the artistic owner of the 1967 Volkswagen Wunderbug Woody Wagon that drew lots of appreciative attention from visitors.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017.  At right, MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, owner of 1967 Wunderbug Volkswagen, and BRYAN RICHHEIMER, of Vermont, chat at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017.  At right, MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, owner of 1967 Wunderbug Volkswagen, and BRYAN RICHHEIMER, a bird sculptor from Vermont, chat at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Woodys, with their golden warm panels, are innately handsome vehicles, and Radomski customized his with flare.

The wooden roof luggage rack carries three surfboards with natural wood finish. He told how a man so loved this look during an earlier car show that he asked if Radomski would bring the wagon to the man’s beach party.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. At Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, is the owner of Wunderbug Woody Volkswagen, with homemade angel hood ornament. Elevated tracks of Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station are seen in background. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. At Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, owns Wunderbug Woody Volkswagen. Elevated tracks of Bellmore Long Island Rail Road station are in background. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Radomski covered the Wunderbug hood in colorful floral fabric of earthy red yellow and greens. And I was fascinated by the trumpeting angel hood ornament he handmade from three silver forks, a 10-penny nail and a washer!

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017.  At right, MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, owner of 1967 Wunderbug Volkswagen, and BRYAN RICHHEIMER, of Vermont, chat at Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. RADOMSKI made angel hood ornament made from 3 silver forks, 10 penny nail, and a washer. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, NY, USA.  Aug. 11, 2017.  MIKE RADOMSKI, of Valley Stream, the owner of 1967 Wunderbug Volkswagen, made angel hood ornament. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

And, yes, the Woody Wagon got to go to the beach party :)

Going & Coming

Around 8:30 pm, we left to head back to IDC for some homemade gelato, and passed the ever-alert volunteers from the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Nassau Auxiliary police guiding the steady stream of cars into the parking lot.

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 11, 2017. Members of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and Nassau County Auxiliary Police wear yellow neon reflective safety vests as they guide cars into the main lot of the Long Island Rail Road Bellmore Train Station parking lot where the Bellmore Friday Night Car Show is held. (Ann Parry/Ann Parry, ann-parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. August 11, 2017. Members of the Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and Nassau County Auxiliary Police wear safety vests as they guide cars into LIRR Bellmore Train Station parking lot for Bellmore Friday Night Car Show. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

We each had the fun challenge of choosing one of the 80 or so flavors of gelato. For me, chatting with new and old friends while eating a scoop of chocolate chip gelato on a gluten-free waffle was a great way to end that summer night in Bellmore.

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. Motorcyclist locks up her parked Harley Davidson motorcycle parked with other motorcycles across the street from Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. (Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)

Bellmore, New York, USA. 11th August 2017. Motorcyclist locks up her parked Harley Davidson motorcycle parked with other motorcycles across the street from Bellmore Friday Night Car Show, in parking lot of LIRR Bellmore station. (© 2017 Ann Parry/Ann-Parry.com)


Just the Facts

WHEN:  Weekly meets from MAY 12 to OCT. 6, 2017, from 6 PM – 10 PM (weather permitting)

WHERE:  Bellmore LIRR parking lot on Sunrise Highway (between Bellmore Ave. & Bedford Ave.)

INFObellmorechamber.com   (516)-679-1875 – The Chamber of Commerce of the Bellmores and the Town of Hempstead host Friday Night Bellmore Car Shows


UPDATE:  2019 Schedule

Weekly Friday meets from MAY 3 to OCT. 4, 2019, from 6 PM -10 PM (weather permitting)


2017 Bellmore Friday Night Car Shows:   GALLERY

CONTACT ME