What a beautiful place to hold a tractor show! As we pulled up to park for the event we spied manicured lawns, colorful flowers and big red barns. Welcome to the Gilmore Car Museum grounds! The Kalamazoo Valley Antique Engine and Machinery Club held their 34th annual show and exhibition June 28-30, 2013. The feature this year was John Deere and Cushman, but all makes and models were welcome. Dan Yeck, club board member and chairman for the John Deere feature for this show, along with his wife Sandy and many other club members hosted quite an event.
There were 792 pieces of John Deere equipment and tractors!In addition to that there were many other brands and a good number of vendors set up as well!Â
This is a perfect spot for a show. Not only were there many exhibits, tractors and vendors to see but you can also tour the numerous barns and buildings on site to view extensive impressive collections of vintage cars, motorcycles, one of North America’s largest displays of hood ornaments, a replica of a Ford dealership and a recreated 1930’s gas station Station.
In my younger days, I loved the old 1967 Disney movie called the Gnome-Mobile. Well, apparently the museum founder Donald Gilmore and Walt Disney were friends and after the movie was finished, Donald purchased the 1930 Rolls Royce Sedanca Deville for the cost of the shipping. Walt then gave the original movie set of the car’s back seat to Donald and it is on display at the museum!Â
I couldn’t resist getting in the picture on this one!
It’s a nicely run show and an extra bonus to see the other displays on the museum grounds while you are there!There is a cool Diner on the grounds, which is an authentic 1941 Silk City diner that was moved from Meriden, Connecticut to the museum and they offered some refreshing items ontheir menu.Â
Next years’ show will be June 27-29, 2014. You can view info on the website at www.KalValleyClub.org, and also the Gilmore Car Museum at www.GilmoreCarMuseum.org.Â
See you down the road!