Bessinger’s BBQ, on the right as you pass the rows of auto dealers going out of town on Hwy 17 South in Charleston. A family operated business that’s been part of the Charleston scene since forever. First Wednesday of every warm (ish) month is their car show. A great, low cost fun evening for the family, dinner included. We went there last night. It opens at 6, finishes around 8.00 or so. Want to see a cross section of the American auto industry through the years? Then go to Bessinger’s in West Ashley Want to see a concours winning vehicle that’s only driven in and out of a trailer? Then this is not the show for you. It’s a show for honest-to-God, down-to-earth car guys and their spouses with the occasional young son and daughter thrown in for good measure.
There was a 57 primrose yellow Chevy, 120,000 miles but never driven in the rain – immaculate! A 54 T-Bird, all cherry red and chrome (wife’s favorite). Model T, A, B and every Ford since, but with my choice being a sage green 62 Mustang convertible. Chevelles, Impalas, Trans Ams, Corvettes and El Caminos. There were stock cars and custom cars and even a nitro fueled dragster that roared as a latter day dragon. Hula hoops, Boy Scouts selling popcorn and grassy space for the kids to expend their evening energy on in concerted play.
There are the characters, Ron with his Edsel – had it for years, “my Father designed it. ” Now come on … your Dad – really? Well, yes actually, he was chief designer at Ford when we lived in Michigan then went to Europe and designed the Cortina. One vehicle lost millions, one made probably billions so they came out on top in the end. Jeff, who’s lived in Charleston all his life except for the time in England on the bomber bases in Suffolk – his thing was motorbikes, the ones you had to really drive rather than sit on and point. I remember an old chap last year, tall and thin with a Model B he’d had since new. Nothing lasts for ever and he was not here this year but his memory was. And so it went on all evening.
Then there is the judging and prize giving. The kids pick the tickets, their first taste of power. I took the Bentley and won a prize, but so did everyone else more or less. It’s not about the value, it’s about the enthusiasm, meeting old friends and having a little gentle fun at a slightly slower pace then most of our lives. The band were really good too!
Basically everyone wins something and goes home happy, hero for an evening until the light faded to darkness and it was time to go home with my lad, his prize in a tight little grip.
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