The Adirondack Nationals car show roared into Lake George yesterday, drawing thousands of car enthusiasts to the Village to admire the vintage autos and revel in the excitement of revving engines, loud exhausts and meticulously restored pre-1980 vehicles. It was a step back in time. Even without the vehicles, the warm weather and throngs of people packing the Village recalled midsummer, as if Labor Day had never happened. Then a ‘72 Chevelle drives past, followed by a ’56 Bel Air, and then a Studebaker. The time traveler is now in a different century.
The Adirondack Nationals, now in its 26th year, brings back a time before cars were made of plastic and the check engine light was an irritation yet to come. The highlight of the annual car show, and the feature that makes this show unique, is the Friday and Saturday night cruises. Vehicle owners registered with the car show parade their vehicles through the Village 7 p.m. through 10 p.m. on both nights.
At last night’s cruise, exhaust fumes permeated the air, an environmentalist’s nightmare, but the thick clouds of exhaust seemed to add to the excitement. Vehicle after vehicle paraded past the crowds that lined the route, spectators standing four-deep for the mile-long stretch along Canada Street. This year, the cruise route ran on Canada Street between Birch Avenue at the south end of the Village and Mountain Drive at the north end. The route is a change from previous years.
In the past, the parade loop ran along Beach Road to Canada Street, leaving the south end of Canada Street (State Route 9) empty during the three-hour cruise. The open road had become an unofficial area for “burn out” shows with drivers not registered with the car show spinning out in the center of the street to cheering crowds. Last year’s show raised serious concerns that careening vehicles could injure or kill spectators. The change in parade route, and a strong presence by the Warren County Sheriff’s Department, appears to have reduced the problem this year.
The Village of Lake George instituted a new traffic plan designed to leave the Village side streets open for emergency vehicles. Once all legal parking spots on the back streets are filled, which usually is by 5 p.m., Village employees will man barricades allowing only local traffic west of Ottawa Street. Vehicles entering the Village via exit 21 of the Northway will be diverted down Route 9L once the parade has begun.
While parking was tight Friday night, there were spots to be found. The Presbyterian and Episcopal churches on Montcalm Street, and the Catholic Church on Mohican, have opened their parking lots and lawns for all-day parking at $10 a car. Additionally, the state parking lot at Million Dollar Beach on Beach Road is open for parking all weekend.
The car show continues through Sunday with the Winners Awards Show from 9 a.m. to noon. Spectators may register for admission to vending sites and show events at the Fort William Henry Resort on Canada Street. Admission is $10 for the entire weekend; children 12 and younger admitted free. Weather permitting, a fireworks display over the lake is schedule to shoot off at 10 p.m. tonight following the auto show cruise. Spectators are warned to expect traffic delays and urged to park only in legal spots. Illegally parked vehicles will be towed.