CINCINNATI, OH – If there’s one big fear that all car-show organizers share, it’s the unwelcome appearance of lousy weather on show day. Let’s face it: There are many enthusiasts who simply won’t take their prized rides out in the rain – and that surely hurts any show’s bottom line which most always depends on a good turnout. But sometimes a rainy morning doesn’t mean a washout for the entire day – and that was precisely the scenario for the Tri-State Mustang / Ford Club of Greater Cincinnati’s big show this past July. For 2022, the club marked its 40th year of hosting an annual summer show, and Beechmont Ford provided the venue for what is now known as the Bob Masraum Memorial Caw Show, in honor of a noteworthy former club president. But showers filled the skies on show morning, and right around the time show registrations opened at 9 a.m., a steady rain moved in and soaked anyone who dared to venture out of their vehicle or tent without an umbrella.

The club’s soon-drenched show team kept their spirits up, however, as they kept one eye on their weather radar smartphone apps, claiming that things will clear up by lunchtime. With only about 80 cars in the dealer lot’s display area by the 11 a.m. registration deadline, the decision to keep registration open and push judging to begin past noon proved a wise one. Once the rain moved out and peeks of blue skies appeared, more cars started rolling in while show visitors (the event was free to the public) began strolling the Beechmont Ford property to check out the mix of hot Mustangs and cool Fords. Tri-State offered dash plaques to the first 150 cars (and ran out, which was good news!), plus had door-prize drawings, raffles, a DJ and food trucks on-site. 

Ford Performance set up its Club Connect Meet & Greet tent near the Beechmont dealer showroom and gave away hundreds of free Mustang posters and Ford Performance wristbands just for stopping by to say hello. Ford Performance also hosted a Meet & Greet with Karen (Halderman) Koenig, the daughter of the late Gale Halderman (who was principal designer of the original Mustang). Karen offered for sale Gale’s book, “Mustang By Design,” as well as some Mustang 50th merchandise to help support the Halderman Mustang Museum in nearby Tipp City, Ohio. She and her daughter, Lauren, also had the honor of choosing the Best of Show Award, which perhaps not surprisingly turned out to be a spectacular black First-Gen fastback (one of Gale’s favorite Mustangs from his 40-year career at Ford).

In addition to tent duty on show day and promoting the Ford Performance Club Connect and Special Vehicle Registry programs (see www.FordPerformanceClubConnect.com for info), Ford Performance Enthusiast Communications Manager John Clor affixed some Ford Performance Recognition Award window clings to a few of his favorite cars he saw on display, Clor also strolled the show field to shoot photos of many of the outstanding vehicles whose owners braved the early rain to attend. See below to find some of his selection in the gallery below:

FORD PERFORMANCE PHOTOS / COURTESY JOHN M. CLOR