Cars, trucks and motorcycles spanning more than a century lined the Palmerton Borough Park during Pace-Makers Association’s annual car show Saturday.

The show’s profits are is used to fund youth projects within a three-mile radius of Palmerton.

“We have been doing this for 33 years,” said Lisa Shellhammer, car show coordinator. “All the money we raise goes right back into the community. So far, we have raised over $100,000.”

Andrew Cordell, president of Pace-Makers, identified some of the projects the group has funded.

“We bought the equipment for the playground here in the Palmerton Borough Park,” Cordell said. “We bought bleachers for the Towamensing Soccer Club, we just bought a blocking sled for the Palmerton Booster Club football program; we bought targets and other things for a local rifle club;, we’ve sponsored camping trips for Boy Scouts, just to name a few.”

The show is a fundraiser, but it’s also a chance to see some special automobiles and meet the people who own them, like Joe Curran of Lehighton who brought his 1978 Cutlass Supreme.

“I’ve had it for about 16 years,” Curran said. “I’ve been doing car shows since the late ’70s.”

Curran explained why he enjoys the car shows.

“You’re talking to people, looking at cars,” he said. “It’s a day out, to relax, and talk about cars. And you meet people. We meet so many different people and meet so many new friends.”

Another special car on display was a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro 1LT, owned and displayed by Beth McCarty from Easton. McCarty and her husband, Robert McCarty, started the car in 2018. Robert passed away a year after starting the project.

“This is Smoke,” she said. “She is a military, police, and first responder tribute. The engine bay and the inside of the car are signed by veterans and active-duty military members. There are over 1,300 signatures. And inside the back of the car is for police and first responders.”

Carol Bartholomew and Martin Clark, both from Palmerton, brought their 1936 Nash Lafayette.

“It’s got a small block Chevy 305, Turbo 400 transmission, and a nine-inch Ford rear,” Clark said. “We’ve had it for about three years now. I think it was the color that attracted us to it. It’s called ‘mystic maroon.’”

“We try to go to as many car shows as we can,” Bartholomew said. “Tomorrow, we have two shows.”

Steve Berger of Jim Thorpe had his 1953 Chevrolet El Camino, and offered a tribute to the original owners.

“I bought it from the original owner, Valley View Dairy Farm of Northampton,” he said.

Berger also had an original milk bottle from Valley View on display with the car.

In addition to the cars, there was a basket auction, several food and craft vendors, and DJ Johnny Searfoss. Dash plaques and trophies were presented to the owners.

Pace-Makers, founded in 1990, held its first car show that year as a way to raise money for recreation in the Palmerton area. The first show was a huge success, and the group was asked to make it an annual event.

Any group that provides recreational activities for children within a 3-mile radius can apply for a grant from Pace-Makers.

“We want to especially thank all the volunteers here today, and all of the sponsors for today’s program,” Shellhammer said. “Anyone interested in joining up with us to help us with our endeavors, we meet the first Monday of the month, usually at the Palmerton Borough Hall.”

Visit Pace-makers.org for more information.