MONTAGUE — The sun shining above beamed down on the hundreds of glinting vehicles below.
Vintage coupes, old school muscle cars, hot rods and trucks, but also motorcycles and tractors numbering in the hundreds parked at the Franklin County Technical School Saturday for this ninth annual car show.
The hundreds of objectively “cool” vehicles were flocking to the aptly named Cool Rides Car Show, where organizers handed out 25 trophies designed by FCTS CAD/CAM instructor Michael Therrien and made using carpentry and machine technology by his students.
“I think it went great and thanks to everyone for all the help,” said Jamie Noel, organizer and FCTS technology network systems engineer. “Also thanks to Brown Motors for their support.”
In addition to the cars — which Noel said have become more and more numerous each year, and are from all over New England — the free, rain-or-shine event included other activities, like an inflatable bouncing house, a petting zoo and face painting, as well as a 24-foot toy Hot Wheels cars race track, food and drinks.
“It’s car-lovers delight,” said Ben Wilson with a laugh, who brought his two children to see “what I hope they have some day.”
Wilson, who described himself as a “vintage car connoisseur,” said the wide range of cars at the event made it special.
“It’s not just American muscle cars or this or that. It’s being able to see everything, almost like different shows in one,” Wilson said. “You can turn a corner and see a beautiful orange Mustang right next to some old tractor. Whatever you like, it’s probably here.”
For what has become a yearly event at the school, Noel’s favorite thing to see wasn’t any particular car or coupe, however.
“The best thing is seeing all the staff and students working together, and the sea of yellow staff shorts walking around,” he said.
Reach David McLellan at dmclellan@recorder.com or 413-772-0261, ext. 268.