2023 New England Region Cadillac LaSalle Club (NERCLC) Show

At the Residence of Dick Shappy Aug­ust 20th 2023

By Dick Shappy
 
"Best Of Show". 1954 Cadillac Eldorado owned by Colm Dunphy.
"Best Of Show". 1954 Cadillac Eldorado owned by Colm Dunphy.
 

Since mid May this year, it seems to have rained every weekend hindering all scheduled outdoor activities. Well, the rain gods were good to us this past Sunday (Aug­ust 20th) as the temperature was a low humid-free eighty degrees with a mild breeze here on Narragansett Bay. This was a great day and, based on the feedback that I am receiving, a good time was had by all. Cars and people attended from as far away as Vermont to the north and New York and Penn­syl­vania to the south. The videographer company "Left Of Creative" from Los Angeles was in town filming a reality TV show and was available to record this years show.

I have hosted this show here at my residence for the past eleven years with the New Eng­land Region Cadillac LaSalle Club which brings the region's best Cadillac and LaSalle cars here. Just before the show ended, I was asked by David Bellino, the director of Left Of Creative, what was the most inspiring aspect of today's show. It was the following:



 
1961 BMW R69S donated to 10 year old Ryker Shappy originally owned by his late grandfather, Bob Shappy.
1961 BMW R69S donated to 10 year old Ryker Shappy originally owned by his late grandfather, Bob Shappy.
 

My late brother Bob's grandson, 10 year old Ryker Shappy, was in attendance. Ryker is a very bright and enthusiastic little boy who shows great interest in Motor­cycles and vintage cars and is a true "motor head". Before the awards presentation, I brought little Ryker to the podium and showed him his grandfather's 1961 BMW model R69S Motor­cycle that had just arrived only days before the show after undergoing a three-year nut and bolt 100 point restoration by BMW restorer Richard Barsotti whose shop is in central Vermont. Brother Bob passed away in 2009 and never met his grandson Ryker but I am sure he was looking down at him as I presented this restored beauty to Ryker to own and preserve with the stipulation that he never will sell the Motor­cycle and must give it to his son or daughter to pass down to the next generation. I then told Ryker that this was the first show where his newly acquired Motor­cycle was displayed and I awarded him the "Best Motor­cycle" trophy.



 
Chifferobe TropiGals dancers.
Chifferobe TropiGals danced to the beat of the Teledyne band.
 

The Teledyne band played great tunes all day and the food trucks added a kind of carnival atmosphere. Midway through the show the Chifferobe TropiGals performed a '30s style dance and they spent the rest of the show mingling with show car owners. Twenty three trophies were awarded to car and Motor­cycle owners. See some of the cars and their awards here.

See video of the show here (15 minute video).