By Joe DeSalvo

Special for the St. Augustine Catholic

Despite eight other car shows taking place on a spectacular sun-kissed Saturday, the San Jose Car & Truck Show easily held its own on April 6 at Dupont Station Shopping Center, generating a record $12,152 for the Bishop John J. Snyder Community Center at nearby San Jose Apartments for seniors.

The ninth annual event, presented by Key Buick GMC Hyundai Genesis and North Florida Lincoln, surpassed the 100-car mark for the second-straight year as 103 vehicles of all types and eras, competed in nine classes. 

The community center, located between HUD-assisted San Jose Apartments I and II on Galicia Road, was named in honor of the late Bishop Snyder, who served the Diocese of St. Augustine from 1979 to 2000. Many of the activities and services for the senior residents are held at the center. The complex is managed by Family Housing Management Company for the Diocese of St. Augustine.

The San Jose Apartments board of directors and staff also secured support from additional sponsors and received generous donations at the show to propel this annual fundraiser over the $70,000 mark in total funding — $72,312 to be exact — since its inaugural show in 2016.

“It was a great show — great volunteers, great people just walking around, looking at the wonderful field of cars and trucks,’’ said Alma Ballard, executive director/management agent of Family Housing Management Company. “I felt the love of the people there for our mission. They were there for the residents and supporting the Snyder Center. They made donations; they enjoyed food. It just gets bigger and better in the hearts of the people who come; it just makes you feel good.’’

Eric Thompson, general sales manager for Key Hyundai and Genesis, firmly agrees.

“It’s been so exciting to pull into the lot and see people everywhere,’’ said Thompson, who brought several 2024 models from Key’s Southside Boulevard dealerships to the showattendees. “They’re so excited to see these new cars and new designs.

“And, to see the field of just over 100 cars is amazing,’’ Thompson said while scanning the parking lot. “I remember back when we started, it was 21 cars. And how this has really grown is a real testament to the car culture of Jacksonville and how much Jacksonville loves cars.’’

The one model that was an immediate eye-catcher was the totally redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.

“Santa Fe is over the top,’’ Thompson said of the well-appointed SUV. “I mean, everybody just loves everything about the car — from its interior to the rear deck that’s bigger now, and the third-row seats that are standard. It’s just a phenomenal car and a beautiful car to look at.’’

As for chief judge Dan Scanlan and two volunteer judges from Jacksonville Car Culture, they had the difficult task of selecting the best of the best in their respective classes. 

“Despite the fact we had a lot of competition [from other shows on the First Coast] out there today, some new and some old fans came to fill almost every single position,’’ said Scanlan, a veteran and award-winning automotive journalist and now news reporter for WJCT, who has judged all nine shows.

“And the quality; I mean, we’re also going to see a Volkswagen Puma — a Brazilian-built Volkswagen specialty car,’’ Scanlan said. “Where else are you going to see a Checker Marathon cab as a civilian sedan? That beautiful old Patina Model A. The lines of Corvettes; the lines of Volkswagens.

“It was just an amazing gathering of cars, including some real special stuff like that yellow Pantera,’’ he said with a smile.

That 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, owned by Eddy Vega of Jacksonville, was named Best of Show by the judges. 

Vega has owned the Pantera for six years, but never entered it in a car event. He only knew about the show that morning when told by his friend, Terry, who entered his Corvette Z07. 

Vega was impressed by the show and the field.

“It’s wonderful,’’ Vega said after receiving his Best of Show plaque, sponsored by A-Coin & Stamp Gallery. “It’s small, but it’s very nice. The people are gorgeous. It’s very good.’’

No sooner the ninth annual San Jose Car & Truck Show was in the books, when Ballard was asked about any initial plans for next year’s 10^th anniversary edition. 

“Oh, boy!,’’ Ballard laughed. “I don’t know. It’s going to be big one. Yeah, we’re going to have something new; we’re going to have something that everyone will think is just perfect.’’

Joe DeSalvo is the founder and honorary chairperson of the San Jose Car & Truck Show. 

Nathan Deremer, owner and CEO of Deremer Studios, created a photo gallery from the San Jose Car & Truck Show for Jacksonville Car Culture. Photos were taken by contributor David Grooms. Check it out at deremerstudios.com.

2024 San Jose Car & Truck Show

Award Winners

BEST OF SHOW

Sponsor:  A-Coin & Stamp Gallery

First Place: Eddy Vega’s 1972 De Tomaso Pantera

PEOPLE’S CHOICE AWARD 

Sponsor:  Krispy Kreme in Mandarin

First Place: Wayne Torbett’s 1960 Chevy Corvette

BEST CLASSIC AMERICAN – PRE-1980

Sponsor: Trad’s Pest Control 

First Place: Jason Mitchem’s 1957 Ford Thunderbird

BEST IMPORT

Sponsor: Joe and Mary DeSalvo

First Place: Adrian DeGalicia’s 1989 Nissan 300ZX

BEST CORVETTE

Sponsor: Chris and Tabitha Wilkey

First Place: Gary Jiminez’s 2017 Z06 with a Z07 package

BEST MUSTANG

Sponsor: Kathy and Jerry Weedon

First Place: Mike Smith’s 1967 Shelby

BEST MODERN ERA CAR

Sponsor: IMC Telecommunication

First Place: Jacob Kelley’s 2020 Chevy ZL1 1LE Camaro

BEST EUROPEAN

Sponsor:  Jack Corrigan’s Sol Pool Services

First Place: John Ubbing’s 1983 BMW 320

BEST EUROPEAN – PRE-1980

Sponsor:  Morgran Mini Warehouses

First Place: Rob Raulerson’s 1978 Puma GTE

BEST TRUCK

Sponsor:  Jason Miller, Morgan & Morgan

First Place: Harry Crawford’s 1991 Chevy S-10 SS

BEST TRUCK – PRE-1980

Sponsor: Walsh Investment Consulting Group of Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network

First Place: Skip Harvey’s 1937 GMC Pickup