San José Car & Truck Show raises $4,175 for Bishop Snyder Community Center
April 10, 2017 • Diocese of St. Augustine

by Joe DeSalvo

The second annual San Jose Car & Truck Show, presented by Key Buick GMC Hyundai Genesis, doubled its entries to 42 vehicles and raised $4,175 for the Bishop John J. Snyder Community Center at San Jose Apartments I and II on Galicia Road.

Photo by Joe DeSalvo

The event, held April 1 at Dupont Station shopping center, had American and foreign classics and modern-era vehicles judged in five categories by car enthusiasts and journalists Dan Scanlan and Bill Bortzfield of The Florida Times-Union and the Morris Digital Studio, respectively, who returned as judges.

Best in Show was a 1965 Ford Mustang, owned by Ken Byrd of Middleburg. The Best Classic American category was won by Charlie Greene’s all-original 1965 Mustang convertible.

Alexander Watkins’ battle-ready 1945 Ford GPW was judged Best Truck, while Dennis DuBois’ beautiful 1966 Volkswagen Beetle 1300 took the Best Classic Foreign category. Best Modern Era was won by Art Yates’ 1971 Mustang Mach 1.

Photo by Joe DeSalvo

The Krispy Kreme People’s Choice Award, voted on by show participants and visitors, was given to a 1957 Ford Thunderbird convertible, owned by Bill and Derinda Byrd of Jacksonville.

Bortzfield was impressed with this year’s field of dream rides.

“While the 2016 show was a great inaugural event, it was great to see the number of high-quality cars grow at such a fast clip in the show’s second year,” he said.

Monies raised by the show will help fund activities at the Bishop John J. Snyder Community Center — a self-sustaining facility, where seniors from San Jose Apartments gather for potluck dinners, health fairs, entertainment and other events.

The car show was coordinated by the San Jose Apartments board of directors and Family Housing Management Company. The St. Augustine Diocese formed the company to manage low-income, HUD-subsidized facilities for seniors.

Photo by Joe DeSalvo

“It was a well-organized great show – great people, great day of fellowship,’’ said Alma Ballard, executive director/management agent for Family Housing. “The residents enjoyed being out and were appreciative to see people of the community come out and support them in their time of need.’’

In addition to the Key dealerships, other returning show sponsors were Dick Erickson and Sun Tire; Krispy Kreme doughnuts in Mandarin; and Pepe’s Hacienda and Restaurant at Dupont Station.