By Zach Simeone

ALTAMONT — Car enthusiasts in the village are aiming to start a new tradition. This spring, the Altamont fairgrounds will host the first-ever Helderberg Mountain Nationals Car Show and Swap Meet. Its organizers hope that it will become an annual event.

“We just love cars,” said Richie Sanderson, a chief organizer of this event and a member of the Altamont Fair’s board of directors. “We’re hoping to bring people in from all over the country. The Rhinebeck show is a week earlier, and that’s one of the biggest car shows there is. We’re hoping that, after all those people leave Rhinebeck, we can make Altamont their next stop,” he said.

The car show itself will take place on Sunday, May 11, but the weekend kicks off with a series of free activities on Saturday. Vendors will occupy the fairgrounds all day, and a block party will drive the evening to its conclusion.

Beginning at noon on Saturday is the poker run. Participants will drive a 69-mile stretch through the Helderbergs, stopping to acquire a playing card at each of five locations along the way. Whoever has the best hand upon returning to the fairgrounds wins a prize.

As the moon rises, The Belairs will lay down the soundtrack for Saturday evening’s block party with classic tunes from the fifties and sixties.

At Saturday and Sunday’s swap meets, people will buy and sell spare car parts. Automobile aficionados will have a chance to find that final piece to the hotrod they’ve been building in their garage.

In the spirit of Mother’s Day weekend, there will also be craft fairs on both days, said Bob Messercola, a local car lover who is helping to organize the weekend’s happenings. He was instrumental in bringing together the Helderberg Mountain Nationals Pro-Staff, the group that planned the event.

“I don’t think Altamont knows how big this can be.” Messercola said. “We’re expecting people from all over the country.”

Also on the Pro-Staff is Bob Santorelli, former president and current vice president of the Altamont Fair. He came up with the idea of a car show in the village.

“I was up in Lake George when they had their car show in September and thought it would be great for the village,” Santorelli said. At Santorelli’s request, Sanderson got in touch with Messercola and began rounding up the Pro-Staff.

Sunday’s car show is open to muscle cars, classics, trucks, antiques, hotrods, and custom cars. Those who wish to submit their cars for judging must register their car between 9 a.m. and noon on Sunday. The first 200 cars registered will be granted a special plaque.

Car show attendees who seek nearby lodging will receive discounts at the Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Days Inn, all on Western Avenue. Limousine transportation will be available from the show to the nearby lodging, in case people want to leave their vehicles at the fair, Messercola said.

An anonymous panel of judges will select the “Favorite 50” cars; the owners of the winning cars will each receive a plaque designed specifically for the car show. “The awards for the ‘Favorite 50’ are beautiful, with a picture of the Helderberg Mountains and two cars on them,” said Messercola. An additional nine awards will be doled out, including the “Mayor’s Award,” “Commissioner’s Pick,” and “Best Paint.”

The real goal here, Sanderson said, is to provide an enjoyable, community experience that will leave residents wanting more next year. “We want the whole village to enjoy this weekend,” he said, “whether you love cars or not.”

For more information go to www.helderbergmountainnationals.com.