The History of the Amherstburg Gone Car Crazy Show

Amherstburg Gone Car Crazy Show — classic vehicles on display

Amherstburg's “Gone Car Crazy” Show is one of Southwestern Ontario's most enduring automotive events — a community gathering that has brought together classic car enthusiasts, local residents, and visitors from across the region for many years. The show's roots lie in a shared enthusiasm for well-preserved vehicles and the town's long relationship with automotive culture, situated as it is just a short drive from Windsor and the Michigan border.

The Paulie Award: Best of Show

Among the show's most meaningful traditions is the Paulie Award — presented annually to the Best of Show vehicle. The award is named in memory of Paul Renaud, a past member of Amherstburg Town Council and one of the founding members of the Gone Car Crazy Show. Renamed the Paulie Award in 2010, the trophy honours his contribution to the event and to the community it grew from.

The award has been claimed by an impressive range of vehicles over the years. The 2006 Best of Show went to Al and Kathy Barash for their Cadillac — one of the earliest documented winners. Since then, the award has recognised a wide spectrum of classic craftsmanship: a 1932 Ford Roadster (2012), a 1959 retractable hardtop Ford (2008), a 1941 Willys Coupe (2009), and the distinctive Fred Flintstone car built by Brian Mentley in 2010.

Recent Winners and Decades of Variety

More recent Paulie Award winners reflect the breadth of the show's participant base. In 2015, Lionel and Helen Caza of Chatham earned the award for their 1957 Oldsmobile Super 88 convertible. 2016 saw Ken and Gail Reder of Amherstburg recognised for their striking 1934 Buick Woodie. The 2017 award went to Ken and Shirley Mailloux of Comber for their 1956 Ford Thunderbird — a model that turns up repeatedly among show participants, testament to the Thunderbird's enduring appeal.

Rob Downie of Amherstburg took the award in 2018 for his 1936 Chevy Standard, followed in 2019 by Stephen Walsh of Harrow for his 1966 Chevy II Nova SS. The 2022 award went to Greg Underwood of Harrow for a 1964 Ford Thunderbird, and most recently in 2023, Carol Brisseau of London received the Paulie Award for her 1949 Ford Pickup.

Cancelled Years and Resilience

Like many outdoor community events, the Gone Car Crazy Show has not been without its interruptions. The 2007 show was rained out. The 2020 show was cancelled due to Covid-19, and 2021 was cancelled due to bad weather. These gaps are small in the long arc of the event's history — the community has continued to return and rebuild after each absence.

A Living Piece of Amherstburg's Heritage

The Gone Car Crazy Show represents something broader than the sum of its vehicles. It is a community event — one that connects residents across generations through a shared appreciation for machinery, craftsmanship, and local history. The show takes place in a town with deep roots in both Canadian history and cross-border automotive culture, and it has reflected those roots faithfully for decades. The Paulie Award, sitting in its trophy case each year before being claimed by a new winner, is as good a symbol as any of what the event stands for.

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