Shiny vintage vehicles will line up at the Cheshire County Fairgrounds

Shiny vintage vehicles will line up at the Cheshire County Fairgrounds on Saturday, Sept. 12, as part of ELF Autumn Fest 2026. The second annual event also marks the return of the Classic Car Show, which featured more than 100 vehicles in 2025. Autumn Fest will also feature Disc Dog Shows, family-friendly adventures, and a collection of craft and food vendors from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Winners of the Classic Car Show will be announced at 2:30 p.m. While the show highlights the cars themselves, it is also about the stories that come with them. Brenden Dow, of Rindge, plans to show his 1973 Chevrolet Camaro Z28 Rally Sport — which he's owned for more than 40 years and has a long future ahead with his family. When he was 14, Dow worked in his parents' autobody shop. One day, the Camaro rolled in completely wrecked. "It was completely smashed from front to back, and I was just completely infatuated with the car," he said. "The owner didn't want to fix the car, so I bought it from him for $3,500." Over the next two years, Dow gradually repaired and restored the car so it would be ready as soon as he got his license. "I immediately became the popular kid in high school who has the Camaro. I kept the car all through high school, graduated in 1983," he said the car took a backseat after high school. "I got married — had my son when I was in my 30s — and still had the car. Then when my son got older, I decided it was time to get the car back out again." Dow decided he wanted a T-top car one morning — so he cut the top off, got one from a different car at a junkyard and welded it on. He's made a number of modifications to the car since. The split bumper also makes it extremely rare. Through the ups and downs of different marriages, raising kids and general life, Dow's managed to hold onto the Camaro. "I don't know if I knew if it was going to be worth anything or not. I was infatuated with the car at a very young age, and I decided that I really wanted to hold on to it," he said. As his son grew up, Dow started taking the Camaro to car shows and regularly winning people's choice awards. One of his favorite memories with the car is with his five-month-old son at a car show. Now his son plans to inherit the Camaro, continuing the family legacy. He's now in his 30s with three daughters of his own. Dow said they're excited for the Camaro to be passed down a third generation as well. "They love it as much as I do, which makes me very happy," he said. "Obviously, when you pass away, you don't have any control over what happens, but it makes my heart feel good that they're going to take care of the car and perhaps keep it in the family for a long, long time." Showing alongside Dow will be Colin Lyle, of Keene, who will bring his 1971 Datsun 240Z. As he prepared to retire from The Keene Sentinel in 2016 after more than 40 years, Lyle began looking for a classic car he could enjoy in retirement. He had spent years restoring a 1967 Austin Mini Cooper S, but at 6-foot-6, the compact British icon was becoming less practical as a regular hobby car. That search led him back to a car he had admired for decades. While rallying in the 1970s, Lyle found success behind the wheel of a Datsun 510 sedan. The faster and more powerful 240Z remained out of reach financially, even though it was one of the few sports cars that fit his 6-foot-6 frame comfortably. "I always had this certain fondness or desire to get the 240Z," he said. His search ended with a Hemmings ad and he asked a friend in New York to inspect the 240Z for him. The car checked all the right boxes. Originally from Texas and restored in Miami, it came equipped with performance modifications and, perhaps most importantly for a New England classic, no rust. The bright red paint also connected the car to Lyle's rallying past. It matched the color of factory-backed Datsun 240Zs that competed in international events such as the Monte Carlo Rally and Safari Rally. "It has a number of modifications to make it handle better and drive more easily, including electrically boosted power steering that's controlled by a GPS sensor to provide the right amount of resistance at speed," he said. "That was installed by Don Taylor at Shelby East in Claremont along with a number of improvements to cooling, wiring." Lyle still races. While he'll be at Autumn Fest on Saturday with his Datsun 240Z, he'll spend Sunday in his Subaru at the Ascutney Hill Climb at Mount Ascutney, which is part of the Vermont Hill Climb Series. For both Dow and Lyle, events such as the Autumn Fest Classic Car Show are opportunities to share their vehicles and connect with fellow enthusiasts. While he won people's choice at various shows, Dow said that became less important with time. Rather, the experience was more about camaraderie with other people. "I like talking to the other people because obviously you all have that common interest in the cars, and it's nice to look at other cars and see what they've done, and then talk to people who are interested in your car," he said. Lyle said he's learned since doing shows that a lot of people have connections with the Datsun — either owning one themselves or previously knowing somebody who did. He also loves all kinds of cars and enjoys seeing what others drive. "I find a lot of people who had wonderful experiences, and it kind of brings back fond memories on their parts," he said. Those interested can register for the Classic Car Show on the day of the event. Attendees will vote on best car, best truck and best overall. For more information, visit keenesentinel.com/autumn_fest.