By Jeffrey Broadus
The MIDFLORIDA Auto Show and Lake Mirror Concours is known for its beautiful lakefront setting, friendly atmosphere and gathering of some of the most unique collector cars in the southeast. Every year, on the third weekend in October, this festival takes around the 1920’s Art Deco-inspired promenade of Lake Mirror Park located in downtown Lakeland. It hosts more than 600 cars and welcomes more than 35,000 spectators, making it one of the most diverse collector car gatherings in Central Florida. In its 20-year history, the show has enjoyed sunny skies and has been uninterrupted by bad weather–but this year, that all changed.
Back to the Beginning
The most common question during this 20th anniversary year was “How did it all begin?” The short answer is that one man had a vision and one car collector was willing to support that vision. The visionary who created the event (formerly known as the Lake Mirror Classic) is Ford Heacock III of Lakeland, Fla., and the collector who made it happen, and who was also recognized at this year’s MIDFLORIDA Auto Show, was Al Wiseman. Heacock gives Wiseman all the credit for helping establish the Lakeland show as a high-quality classic car event. Heacock and Wiseman reunited to tell the story of how their friendship began during that first show in 1999. Wiseman heard about the event and immediately asked Heacock how he could help. With Heacock’s interest piqued, he carefully asked, “What pre-war classics do you own?” Fortunately, he had a legal pad handy and began writing as Wiseman talked at length about his collection, including brands such as Rolls-Royce, Duesenberg, Cadillac, Auburn, Cord, Mercedes, Lincoln, Stanley, LaSalle, Packard and many more. As Heacock’s page filled with a dream list of major classic cars, he interrupted and asked Wiseman if he could visit the collection. The answer was yes.
A few days later, Heacock stood amongst Wiseman’s private car collection and marveled that he had just hit the jackpot for his inaugural car show. He would now have to negotiate the tricky discussion of which car would be the most desirable – the 1931 Rolls-Royce Phantom II with a Merlin aero engine, the elegant 1932 Duesenberg Model J, the Auburn Boattail Speedster or the Stanley steam car. The choices were overwhelming, so he posed the question to Wiseman, “Which cars are you willing to bring to Lakeland?” Wiseman’s response left him momentarily speechless, “How many do you need?”
The idea of asking a collector to show more than one or two cars seemed preposterous to Heacock, but here he was with Wiseman offering whatever he needed. A new friendship was taking shape that day as both men found a common bond via the collector car hobby. By the time Heacock departed to head back home, he had secured 25 top-tier, pre-war classic cars for his new show.
As a Lakeland-born institution, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union has been one of the auto show’s most loyal sponsors from the start. Established in 1954 as Polk County Teachers Credit Union, MIDFLORIDA has long been a supporter of community events that bring people of all walks of life together. As one of state’s largest credit unions, MIDFLORIDA finances more than $500 million per year in auto loans, and since many of the show cars and most of the spectators live in MIDFLORIDA’s service area, the affiliation with cars and car enthusiasts just made sense. So in 2017, when Heacock decided to step aside from the monumental task of organizing such an event, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union accepted the reins to preserve the show.
Fast forward 20 years, the MIDFLORIDA Auto Show, like most every other event of its caliber, is rain or shine, and the credit union makes a substantial commitment to bring it to life each year. Planning begins two years in advance with MIDFLORIDA footing the bill to secure street closures and venues, including many city-owned parks and surrounding structures like the Magnolia Building, to ensure the three days of activities do not disrupt other city commitments and functions. It is because of this commitment that rescheduling the event to another three-day weekend is not an easily achievable option.
The event’s traditional footprint is designed to not only offer a unique and picturesque setting for both participants and spectators; it also generates revenue by supporting local businesses as well as the show’s recognized charity, the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County. This spirit of goodwill was the very foundation upon which the inaugural event was launched in 1999. Heacock stated, “Our goal was to build community rapport and showcase the beautiful downtown area that surrounds Lake Mirror Park.” Today, the MIDFLORIDA Auto Show is so popular in Central Florida, it has become the second-largest festival in Polk County as measured by the Economic Impact Review Board and contributes more than $5 million to the local economy.
A Threat to Tradition
Unfortunately, 48 hours prior to this year’s show, a weather system formed in the Gulf of Mexico that would change everything. The show experienced an all-time first when Tropical Storm Nestor became Post-Tropical Cyclone Nestor. The event endured torrential rain with 45 mph winds and an EF-2 tornado. The outer bands of Nestor had tropical-storm-force winds stretching out 240 miles from the storm’s center.
Given this information, MIDFLORIDA Auto Show directors were tasked with tracking a storm and mapping their next move. Organizers quickly convened and scheduled sidewalk meetings with city officials to weigh their options and make decisions as to what plan of action to execute. The best intel available told them the worst of the storm would pass Friday night and during the early hours of Saturday morning; however, there was still a 90% chance of rain on Saturday until early afternoon. In communicating with sponsors, vendors and car owners, the decision was made that the show had to continue. Chairman David Hand said, “Although the footprint of the event changed, we had to gather all our directors and develop a new plan of action, taking into consideration the safety, logistics and best communication for everyone involved. With this in mind, we had to create what would become the new plan … ‘Plan B.’” The goal for the directors was to ensure that participants, vehicles and spectators would be protected from the elements yet still have an opportunity to enjoy many of the cars and sponsor offerings that make this event so popular. Hand commented, “We were blessed with the outstanding cooperation of the City of Lakeland, Lakeland Parks and Recreation and the Lakeland Police Department.” The resolve for the event was in securing two neighboring parking garages in downtown Lakeland. The Iowa Street garage next to Lakeland Electric housed the Concours cars that traditionally are on display around Lake Mirror, while the Orange Street garage two blocks away housed all the show cars that typically line the downtown streets. The directors carefully mapped out how to arrange the cars and sponsors within the two structures, believing they could still present a successful, albeit smaller, event.
Once details started coming together, MIDFLORIDA Credit Union relied on the talent of their inhouse marketing department to implement a communications plan to keep the participants, sponsors and spectators updated with “Plan B” and the shifting schedule of events. They used channels such as Facebook, email, and the MIDFLORIDA Auto Show website to post and quickly disseminate information, enabling them to push out new developments as they happened. This became a key element in executing “Plan B” on every level.
The Show Must Go On
On Friday night, the weekend’s festivities kicked off with the traditional Budweiser Hot Rod Rendezvous at the Lake Mirror Amphitheater. The free outdoor concert usually attracts thousands of people to enjoy cars, food, and live music by The Broke, a local rock band. In conjunction with the concert and miniature classic car show, Heacock Insurance hosts a New Car Show where dealers unveil their upcoming models. Regretfully, this outdoor activity was cut short due to the approaching storm, but the party continued within the nearby Magnolia Building where the Budweiser-sponsored charity event hosted a Mission BBQ fundraiser dinner and a 50/50 raffle, with all proceeds benefiting the Boys & Girls Club of Polk County. Ford’s Garage of Lakeland was also in attendance and presented a check for $1,000 as a result of their “Give Back” night held the prior evening. The combined efforts made a significant contribution towards the Club’s goal of adding a new location in Bartow, Fla.
Saturday morning rolled in with a bang. The forecast predicted most of the storm would pass through the area overnight, possibly clearing by daybreak. That did not happen. The rain previously expected to move out of the area had stalled, and the rain was pounding so hard that organizers weren’t sure if anyone would come. It was impossible to predict how many cars would show, but the MIDFLORIDA Auto Show was committed to implementing their “Plan B”. By 8:30 a.m., the rain had slowed, and the show cars started to arrive at the Orange Street Garage. After an hour, the first two floors of the parking structure were full. By 10:00 a.m., almost 60% of the cars registered were in attendance, including Cobras, Mustangs, Corvettes, muscle cars, sports cars and American production cars.
On the Concours side, another crisis appeared in the form of finding a new Master of Ceremonies. An unexpected family situation caused the usual talent, Ed Lucas, to step down as the date approached. The show directors found relief in securing John Giltinan, the Associate Car Curator of the Elliott Museum in Stuart, Fla., to step in and take over. His knowledge, experience and public speaking skills were a remarkable addition, and saving grace, to this year’s event. As for the Concours show cars, many of the classics arrived in front of the storm and were either safely inside trailers or parked inside one of the garages overnight. This effort helped to bring in some of the most valuable and unique cars one would expect to see at a Concours d’Elegance, despite the intimidating weather.
Just as impressive were the vendors and sponsors who showed up to support the event and set up their own displays. These dedicated companies included Carlisle Events, Jenkins Motorsports, Ferrari of Tampa Bay, Ford’s Garage Restaurant Group, Fun Bike Center Motorsports of Lakeland, American Car Craft, Empire Collision Experts, AT&T, Bernie’s Auto Restoration, The Ledger and Blingmaster. In addition, the local dealer network participated in full force, defying the weather to bring their own vehicles to exhibit: Fields Automotive Group, Regal Automotive Group, Jenkins Auto Group, Mazda Lakeland, Lakeland Automall, Mahalak Auto Group – Posner Park Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep/RAM/FIAT and Alfa Romeo/FIAT of Winter Haven, and Dimmitt Automotive Group. The support didn’t stop there. Sponsors who were unable to attend but empathetic to the challenge of the situation continued to contribute, understanding there would still be considerable expenses. These companies included National Parts Depot, Zymöl Wax, Sun & Fun, Bomar Trophy Shop and Heacock Insurance.
At the end of the day, all things considered, the show was successfully executed and turned out to be a new and fun experience for all who came, despite all the changes and new footprint. Many praised the resourcefulness of the city and event organizers who responded so quickly to an unexpected crisis. Most participants went home with awards, door prizes and a goody bag full of sponsor products, brochures and automotive discount coupons. Spectators were shielded from the elements throughout the event while enjoying music; free popcorn, face painting and activities for the kids, courtesy of MIDFLORIDA; vendor offerings and cars galore. And keeping with tradition, once the rain cleared and the sun came out late in the afternoon, the Amphicars made their splash into Lake Mirror. For a complete list of winners:
MIDFLORIDA 2019 Top Auto Show Winners
AMERICAN PRODUCTION WINNER 1933 Buick 60-C Phaeton OWNER: Terry Richtmyer – Fort Pierce, FL ALL BRITISH 1967 Morgan Plus 4 OWNER: Larry Erd – Lakeland, FL TRUCKS 1948 Chevrolet 3100 OWNER: Gary Lurie – Fort McCoy, FL COBRAS 2007 Backdraft Cobra (REPLICA) OWNER: Brian Cheek – Lakeland, FL EXOTICS 1982 Mercedes 230 E OWNER: Randy Bayne – Lakeland, FL SPORTS CARS 1989 Porsche 911 Speedster Owner: Mark & Tammy Barber – Lakeland, FL RODS & CUSTOMS 1950 Ford 2 Door Convertible Resto-Mod OWNER: Dale Dinse – Lake Alfred, FL MUSTANGS 2016 SHELBY GT-H Executive Model OWNER: Richard Shick – Lakeland, FL CORVETTES 2018 CHEVROLET CORVETTE Z-06 OWNERS: Nils Blomquist – Lakeland, FL MUSCLE CARS 1967 Chevrolet Chevelle Resto mod OWNER: Tommy Smith – Orlando, FL
MIDFLORIDA Top 2019 Lake Mirror Concours Winners
Best-In-Show (Classic) Classics thru 1948 1929 Bugatti Type 46 OWNER: Robert S. Jepson, Jr. – Savannah, Georgia Best-In-Show (Non-Classic) Post-War Limited Production thru 1966 1963 Ferrari 250 GT SWB California Spider OWNER: Rare Wheels Collection – Windermere, FL City of Lakeland Trophy (Classic) Classics thru 1948 1929 Stearns Knight J Series Touring OWNER: Wellington & Janet Morton – St. Johns, FL City of Lakeland Trophy (Non-Classic) Post War Limited Production thru 1966 1953 Mercedes-Benz 300S Coupe OWNER: Guy Lewis – Pinecrest, FL * Also won Amelia Island Concours Award Reliable Carriers Trophy – International Sports Cars 1957 Volkswagen Karmann Ghia OWNER: Andre LaPlante – Auburndale, FL Polk Co. Sports Marketing Trophy – Corvettes 1966 Chevrolet Corvette OWNER: Dan Kiehl – Mulberry, FL National Parts Depot Trophy – Muscle Cars 1962-1972 1971 Plymouth Cuda OWNER: Nick & Cheri Copeland – McAlpin, FL MIDFLORIDA Credit Union Trophy – Pre-War to 1942 1942 Chrysler Royal Business Coupe OWNER: Mark and Hilary Becker – Jacksonville, FL The Ledger Media Group Trophy – Classics thru 1948 1946 Lincoln Continental Coupe Facto OWNER: David & Jean Bunch – Highland City, FL Heacock Insurance Trophy – Corvettes 1971 Chevrolet Corvette OWNER: Mel Mann – Miami, FL Fields Auto Group Trophy – Cars of Particular Interest 1965 Ford Indy Pace Car Convertible OWNER: Bruce Weiss – Melbourne, FL Budweiser Trophy – Post War thru 1957 1952 Nash Rambler Station Wagon OWNER: Eugene Francavilla – Jupiter, FL Gasparilla Concours Trophy – Trucks 1926 Ford Model T Truck OWNER: John Rogers – Palm City, FL Best-In-Class – Trucks 1967 Kaiser – Jeep Super Wagoneer OWNER: Michael Adams – Mount Dora, FL First Runner-Up – Trucks 1930 Ford Model A OWNER: Nivardo Mora – Coral Gables, FL Best-In-Class – Small Cars to 1972 1964 Citroen 2CV Indian OWNER: John Wallace – Lake Estate, FL Best-In-Class – Racing Cars 1964 Austin-Healey Sebring Sprite OWNER: Ford Heacock – Lakeland, FL First Runner-Up – Racing Cars 1925 Ford Model T Boattail Speedster OWNER: Dan Shields – Upper Sandusky, Ohio Best-In-Class – Pre-War to 1942 1930 Ford Model A OWNER: Laurence Rumore – Tampa, FL Best-In-Class – Post War thru 1966 1966 Dodge Coronet Convertible OWNER: Pat Mitchell – Jacksonville, FL First Runner-Up – Post War thru 1966 1966 Dodge Coronet OWNER: Pat Mitchell – Jacksonville, FL Best-In-Class – Post War thru 1957 1954 Buick Roadmaster 72R OWNER: Al Padilla – Miami, FL First Runner-Up – Post War thru 1957 1951 Kaiser Virginian OWNER: Paul Dempsey – Ocala, FL Best-In-Class – Post War Limited Production thru 1966 1967 Rolls Royce Phantom OWNER: Joanne Pistorius – Odessa, FL Best-In-Class – Muscle Cars 1962-1972 1970 Pontiac Trans Am OWNER: Mark Beeman – Auburndale, FL First Runner-Up – Muscle Cars 1962-1972 1970 Chevy NOVA SS OWNER: John Hansel – Lutz, FL Best-In-Class – Muscle Cars (Ford) 1962-1972 1969 Ford Torino GT OWNER: Tom Masotto – Osprey, FL First Runner-Up – Muscle Cars (Ford) 1962-1972 1969 Ford Fairlane Cobra OWNER: Chip Haberkam – Sarasota, FL Chairman’s Choice Award – Golden Anniversary 1969 1969 Triumph TR6 OWNER: Kelly Bare – Lakeland, FL First Runner-Up – Corvettes (Group 2) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette OWNER: Allan & Penny Weinstein – Sarasota, FL Chairman’s Choice Award – Golden Anniversary 1969 1969 Shelby Automotive GT-350 OWNER: Eduardo Padron – Miami, FL Best-In-Class – Corvettes (Group 2) 1963 Chevrolet Corvette OWNER: Robert Mangrum – Auburndale, FL Best-In-Class – Corvettes 1967 Chevrolet Corvette OWNER: Tom Hill – Windermere, FL Best-In-Class – Classics thru 1948 1942 Lincoln Continental 2 Door Coup OWNER: Leroy & Janice Waldren – Ft. Myers, FL First Runner-Up – Classics thru 1948 1941 Lincoln Continental Convertible OWNER: David Kurash – Lakeland, FL Chairman’s Choice Award – Cars of Particular Interest 1969 Plymouth Road Runner OWNER: Charles Carpenter – Seffner, FL Chairman’s Choice First Runner Up – Cars of Particular Interest 1956 Cadillac Superior Hearse OWNER: Chuck and Shelly Segal – St. Petersburg, FL Chairman’s Choice Award – Amphicars 1965 Amphicar 770 OWNER: Chris Granzow – Lakeland, FL Chairman’s Choice First Runner Up – Amphicars 1967 Amphicar 770 OWNER: Thomas Sciortino – Tampa, FL Chairman’s Choice Award – All British 1957 MG MGA Coupe OWNER: Jill & Glen Moore – Flagler Beach, FL Chairman’s Choice First Runner Up – All British 1967 Sunbeam Tiger Mk-II OWNER: Nick Kintner – Lakeland, F