San Jose Car & Truck Show nets $12,152 for Bishop Snyder Center for senior residents

By Joe DeSalvo

Special for the St. Augustine Catholic

Despite eight other car shows taking place on a spectacular sun-kissed Saturday, the San Jose Car & Truck Show easily held its own on April 6 at Dupont Station Shopping Center, generating a record $12,152 for the Bishop John J. Snyder Community Center at nearby San Jose Apartments for seniors.

The ninth annual event, presented by Key Buick GMC Hyundai Genesis and North Florida Lincoln, surpassed the 100-car mark for the second-straight year as 103 vehicles of all types and eras, competed in nine classes.

The community center, located between HUD-assisted San Jose Apartments I and II on Galicia Road, was named in honor of the late Bishop Snyder, who served the Diocese of St. Augustine from 1979 to 2000. Many of the activities and services for the senior residents are held at the center. The complex is managed by Family Housing Management Company for the Diocese of St. Augustine.

The San Jose Apartments board of directors and staff also secured support from additional sponsors and received generous donations at the show to propel this annual fundraiser over the $70,000 mark in total funding — $72,312 to be exact — since its inaugural show in 2016.

“It was a great show — great volunteers, great people just walking around, looking at the wonderful field of cars and trucks,’’ said Alma Ballard, executive director/management agent of Family Housing Management Company. “I felt the love of the people there for our mission. They were there for the residents and supporting the Snyder Center. They made donations; they enjoyed food. It just gets bigger and better in the hearts of the people who come; it just makes you feel good.’’

Eric Thompson, general sales manager for Key Hyundai and Genesis, firmly agrees.

Photo by JOE DE SALVO: Key Hyundai Genesis General Sales Manager Eric Thompson was proud to show off the totally redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe to San Jose Car & Truck Show attendees.

“It’s been so exciting to pull into the lot and see people everywhere,’’ said Thompson, who brought several 2024 models from Key’s Southside Boulevard dealerships to the showattendees. “They’re so excited to see these new cars and new designs.

“And, to see the field of just over 100 cars is amazing,’’ Thompson said while scanning the parking lot. “I remember back when we started, it was 21 cars. And how this has really grown is a real testament to the car culture of Jacksonville and how much Jacksonville loves cars.’’

The one model that was an immediate eye-catcher was the totally redesigned 2024 Hyundai Santa Fe.

“Santa Fe is over the top,’’ Thompson said of the well-appointed SUV. “I mean, everybody just loves everything about the car — from its interior to the rear deck that’s bigger now, and the third-row seats that are standard. It’s just a phenomenal car and a beautiful car to look at.’’

As for chief judge Dan Scanlan and two volunteer judges from Jacksonville Car Culture, they had the difficult task of selecting the best of the best in their respective classes.

“Despite the fact we had a lot of competition [from other shows on the First Coast] out there today, some new and some old fans came to fill almost every single position,’’ said Scanlan, a veteran and award-winning automotive journalist and now news reporter for WJCT, who has judged all nine shows.

“And the quality; I mean, we’re also going to see a Volkswagen Puma — a Brazilian-built Volkswagen specialty car,’’ Scanlan said. “Where else are you going to see a Checker Marathon cab as a civilian sedan? That beautiful old Patina Model A. The lines of Corvettes; the lines of Volkswagens.

“It was just an amazing gathering of cars, including some real special stuff like that yellow Pantera,’’ he said with a smile.

That 1972 De Tomaso Pantera, owned by Eddy Vega of Jacksonville, was named Best of Show by the judges.

Photo by JOE DE SALVO: Eddy Vega’s sleek 1972 De Tomaso Pantera mid-engine sports car earned Best of Show honors at the San Jose Car & Truck Show.

Vega has owned the Pantera for six years, but never entered it in a car event. He only knew about the show that morning when told by his friend, Terry, who entered his Corvette Z07.

Vega was impressed by the show and the field.

“It’s wonderful,’’ Vega said after receiving his Best of Show plaque, sponsored by A-Coin & Stamp Gallery. “It’s small, but it’s very nice. The people are gorgeous. It’s very good.’’

No sooner the ninth annual San Jose Car & Truck Show was in the books, when Ballard was asked about any initial plans for next year’s 10^th anniversary edition.

“Oh, boy!,’’ Ballard laughed. “I don’t know. It’s going to be big one. Yeah, we’re going to have something new; we’re going to have something that everyone will think is just perfect.’’

Joe DeSalvo is the founder and honorary chairperson of the San Jose Car & Truck Show.

Nathan Deremer, owner and CEO of Deremer Studios, created a photo gallery from the San Jose Car & Truck Show for Jacksonville Car Culture. Photos were taken by contributor David Grooms. Check it out at deremerstudios.com.