Bob Wildow of Penn Hills enjoys the open road and cruising in his 2013 blue Ford Mustang GTS.

What he loves more is to be accompanied by his son, Sean Wildow, of Plum and his red 2000 Mustang GTS.

Family moments like those are what help make the Oakmont Lions Club Father’s Day car show so special.

“Everything is good about it,” Bob Wildow said. “I love my son. Hopefully he loves me. We’ve been doing this for so long, it’s something we really want to do.”

The father and son, with their American-made manual-transmission sports cars, joined many others for the show’s 60th installment at Riverside Park June 18.

About 180 classic and antique cars of many makes and models rolled into the park. It was the second year coordinated by Sean Wildow.

“My father and I have been doing this for at least 20 years,” he said. “When they paused it in 2020 and realized the coordinator was not able to do it in the future, I would recollect of how much I enjoyed spending time with my father on Father’s Day looking at cars in a venue such as this.

“Just to see people walking up and down here with their fathers, with their children, warms my heart. I’ve never seen so many variety of cars in one location before.”

The annual event is a fundraiser for the Lions to support its vision-related programs and community efforts.

The club helps get seeing-eye dogs, glasses and other items to those in need. Donations were still coming in and it was unclear how much was raised.

Gary Rogers, club president, said having the show in a park separates it from most of the similar events.

“There’s a lot of car cruises, but they are in parking lots on blacktop,” he said. “This is grass. It’s in a park. People like to come here. They’ve been coming here for years. They set up their tents and sit together. It’s a tradition for not only the people of Oakmont, but for these car collectors. They always look forward to this car show.”

Oakmont native turned North Hills resident Ken Schaper, 69, took home Best in Show for his 1969 Chevy Camaro with a silver metallic paint job and red interior. He has participated in the show for about 50 years.

“I do these things for the good group of people and being outside,” Schaper said. “Anytime you win is just a bonus. I don’t go to shows with the idea to win, but if you do, it’s OK.”

Schaper said he has owned several 1969 Camaros in his lifetime. His latest, show-winning one took about two years to restore.

“The ‘69 Camaro was voted by the general population as the nicest, most popular car/design in the first 100 years of (General Motors),” Schaper said. “It’s just always a car that appeals to me. This is the fourth one I’ve had.”

Nearly 125,000 Chevrolet fans voted in 2011 naming the ‘69 Camaro as the “Best Chevy of All Time,” according to a report posted on GM’s website.

Other car show awards included participants’ choice, kids’ choice and Lions’ choice. Small trophies were given to first, second and third place. The event show also featured food trucks and a deejay.

More information about the Oakmont Lions Club is available on its Facebook page.

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