LAKE GEORGE — Danny Koker has a lot of cars to count this weekend.
Known as “The Count” from History’s “Counting Cars,” Koker was in Lake George Saturday for the 25th annual Adirondack Nationals Car Show — featuring about 1,500 cars — at Fort William Henry Hotel and Conference Center.
“The level of cars, the iron that’s out here, it’s amazing. There’s such a variety of everything. It’s so high class cars. These cars are beautiful. The scenery is gorgeous. The people are totally cool. All I can say is I hope they have me back next year. I want to come back, seriously,” Koker said. “I recommend it. Whoever has never been to this show, they’re missing out.”
Koker, along with his friend and Count’s Kustoms manager Kevin Mack, was stationed at The Towers Hall as fans lined up for autographs and photos with the celebrity owner of the Las Vegas-based restoration shop.
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George Munsterman and Mary Brinckerhoff of Fishkill have about 30 cars. They started showing about 15 years ago at the Adirondack Nationals show, and since then the club has become like family, Munsterman said.
This year Munsterman’s “Dragula,” one of six drag cars made by George Barris, was on display at the autograph signing. Dragula has a body that looks like a coffin and was used for photo shoots.
“I want to restore it and get it back to running condition. It’s just been sitting for years,” Munsterman said. “We’re hoping we can work with The Count, that he might take this back to his shop and do it for the TV show.”
Henry and Sue Gagnon of Vermont said this was their first year at the show and they’re booking rooms for next year.
The couple never miss “Counting Cars” and got the chance to meet The Count. They figured it wouldn’t hurt to tell him about their ‘71 Plymouth Cuda.
“I just gave him a photograph of my vehicle with my number on the back. We’re trying to get him to restore it for us,” Henry said.
Koker said he’s always looking to buy.
“I just haven’t had much time right now, but I always keep my eyes peeled,” Koker said. “There’s a few out there that got my attention, but I’ve got to behave.”
The show’s Chairman George Rochester said he’s amazed how much the event has grown since the first show 25 years ago at the Ramada Inn in Glens Falls.
“Our first one we had 276 cars,” Rochester said. “Our second was here, and we were limited with how many cars they’d allow us to put on the lawn, so it’s grown since then. Never ever thought it would be this big.”
Last year attendance topped 12,000 people with about 1,400 cars registered. This year organizers expected about 1,500 cars and between 10,000 to 15,000 people.
Rochester said organizers will have a count after the show. The village was packed Saturday with spectators seated on blankets and lawn chairs along Route 9 to watch the cars go by.
The show also staged a morning and nightly cruise down Canada Street.
With this year marking a quarter century for the show, Rochester said fireworks were also staged two nights and more than 100 awards were up for grabs.
“It’s all work for us, but we get to see the cars and creations that people make,” Rochester said.
The club has about 40 members, and there’s a core group of 15 to 17 people who put the show together, Rochester said.
The show also is made possible by volunteers and four main players who organize it, including Rochester, Mike Kilmer, Kenny Williams and President Mark Ingleston.
“They’re the best. They do really good,” Rochester said.
Also, the show raises thousands of dollars for charity. This year the Double H Hole in the Woods Ranch will be given at least $10,000.
In the past, groups such as the American Cancer Society and Wounded Warriors have benefited. There are also give college scholarships.
“The money we make here goes to real good things,” Rochester said.
The event continues from 8 a.m. to noon Sunday.