Few things bring back memories like a classic car.

In fact, when Ed Spedding goes to car shows, he often hears as many conversations about people's times in high school as about motors and paint jobs.

“They'll start talking about how they had one of those cars when they were young,” said Spedding, who is the active president of the Finger Lakes Region Antique Automobile Club of America. “People will stand around and talk about it for hours.”

There will be plenty of opportunities for that kind of nostalgia Sunday, when the AACA holds its annual car show. The show will feature up to 200 classic cars, which will be framed against Owasco Lake in Emerson Park.

Spedding's white, 1978 Pontiac Firebird is this year's featured car. While it may not be the flashiest vehicle in the show, it is unique because it contains almost 100 percent original parts, Spedding said.

“It's not the neatest (car) in the world, but it's something you can't buy,” he said. “I work hard just to keep it that way.”

The show will also feature a chicken barbecue, raffle prizes and a DJ spinning oldies. Show vehicles cost $8 to register, the car corral is $10 per car and the flea market is $15.

Trophies will be given for the top 25 classic and custom cars, and there will be a best in show award for both categories.

Bill O'Neill, a charter member of the local AACA, will not be able to win either award. His 1931 Chevrolet pickup won at one of the organization's past national competitions in Hershey, Penn. Once your car reaches that level, it has to retire from competition for a while, O'Neill said.

“I used to love to beat the Model A pickups,” he said.

O'Neill said the Owasco Lake show has grown since the first one, which was held in 1973. There were between 60 and 80 cars there, he said.

While this show has relatively lax judges, O'Neill said the AACA judges can be sticklers for the details. One time, his truck was marked down because the spark plug caps were not stamped with the Chevy logo, he said.

But working on the details is part of the fun of restoring old cars, O'Neill said.

“I've been attached to it for years,” he said. “I've worked on it all myself.”

Spedding said many of the car owners enter numerous shows throughout the summer. Enthusiasts can go to a new show every weekend, he said.

And while it is great to remember better days through the cars from past eras, there is also a sense of camaraderie among enthusiasts, Spedding said.

“We get a lot of people coming back every year,” he said.

Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net

If you go

What: Finger Lakes Region AACA Antique Auto Show

When: Noon Sunday, registration starts at 9 a.m.

Where: Emerson Park, Owasco

Cost: $2 parking

Info: Call 568-2579