Full-size Lightning McQueen star of All American Car Truck and Bike Show 2026

The star of the Midland American Auto Club 2026 All American Car Truck and Bike Show among the 300+ vehicles was a full-size Lightning McQueen.

The event on Sunday April 26 was the club’s 25th anniversary show on at their showgrounds opposite Kilbeggan Racecourse. It is the only gathering of American vehicles on the island of Ireland, it only happens once a year and it’s in Westmeath.

Another hit and a welcome returnee was Dolly Parton’s original tour bus, the Tattoo Lady, back after a long refurbishment but looking as resplendent as ever.

A huge Monster Truck also came back and was giving rides all day to an appreciative public.

Liam Moore form Crumlin brought down his three American fire engines and was giving demonstrations all day long.

One highlight was the son of the original trailer driver (called the tiller) of the 45-foot New York turntable ladder engine, who came to the show with photos of his father in that same cab in Glen Cove New York.

Robert Mizzell, country singer and Midland American Auto Club member, was there with his new to him 1950s Ford F100 pickup truck, fresh from the deserts of North America.

In addition to Lightning McQueen, there was a rare Chevrolet Monte Carlo SS NASCAR race car, which regularly competes at Mondello Park, and a tribute 1963 Ford Galaxie 500XL NASCAR, which has been featured in many magazines.

TV and show cars were out in force. Nickie Fagan brought his General Lee Dodge Charger and Stephen McGuinness his 1983 Pontiac Trans Am KITT Knight Rider car, complete with working digital dash, TV screens and flashing red lights along the front. Red and white 1974 Ford Torinos from the Starsky and Hutch TV series and five De Loreans from the DeLorean Club represented the Back to the Future film series.

American pickups large and small were there in great number, and there seemed to be more late model Ford F150s at the show.

Thomas Lacey of Laois brought his huge red Peterbilt pulling a 30-foot American travel trailer caravan with slide outs. It’s as big as a small house inside.

With the awning out on the side, Thomas entertained friends from the Laois area who came up with him in their Buicks, Dodge Challengers and Ford F450 pickup with dual rear wheels.

The Great American Steel Car Club came up from their Cork based in force with day vans to camp over in and cook out during the day, plus a good selection of Chevrolet Camaro and Pontiac muscle cars, Mustangs, Corvettes and a metallic green 1950 Pontiac sedan whose paint sparkled in the sun.

From Northern Ireland were the Jeep Cherokee club, the American Auto Club NI and the Simply Mustangs NI club, all there in numbers and all had a thoroughly good day meeting friends from all parts of Ireland.

Visitors came over from the UK too, including Hugh Lewis and his wife Shelley in their 1961 Chevrolet Brookwood Station wagon and caravan, who were camping and touring Ireland for a week.

There were some unusual classic 1920s and 1930 cars; stately old Packards, a Hudson Terraplane, an Auburn Speedster and a 1927 Essex Six.

American motorbikes were present numbers too, maybe encouraged by the sunny weather that week. There were so many Harely Davidsons, Indians and trikes that they overflowed their parking spaces by the entrance and had to use other areas of the show field.

There was a World War II Jeep, the usual big rigs, which sounded their horns and revved their engines to signal the end of the show.

The classes for kids with a professional art teacher to bring out their creative side to draw an American vehicle was as popular as ever, and the tables were packed all day while the parents took time to look round the show. Each child got a Cadillac Candy for taking part.

The outdoor and indoor autojumbles are a treasure trove for people looking for Americana, tools or clothing and restorers looking for parts to continue restoration projects.

There were food and coffee trucks to cater to most tastes, from the organic beef burgers and corn dogs, to cakes and sweets and ice creams.

To help create the American atmosphere ’70s American rock was played from the tannoy speakers, tunes people hadn’t heard for a long time, or even at all.

Club representatives would like to thank everyone who came on the day, the exhibitors, the vendors, and the hard working guys and gals of the Midland American Auto Club who organised it all and ran the show like clockwork.

About Midland American Auto Club:

The Midland American Auto Club (MAAC) is a large group of American car and truck enthusiasts who share a passion for owning, restoring and maintaining American vehicles.

Based in Kilbeggan, County Westmeath, Ireland (opposite the Kilbeggan Race Course), the club meets every Thursday from 7.30pm to 10.00pm in the summer and every other week in the winter. All are welcome, members and non-members. More information is available on the club Facebook page. The Chairman Joe Keenan can be contacted on 087 238 8400 or through PRO Nick Stratta on 085 828 9922.