Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Good News York.
My name is Noah Chrysler and I am here today
with Badger from the Cavalcade of Cars. Badger,
welcome. Thanks for having me. Why don't you
introduce yourself? So my name is Brian Badger.
Everyone knows me as Badger. Obviously, that's
my last name. I am the operations manager for
Syracuse Nationals, LLC, the Syracuse Nationals
car show, the largest car show in the Northeast.
I'm sure everybody in town has heard of it or
been a part of it at some point. In 2025, we
acquired the cavalcade of cars Syracuse edition.
And we took that over and started getting our
hands involved in that. And we're coming into
our second year of cavalcade of cars. So we're
excited. Tell us about cavalcade of cars and
what can viewers expect? Okay, so the Jammers
Sports Bar and Restaurant cavalcade of cars is
a two door indoor car show, two day indoor car
show. Okay, at the New York State Fairgrounds
in the Expo Building. All right, it's next weekend,
April 18th and 19th we have over 200 displays
of cars, jeeps, trucks, bikes, customs, classics,
motorcycles. We have vendors. We have a pinup
contest. We have a charity pinstriping event.
We have stuff for kids. We have live music. Just
a whole bunch of good stuff going on, man. Awesome.
Oh, very cool. Cool. So it moves to the Expo
Center. Can you tell us about that? What you
guys expanded significantly? Right. So so, yeah,
so we first we first started working on the cavalcade
of cars last year in 2025. It was our first time.
uh, as, as owners of the event. Um, when I say
we, it's, uh, I mean the Syracuse nationals,
right? So it was the first time we started working
on this, on the cavalcade of cars and. We knew
it had a lot of potential. The only thing is
we're a little bit limited on two things, right?
So like the building in the center of progress
building where it's been held for the last bunch
of years, it's only so big, right? The other
thing was traditionally the dates have always
been towards the end of March, which anybody
in CNY knows, Syracuse knows that March means
snow. So we were heavily reliant on car owners
who could trailer their vehicle in or dig a pathway
out of whatever garage it's in and be willing
to drive it in in whatever weather we have that
weekend to come bring it to the show. So last
year we had a little over 100 vehicles and we
knew that if we kick the dates back a little
bit into like the second or third week of April
and we could move to the Expo building in the
fairgrounds. Brand new building, excellent lighting,
huge floor space. We knew that, you know, that
the potential was was was great. So that's what
we did. And we you know, we had to. we had to
cut off our registration sold out on April 1st.
We ran out of room. That building's 110 ,000
square feet. And I tell you what, as soon as
you start putting 10 by 10 vendor spaces and
10 by 20 car spaces and sponsor areas, the walls
shrink really quick. So we're pretty much maxed
out with space in there. We got a great show
about 200, like I said, 200 exhibits, including
vendors and sponsors and stuff like that. Very
cool. I love that story too, because it's like
you learned from the, you know, the year prior
to, you know, you learn you, you made some mistakes,
right? All the weather, you know, knocked us
all out. And so this year, you're doing it different,
right? You're moving it back. Exactly. It's one
of the things I tell people too, is especially
like with with a show like the Syracuse Nationals
that happened yearly in the cavalcade of cars,
which is going to happen again in 2027, right?
So if we come across a situation this year, where
we were, you know, at the end, we're like, damn,
you know, we if we tweak that by an hour, or
if we started moving people in it, you know,
everything is fixable for next year. So I tell
people if something didn't go right, right, the
the best thing we can do is the is we can fix
it next year and it'll be better, you know, so
we every year we learn, we're about getting bigger,
we're about going better going going bigger,
you know what I mean? And just taking things
to the next level. So, you know, that's what
we're gonna do. Very cool. So how long you've
been involved with this for a while? Yeah. Yeah,
how many years? So 2023 was when the company
that I work for started having the ownership
of the Syracuse nationals. They bought it from
the previous owners, the O 'Connor family who
have owned it since the you know, the day it
started in I think 1999 2000. Yeah, cool. Since
then, how much? What other things have you learned
that have kind of transformed the event? Oh,
um, you know, a lot of things, right? So we've
learned how to navigate through the attendees,
the participants themselves. It is a... very
demanding industry, right? The people who join
us for our show are our content, right? So they,
they technically make our show happen for us,
right? So I've learned, you know, just a lot
about relationships, a lot about friendships.
I've learned a lot of operational things, things
that I did year one things that we all did, you
know, the whole team. that we did year one that
we're doing differently now, you know, as far
as parking and entry and where we should have
people come pick up their credentials and, you
know, just things. Processes and systems that
make more sense. You know what I mean? So for
sure. Yeah, very cool. Very cool. Well, wonderful
Can you talk about some of these things that
are there people are going to see at the event,
right? So you've talked about live music You've
talked about the pinup contents, right? You talked
about the vendors, right? Can you tell me more
about that? Absolutely. So We have a stacked
weekend really at the cavalcade of cars starting
out on our upstate imports Saturday, right? We
have you know, a good buddy of mine, local talented
musician, Jimmy Falco, he's going to start the
day off on Saturday with the with a live performance
of the national anthem on guitar, right, Jimi
Hendrix style. So we start every morning of of
our car shows with the with the Canadian national
anthem, Oh Canada, and then we go right into
the Star Spangled Banner, right? We have a lot
of Canadian friends that join us participants,
attendees, you know, because we're so close.
So we We like to make sure we honor them and
then we go into the Star Spangled Banner. So,
Jimmy's going to kick off the day on Saturday
with the Star Spangled Banner live. We have our
friend Lori Ann. She's a Syracuse Nationals alum
over in the Spark East Rockabilly area. She does
a really good tribute to the oldies. She'll be
in her old school area doing that. We have...
Let's see, our buddies Hot Rod Ford and $2 bill.
They're going to be they're going to be jamming
some tunes on the stage throughout the day. Then
we go into our pinup contest. We have our charity
pinstriping auction, which happens all weekend.
The charity pinstriping happens all weekend,
right? People will be able to do that all weekend.
And, you know, one of the things that's cool
about that is is you can we encourage people
to bring something of their own to get pinstriped
or lettered, any type of artwork done, right?
Motorcycle helmets, laptops, mailboxes. Toolboxes
anything you know don't don't bring in you know
your refrigerator from the garage, but you know
bring stuff in everything goes to Ronald McDonald
house of CNY all all the proceeds right so if
you're looking to have something done for yourself
or for a friend or something if you're gonna
pay money for it it might as well go to charity
bring it to the show and have it done so So can
you explain to me more what that is? So so pinup
contest, I don't think I understood exactly what
that was. So the pinup contest, we have our good
friend Rosie Rockabilly. She is the facilitator
of our pinup contest. She hosts this at the Syracuse
Nationals as well. Right. So it only made sense
to bring her in for this for this show. She has
about 20 ladies that she that she you know that
she works with. They get dressed up pinup style.
They come in. It's I don't want to she'll probably
kill me if I say the words beauty pageant. But
that's the best way for me to kind of describe
it to somebody who doesn't know. You know, so
it's, it's very oldie style pinup style, they,
they ask questions, they have talents, they,
you know, and they get judged and, and they crown
a winner. So it's, it's fun. It's classy. It's
clean. It's not. you know risque sure it's it's
it's not a burlesque show right so um it's really
cool and it's something that fits the car show
vibe it's been a part of the car show theme and
the rockabilly theme for years so um it only
makes sense to have it no very cool i so that
actually does that i do actually understand what
that is i think the thing that you mentioned
is the pinstripes uh can you tell me more about
that right i didn't understand that okay so uh
we have a lot of local artists coming in yeah
um who specialize in all kinds of art, but especially
like painting, lettering, pinstriping, you know,
you see a lot of vehicles that have a pinstripe
design designed on the side or on the hood or
on the trunk. So all these artists donate their
time and their supplies to come to the show.
And we spend two days giving them space to to
create their art, sell their art, and all the
money goes to charity to local Ronald McDonald
House. Oh, very cool. Yeah, very cool. And so
you're saying I could bring an object. Absolutely.
That's what we encourage, you know, bring something
from home, tell them what you're looking for.
Excuse me, they will, you know, they'll they'll
decide. what type of cost and what type of labor
is involved in getting it done for you. And they'll
give you a price. And if it's something that
works for you, you can make it happen. There's
also going to be already pre done artwork there
on the table to look at some really nice stuff.
And it will all be priced, you know, accordingly.
And if if people see something they like, and
they want to, they want to spend some money for
charity, they can take that stuff home. Very,
very cool. Why do you think car culture is so
important to the Syracuse area here? Oh, man.
For me personally it sounds counterintuitive,
but I think it's because of the winter right
so when you think of winter you don't think of
You know the the car culture But I think it's
because we in upstate New York Spent so much
time cooped up in the house that it means so
much more to us right so As soon as April hits,
that nice weather starts coming. We're ready.
I have a custom vehicle myself that, you know,
we're all chomping at the bit to get these things
out of storage. And we also know that we have
a very limited time to enjoy them. Right. So
when it happens, it happens and we're all in,
you know, I can't I can't speak for people on
the West Coast or in down south in warm, warmer
weather states. But I feel like, you know, Cruising
around in in January in Miami in your in your
car is just regular everyday life, right? That
doesn't happen for us, right? So we I think I
think we appreciate a little bit more because
we know how valuable it is because we only get
a small dose of it. So that that's that's my
take on that. What a great observation. I mean,
that I totally agree with that. Right. You know,
I mean, most my dad is a mechanic. He runs Chrysler
Treasure Automotive over on Factory Avenue, and
he's a big car guy. Right. My last name is Chrysler.
You know, so cars are a big part of my my family's
culture. I don't know anything about cars. I
probably should. But yeah, no. You know, I mean.
Throughout the winter you store your car and
you know in a garage and then when you take it
out at the beginning Of the summer or the beginning
of the spring, right? That's a big momentous
occasion for him. It's always like a big momentous
occasion Yeah, for sure. And I think that's what
we're trying to capture too with the cavalcade
of cars being in April Yeah, everybody's ready.
So March everyone's still kind of down in the
dumps a little bit. There's still snow on the
ground people aren't ready, but you know I'm
looking forward to some nicer weather and the
salt being washed off the roads and we're gonna
set the standard for being really like the first
car show of the year to get people out and kick
this thing off. Fantastic, cool. When you're
at the show... I'm assuming that families come
to this and you probably have an opportunity
to see kids, you know, interacting with car culture
for the first time. Absolutely. Do you think
that this is a good way to kind of get the younger
generation involved in car culture and that sort
of thing? Absolutely. One hundred percent. One
of the things that we try to really focus on
is the family aspect of it, especially Syracuse
Nationals, first and foremost. And then we're
carrying that over to the same model with cavalcade
of cars. Right off the bat, kids 12 and under
are free. They're always free. Kids riding in
show cars. Up to 16 years old are free coming
in the gates with it with their parents, right?
So You know once kids are in inside or they're
at the show There's probably a lot of kids who
know what they're looking at, but there's probably
also a lot of kids who don't right So you don't
I don't think kids forget these types of experiences
And it could be the catalyst that kicks off a
whole different lifestyle for them, right? I
you know, they don't forget, you know I remember
the time mom and dad took me to the car show
and I saw a Mustang for the very first time and
I've been a fan of Mustangs ever since I remember
the time I first saw a big lifted truck with
huge tires on it, you know And I talked to the
guy and he let me sit in it You know, so like
things like that, they go a long way and I think
it creates a vision for kids for the future,
right? So they see what's possible. If A, they
have patience and B, they, you know, they, they
keep their head down and focused. They can, they
can have something of their own. That's, you
know, that's special. Yeah. Something to work
towards. I love that. I love that idea. Um, fantastic.
Okay, cool. We got some hot takes potential hot
takes for you. Okay, here we go. Cool. All right.
Are you a Ford guy or Chevy guy? Uh, I, I, I'm
a Chevy guy. You're Chevy guy. I'm a Chevy guy.
Grown up Chevy guy. But I, it's funny. I drive
a Dodge. My, my custody vehicle is a Dodge. But,
but yeah, I'm a Chevy guy. Gotcha. Cool. What's
the most? What is the most overrated car at a
show like this? You're gonna get me in trouble.
If you don't want to answer this, be honest with
you. Yeah, personal opinion. Most overrated car
at any car show is something that somebody buys
at the dealership a week before the show and
drives it in completely bone stock right off
the showroom floor. You know what I mean? Not
to say that it isn't special and I'm sure they
feel really good about it, but Just seeing a
bunch of cars that you can drive down, you know
what I mean? What? Genesee Street and see it
all the dealerships is yeah, you know, that's
just personal we you know, we do have lots of
of nice new cars that are that come from the
dealerships that are at our show. You know what
I mean? sponsors, things like that. They're showcasing
things that you know, for sale. The difference
to me is, is like, that's the business end of
things, right? Yeah, these people are car dealers
in their car sellers. Buying a brand new car.
With nothing done to it and registering it and
bringing it to the show and putting it there
It just died the pizzazz isn't there for me.
No for some people enjoy it for me I like you
know, I like things that are a little done up
or modified, you know, yeah, no I can imagine
I mean, you know, it's like it's something that
I think I've been to a handful of these car shows,
right? And you can tell, you can tell the person
that's been doing this for 30 years, right? This
is their favorite car, this is their favorite
thing, right? They've painted it a custom color
based on something from their life that they
love, you know? And they've got all the little
like, you know, little accoutrements in the car,
right? They've got the little locks with the
dice on it or, you know? And so I can totally
see what you're saying, right? With the brand
new cars off the lot, you know? It's like, yeah,
cool, you've got a lot of money, but like, do
you love this? The only exception, something
to consider is like, um young man who had a 69
Camaro uh in 1969 bought it new had it kept it
forever has grown old he can't sit in those seats
anymore his knees don't work he might not be
as mobile as possible but he still loves that
69 Camaro but he needs something with a little
more comfort so he buys a 2024 Camaro with air
conditioning and more comfy seats and you know
what i mean better steering and stuff like that
That you know, I think you know, there's some
relevance there absolutely. I'm still in this
I just can't do what I used to do anymore but
But yeah, what is one car opinion that you have
that might start a fight at the Nationals or
at the cavalcade of cars Any hot hot takes that
you've got hottest car take hottest car take
Don't know. I like I like the I'm not an old
muscle car guy. I'm not an old classic car I
mean, I guess they're classics, but I like gangster
stuff, right? Like I'd like I like the stuff
that I grew up watching on MTV You know, I'm
a lowrider guy. I'm a bouncing guy. I'm a loud
stereo guy tinted windows guy You know, um, you
know, I didn't grow up riding in the back of
a 32 Ford with my parents I grew up watching
dr. Dre and Snoop Dogg on MTV. So, uh, you know,
that's that's my I'll take something like that
over any of these other cars any day. A lot of
people. I get into it a little bit with people.
I have friends in the world that they have a
really old Cadillac and it's all stock and it's
all original. And I'm like, when are you going
to slam that thing to the ground and put some
wheels on it and tint the windows? No, hell no.
Or keep it at stock. I'm not doing anything to
it. I'm like, slam that thing to the ground.
Let me buy it from you. I'll buy it from you.
No. it to anybody who's gonna do anything to
it you know so you know I love I like to I like
to make them cheat up a little bit you know that's
my fantastic fantastic cool um beautiful for
someone who's never been to this event before
for someone who's never been to nationals for
or cavalclada cars right what would you say to
them why should they come and what is the experience
like when they get there listen I'll go back
to it. It's a family event, right? I mean, we
all know that it's tough out there right now.
You can't take your wife and your two kids out
for a Saturday for without taking out a second
mortgage these days, right? So to be able to
have $10 pre -sale admission tickets on sale
available to you and kids 12 and under free.
You and your wife or you and your buddy, you
and your sister can come out with the kids for
20 bucks and have a full day of live music, food
vendors, see a cool pinup contest, see a bunch
of cool cars, participate in the charity pinstriping.
It's just you know, it's it's something cool,
right? Absolutely. Fantastic. Cool. Where? Excuse
me. You're fine. Where could people find out
more? How can they get more information? www
.cavalcadeofcarscny .com Fantastic and the dates
one more time and April 18th and 19th we are
9 a .m. To 5 p .m. On Saturday the 18th 9 a .m.
To 4 p .m. On Sunday the 19th 18th 19th next
weekend, right? So yeah cavalcated car CNY comm
tickets are on sale now $10 pre -sale advance
tickets $20 pre -sale weekend tickets available.
So very cool. Well Brian, thank you so much.
Thank you guys so much for watching This has
been good news York. My name is Noah Chrysler.
Goodbye