Showers Sunday didn’t put the brakes on the 14th annual Windham Auto Show sponsored by the Windham Athletic Boosters.

“It’s a little damp,” Deb Schkrioba, president of the boosters club and chair of the event, said Sunday.

She said the turnout was unbelievable, considering the weather.

“I’ve been hugging people as they come in,” she said after using a stick to push away rainwater that gathered in a sag in the tent over the car registration table.

Troy Peterson, of Durham, captured the Best of Show trophy with a 1970 Plymouth Superbird.

Entries tallied 269, down from the usual 400. Schkrioba blamed the rain, which kept away some convertibles, motorcycles and vintage cars not equipped with windshield wipers. But the show drew cars from as far away as Massachusetts.

Spectators braved the weather and umbrellas popped up when showers came.

“We come out every year,” said Mike Loring of Windham, who liked the Mustangs. “Rain or shine. It’s nice seeing the old cars.”

And the show had beauties. Wayne Usher, of Windham, topped the 1964-1973 Mustang category with his 1968 Mustang Shelby. Usher and the car have captured first place four consecutive years at the show.

Usher recently rejected a $100,000 offer for his black car, one of only 500 left from 933 that were manufactured. “This is a rare breed,” Usher said.

Victor Merchant, of Gray, finished third in the antique cars through 1949 his 1930 Model A Ford. Merchant said it featured a “Murray” body, one of only 10 left in the United States. “I bought it for a $100,” said Merchant, who did body work and painted it himself, transforming the car into show quality.

Merchant outfitted his classic with new tires but said it still required some interior work. “Not in bad shape for being 77 years old,” Merchant said.

The rain didn’t dampen the spirits. Merchant’s fianca, Crystal Peterson of Gray, attended with 2-year-old son Zachary Petersen-Merchant. Riding in a baby buggy with a hood and wrapped in a blanket, the young fellow was all smiles.

But rain kept Tom Winchenbach, of Friendship, busy wiping drops from the wax-clean finish on his poppy red, 1965 Mustang. Winchenbach’s car, which received a second place trophy, drew compliments from Usher. “Really nice, very pristine,” Usher said, calling it a unique vehicle.

Besides classic cars, there were vintage racecars, street rods, motorcycles and trucks, too – big ones. Gary and Brenda Pitt of North Windham entered two Mack trucks, a 1957 and a 1959 model, which won first place in the special interest category.

“We just love it,” Brenda Pitt, still armed with an umbrella after a rain shower subsided, said about the show. “You’ve got to enjoy it.”

The concessions under a tent proved popular with spectators. “Hamburgers and cheeseburgers,” Dennis Dubay of Windham Boosters said about the most in demand food, while booster member Tom Hanrahan flipped burgers on the grill to keep the crowd well fed.

The show on Route 302 in North Windham featured 269 cars and trucks in 28 classes. Vehicle owners donate to enter and spectators pay to see the collection. “It definitely was a success,” said Schkrioba, who expected income to be down because of the weather.

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