MANILA, Philippines - Ortigas Home Depot Complex has fast become a place for holding auto shows and car club gatherings, fondly called “EB’s” or “eyeball events”. With its expansive parking and wide choice of restaurants and bars in the vicinity, these events are reminiscent of festive open car park gatherings of the 1980s where car enthusiasts gather together in commercial parking lots to showcase their cars and visitors are expected to mingle with the car owners, have their photos taken beside these rarely seen cars. Unlike most indoor car shows, these cars will not be cordoned off and visitors can view these cars up close.
For those who follow ESPN Star Sports coverage of F1 Races, Race Commentator Steve Slater who was on tour in Manila to promote the Singapore Grand Prix on the same weekend, visited the event last August 21st, where he met several classic car owners and enthusiasts and was treated to a blast from the past as over 150 old school classic cars were showcased in the open parking grounds of Ortigas Home Depot Complex. Slater, who himself is a classic car enthusiast and an amateur restorer, was visibly amused by the variety of some rarely seen old school cars still running today. He took particular attention to a very rare 1971 Opel GT restored by Project O which was one of the crowd favorites.
Aside from Oldschooler Auto Club, other clubs who joined in the event were Classic Auto Club, Ford Escort Club, Oldschooler South, Grupo Starlet, Jomag Racing, Cartistics, Mitsu Lancer.Ph, Pampanga Oldschooler Auto Club, Cavite Auto Club and Oldschool Pilipinas. Organized by Carshow Unlimited and Manny Martinez of the Old Schooler Auto Club, the highlights of the show included a showcar competition, car and model photoshoot, videowall film showing of classic and muscle cars, live and DJ music and other entertainment numbers provided by the event host and TV personality Maverick. Show sponsors include Pepsi, Manila Beer, Bridgestone and A2B Automovers.