National car association events are bringing several thousand automobile enthusiasts to the Dayton region this summer, revving up the market with more than $600,000 in local economic impact, area tourism officials said.

The Dayton Marriott on South Patterson Boulevard has hosted three national car club events since June, drawing Chevrolet Nomad, Ford Retractable and “T-Bucket” vehicle owners from across the U.S. and Canada. A fourth event, the Trans-Am Nationals, roars into town Wednesday for its third consecutive year at the Marriott.

“Trans Am is the biggest and we will almost sell the hotel out,” said Scott Trammel, assistant general manager. “We will probably do 300 rooms for two or three nights with them,” he said.

The former Holiday Inn Dayton Mall in Miamisburg, which is changing over to the Wyndham Garden Dayton South, last month hosted the American Austin Bantam Club’s 48th annual national meet.

Car shows with overnight stays this year are responsible for more than 2,000 visitors and an estimated $623,000 in local economic impact, said Jacquie Powell, president and chief executive of the Dayton/Montgomery County Convention & Visitors Bureau.

The car enthusiasts visit area attractions and spend dollars on food, lodging, shopping and gasoline. “It is great business for our community,” Powell said.

Car associations represent an “untapped segment” of the travel market, Trammel said. Marriott Hotels is marketing to those groups as part of a corporate strategy. “They may sell the Dayton Marriott and then try to book them in Detroit, Mich., for next year’s show,” he said.

Car clubs tend to hold their national events in a different location each year to allow their members to tour the country in their prized vehicles.

Bill McCoy of Englewood spent more than two years planning the National T-Bucket Alliance’s annual meet that occurred June 26-July 1 in Dayton. The event brought about 150 T-Bucket hot rods and more than 400 people from the U.S. and Canada, he said.

While in Dayton, members drove their vehicles to visit the National Museum of the U.S. Air Force, America’s Packard Museum, Carillon Park, the Wright “B” Flyer, and the Model T Museum in Centerville, Ind., among other area attractions.

“We need to expose Dayton, Ohio, and show people what we have here,” McCoy said.

Trammel said each car show at the Marriott can have from 75 to 400 vehicles. “That translates into room nights, as well as catering spend,” he said.

Several car shows this summer have filled up to 150 rooms each night for a week, Trammel said. The groups typically hold dinners or banquets at the hotel, and patronize its restaurant, lounge and room service.

“It is excellent revenue for the hotel,” Trammel said.

The Marriott’s 550-space parking lot and surrounding facilities help the hotel accommodate car shows. Neighbors including the University of Dayton and Cox Media Group Ohio have allowed the use of their adjacent lots for vehicle trailers and additional parking, he said.

The hotel has taken steps to address concerns about parking lot congestion, which forced some guests who were unaffiliated with the car clubs to park farther away than normal. “We rented some golf carts and we were shuttling folks from their car up to the main entrance,” Trammel said.

The convention and visitors bureau has a staff member who works the “hobby” market, including car associations. “Our organization is working very aggressively to see if we can’t bring even more of this type of business to our community,” Powell said.

The Dayton Marriott already has two cars shows booked for 2012, featuring MG Midget sports cars and the returning Trans Ams. The International Ford Retractable Club is booked to return in 2016.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2419 or dlarsen@Dayton DailyNews.com.