Revved and ready

A Boardman trustee said the township hasn't had problems with noise fromthe car cruise inpast years.
By IAN HILL
VINDICATOR STAFF WRITER
CANFIELD -- The growl of the Cheetah will be heard on the streets of this city this weekend, as will the snort of the Mustang and the hiss of the Cobra.
The Hot Rod Super Nationals are back at the Canfield Fairgrounds. Super Nationals organizers expect the event to draw as many as 5,000 hot rods, such as Chevrolet Cheetahs, Ford Mustangs and A.C. Cobras. A representative of the Mahoning County-Youngstown Convention and Visitors Bureau said the event is expected to pump about $12 million into the local economy.
"It looks like it's going to be a wonderful weekend," said C. Bruce Hubley, president and CEO of the Promotion Co., which produces the Super Nationals.
Hubley expects about 50,000 people to attend the event, which begins today and continues through Sunday.
Registration began at noon Thursday. Some hot-rod drivers who came to Canfield were greeted by about 10 people sitting in folding chairs near the corner of Fairground Boulevard and U.S. Route 224.
Ray Kinney of Bolivar, south of Canton, said sitting along the road was easier than walking through the fairgrounds to see the cars.
"We just think that's a good way to see them all; just sit here, and let them come by you," he said.
The Power Tour
Both Kinney and Bud Rainsberg of Dover, also south of Canton, said they were considering taking part in the Hot Rod Magazine Power Tour next year. The tour, which covers seven cities and features about 3,000 cars on display, finishes at the Super Nationals here.
This is the first year that the producers of the nine-year-old Power Tour have worked with the producers of the Super Nationals, which have been held at the fairgrounds the past 14 years. The Super Nationals includes car contests, family events and band performances.
Albert Moore, a Warren resident who was sitting along Fairground Boulevard, said his love for classic cars is in his blood. He noted that his father also is a classic-car enthusiast. "I was just born a car guy".
The hot rods cruised past Moore and headed into the fairgrounds through an entrance off Fairground Boulevard near Hood Drive. Some drivers revved their engines as they entered the fairgrounds.
The noise, however, didn't bother many of the residents in the area.
"When you live on this street, you kind of expect it," said Fairground Boulevard resident Ken Hippley. He said Fairground Boulevard typically is a quiet street, except for when events are held at the fairgrounds.
Hood Drive resident Margaret Edwards said, "It couldn't be any noisier than the [Canfield] Fair."
Canfield's noise ordinance
Under Canfield's noise ordinance, it is illegal to make "any disturbing, excessive or offensive noise [that] causes discomfort or annoyance" in the city. Those who violate the ordinance can be charged with a minor misdemeanor.
City Manager Charles Tieche noted that since the fairgrounds are in Canfield Township, the noise ordinance most likely would only apply to cars driving to and from the Super Nationals.
Many of the hot-rod drivers leave the Super Nationals at night and travel to Boardman, where they cruise Route 224. Boardman Township trustees recently approved a noise ordinance, which goes into effect in late June.
Boardman Trustee Thomas Costello, however, noted that the ordinance does not apply to special events like the car cruise that is outside of residential areas. The ordinance states that those events must end by midnight.
Costello said the township hasn't had problems with noise from the cruise after midnight in the past. He added that the trustees are thrilled to have the cruise in Boardman. "Think of what it does for our local economy," he said. "It means a lot for our businesses."
Tieche added that Canfield officials haven't received many complaints about noise from past Super Nationals.
Some Canfield residents, however, did express concerns about the increase in cars on city roads during the event. Those residents also said they have learned to deal with the additional traffic.
"It gets a little busy," said Katie Kovach of Fairground Boulevard. "We kind of like it. You can sit on your porch and watch cars go in. It's a change of scenery."
Canfield and Boardman police and the Mahoning County Sheriff's Department will increase patrols during the Super Nationals to help direct traffic and address any other problems that may arise.
Costello said Boardman police most likely will earn a total of between $30,000 and $40,000 in overtime pay as a result of the event.
hill@vindy.com