Car show set for kid's dream

An ill child will find out a wish will be fulfilled at the car show.
By DON SHILLING
VINDICATOR BUSINESS EDITOR
LORDSTOWN -- A car full of memories sat next to one that was just beginning its life on the road.
The long, white 1966 Chevrolet Impala cruised the streets in a much simpler time, fell into disrepair, and then was lovingly restored by an Austintown man.
The sporty, yellow 2007 Pontiac G5 has no history yet but it will soon. It is among the first G5s that will be shipped to Pontiac dealers.
Though different, both cars share one thing in common -- they were made on the assembly line at the General Motors Lordstown complex.
The cars were displayed Thursday at the plant to promote a car show July 1. The show will celebrate the plant's 40th anniversary and raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.
About 500 classic cars are expected for the show, including the first Chevrolet Vega and other models made at the plant. The show is free, but money from car registration fees and raffles will go to the charity that fulfills the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses.
Charity
Julie Scarsella, development officer for Make-A-Wish's Boardman office, said past donations from the plant have funded wishes for a trip to Hawaii and a horse trailer.
At the show, a Mahoning County child will be surprised when told that his or her wish will be fulfilled.
"They do such good things here," Scarsella said.
In addition, the public will have its first chance to see the G5, which the plant began producing this week. It is a sister car of the Chevrolet Cobalt, which has been made at the plant since fall 2004.
The official launch of the G5 comes the day before the car show when about 70 cars will be driven out of the plant in a formation that will resemble the Pontiac dart logo. On hand will be 200 Pontiac dealers, Gov. Bob Taft and U.S. Rep. Tim Ryan of Niles, D-17th.
The plant is producing one G5 out of every 10 cars on the line.
A true gearhead
Ken Magni, 43, of Austintown is one person who has more interest in a car that used to be produced at Lordstown -- the Impala.
He found his 1966 model in Arizona in 1996. The car had no hood or front end, and the interior was in bad condition.
Magni spent two years gathering parts and four years refurbishing the car inside and out. The project cost him $17,000, but he enjoyed every dime he spent. "I wanted something to cruise in," he said.
His other classic car -- a 1975 Chevrolet Camaro -- is built for speed with 500 horsepower.
He bought that car as a teen-ager in 1979 and has rebuilt the engine twice.
"I wasn't going to be like my friends, who say, 'I wish I had my car from when I was in high school,'" said Magni, who works in the end finishing department at V & amp;M Star in Youngstown.
He studied auto mechanics in high school but then decided to become a steelworker to preserve his love for his hobby.
"If you work on cars for eight hours, do you want to work on them in the evening?" he asked.
Many others like Magni will be showing their cars July 1. Jeff Rollison, who is coordinating the event for United Auto Workers Local 1112, said he is looking for more cars, especially those that were built at Lordstown.
shilling@vindy.com