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Church’s ox roast draws car enthusiasts
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Ox Roast
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BIKES GALORE: Motorcycle enthusiast Donald Husk of Warren attended Sunday's car show.
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FAMILY AFFAIR: Linda Glenn, Pastor Frank Glenn and daughter Beth Glenn check out some of the offerings at the 13th Annual Glenn Christian Foundation and Church's Ox Roast car show at the Trumbull County Fairground.
By Sean Barron
One motorcycle owner said he makes monthly rides to honor his fellow veterans.
CORTLAND — Unless you’re in the right place at the right time, your chances of happening upon a 1970 GMC Jimmy model truck are quite slim.
For one thing, that style was manufactured for only two years, between 1970 and 1972.
Nevertheless, your odds of spotting such a rare find would have increased dramatically if you were at the 13th annual Glenn Christian Foundation and Church’s Ox Roast car show, which was the site for Gary Knight’s two-door model. His bright blue 1970 Jimmy was on display Sunday during the three-day event that began Friday at the Trumbull County Fairgrounds, 899 Everett-Hull Road.
Knight, of Hartford, said he bought his two-door vintage vehicle in 1995 for $7,000, with 48,000 miles on it. His Jimmy, with most of the original features and parts still intact, received three trophies and was featured in the January edition of Off-Road Adventures magazine.
“I took it apart in 1998 and it took about six years to restore it,” Knight said, adding that he attends many truck and four-wheel-drive car shows.
Perfect weather greeted the thousands of attendees, car enthusiasts and owners at the free event, which also was a showcase for hundreds of vintage motorcycles.
Donald Husk and Joe Calkins, both of Warren, found the ideal setting to expound on the virtues of their motorcycles.
Husk, who owns a limited-edition 2003 Sportster, said his motorcycle was designed to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Harley Davidson Company.
Even though he’s won two trophies — one at the recent Newton Falls Weekend Madness car show — Husk’s use of his motorcycle certainly is not limited to such events. Husk, who served four years in the Army, said he makes monthly rides to honor fallen veterans and those still fighting for their country.
Husk’s motorcycle gets about 50 mpg, and $7 fills the tank, he added.
Calkins gets similar mileage, and $12 will accomplish the same for his metallic blue Ninja Kawasaki, which he bought new. His vehicle, which has about 900 miles on it, received first-place honors at the weekend show.
“It saves me money going back and forth to work,” Calkins said. “I drive it in the summer and drive a car in the winter.”
This was the first car show for cousins Selina Nuzzi, 13, of Howland, and 12-year-old Jenna Roemer of Cortland, who came with their grandparents John and Mary Ann Kellner of Cortland.
Both girls had their eyes on the food and variety of free amusement rides as well as the unusual cars. It was the pink models that attracted the girls’ attention the most, they said.
Even though he didn’t have a vehicle at the event, Kellner owns and enjoys cruising around in his 1979 vintage Monte Carlo, which he bought new for $5,600.
The car show, with features that included numerous vendors, a bicycle raffle and a petting zoo, started at the Glenn Christian Church in Warren “as a little Labor Day church picnic with a few old cars,” recalled Jim Stuart, an event coordinator. Interest each year grew, and the show moved about six years ago to the fairgrounds to accommodate larger numbers of vehicles and people, he noted, adding that last year’s show had roughly 2,500 cars.
Stuart said he’s grateful to the many local businesses that sponsored the 2008 car show, which was also set up to thank the businesses and give back to the community. Other organizers were Stuart’s wife, Darlene, as well as the Rev. Frank Glenn of Glenn Christian and his wife, Linda.
The 2008 Ox Roast car show capped off with a demolition derby, church services and fireworks.