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Olde cars, renewed passion
By SEAN BARRON
BOARDMAN
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George Powell and his daughter, Tori, of East Palestine check out a Bel Air at the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club Inc. show. George owns a 1937 Rio half-ton pickup street rod and recently purchased a 1923 Ford Model T.
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Marlene and Larry Clark of Canfield and Jim Bradick of Youngstown, check out Jerry Kolesar's 1935 Chevy at Boardman Park for the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club car show.
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LISA-ANN ISHIHARA | THE VINDICATOR..Cars pack into Boardman Park for the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club car show. John Sylvester of Boardman brought his 1957 Bel Air, front.
Tony Billet finished his latest project Saturday after two months of working day and night — and had all 272 inches of vehicle intact to prove it.
“It’s nice and smooth on the track, like driving a Cadillac,” said Billet, of Boardman, referring to his hard-to-miss Bos top dragster that drew many eyes during Sunday’s 32nd annual Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club Inc.’s Car Show and Flea Market in Boardman Township Park.
The elongated vehicle, which Billet nicknamed “Sodman IV,” is capable of speeds up to 200 mph, said Billet, who owns Billet Landscaping in Boardman. The nickname is derived from the type of business he has, Billet explained.
Ideal weather greeted the hundreds of people who attended the eight-hour show, which raised money to help 2-year-old Brett Wilcox of Austintown, who suffers from leukemia and needs a bone-marrow transplant.
Of course, the main attraction was the display of hundreds of vintage vehicles of all types, sizes and colors. The first 250 entered received dashboard plaques.
Twenty-four classes of cars had been entered, of which 23 were judged. Classifications included cars up to 1929 such as Model A’s and post-World War II models.
One of the oldest was a blue-and-black 1923 Essex Phaeton owned by Joe Phillips of Boardman.
With the exception of the paint, which he added in 1989, and top, the rest of the car has original parts and features such as side curtains, Phillips explained.
A small sample of those on display included a pink 1963 Mercury Marauder, a bright-red 1948 Ford pickup truck, a cream-colored 1939 Ford half-ton pickup truck with an 85-horsepower engine, a turquoise 1954 Chevrolet two-door hardtop vehicle and a 1961 light-beige Ford Galaxie. Older models included a 1929 Model A Ford Roadster and a 1928 Chrysler four-door.
A restored 1965 Ford Galaxie has been part of John Carbon’s life since his parents gave it to him as a high-school graduation gift.
“It took four years of restoration, and I disassembled the whole car. The original was a two-door hardtop that was honey gold,” said Carbon, of Canfield.
Carbon, who came with his wife, Donna, said he also wanted to do something a bit out of the ordinary, so he decided to paint flames on both sides of the vehicle’s front.
It took Fred and Laura Ross of Springfield Township about three years to rebuild their harbor blue 1957 Chevrolet two-door wagon.
The 283 engine was bored over with a mild camshaft, which allows the exhaust valves to remain open longer and increase its horsepower, Laura Ross explained.
The 1957 Chevrolet is one of four vintage cars they own, she said, adding that the couple attends about two such shows each week during the summer.
The car show also featured a derby race for youngsters age 5 to 17, as well as a Chinese auction, door prizes, food and a 50/50 drawing. Playing plenty of oldies music was Two’s Company Professional Disc Jockey Service.
New this year were photo albums on display that contain pictures and highlights showcasing the 32-year history of the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club Inc., which started in 1978 and has grown to nearly 200 members.