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Historical society marks 141 years with car show
YOUNGSTOWN
Oversized car dice, top- anchored windshield wipers, popped hoods and oldies were encountered in downtown Youngstown on Sunday during the Wheels of Steel Car Show.
Classic car enthusiasts flocked the parking lot of The Tyler Mahoning Valley History Center in celebration of the 141st anniversary of the Mahoning Valley Historical Society.
Sunday’s car show was among the activities at the Founders Day open house at the center on West Federal Street. The historical society was founded Sept. 10, 1875. Sunday’s free event accompanied the Wheels of Steel exhibit inside the center that explored transportation in the Valley after the horse and carriage era.
Music was provided by Two’s Co. DJs.
One of the oldest vehicles presented – a black 1929 Ford Roadster owned by Mike Terzak of Austintown – was manufactured the year former President Herbert Hoover took office. The car was complete with a tan cloth roof, tan leather seats and a Ford flathead motor. Terzak says he was born to be a car guy.
“The first hot rod I saw, I had to wipe the drool off my chin,” he explained, “I told myself, one day I’ll have one of them.”
Terzak has been collecting and restoring vintage cars for more than 50 years. He enjoys rebuilding engines and preserving the unique vehicles of times past. He was beckoned to his Roadster, and walking away from it was not an option.
“I saw it, and it was yelling at me ‘take me home’…and so I did!” said Terzak.
He purchased the Roadster only a few months ago, but has done several modifications to make it compatible with current traffic codes.
A few updates include installation of four-way flashers, a new turn signal, an additional tail light and a satellite-powered odometer. He said many more updates need to be done, but he is taking it one task at a time.
As the Beach Boys’ “Fun, Fun, Fun” echoed through the air, it was hard not to notice Nancy Stark’s vintage ride. This Canfield resident purchased her 1960 T-Bird nearly four decades ago on Sept. 19, 1977 from a former neighbor.
The cream colored sports car features red interior and a factory stock sunroof, which she says is rare. Her late husband was a collector of vintage cars and did not want to purchase the T-bird because he had too many in his collection. Stark surprised her husband a few days later with a new addition to their car family.
“I thought, well I can buy it, … so I bought it!” she said.
She has loved it ever since and plans to continue showing it at car shows.
Youngstown resident Charles Williams was one of the many spectators who roamed the sea of rare classic vehicles. He explained that “back in the day” these cars were everywhere, and they were considered as the norm. He said being around the older music and rustic cars made him feel like a kid again.
“This is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon,” Williams said, “It’s always nice to see and show my great-grandchildren the cars I grew up around.”