Part 5

 

1991 is only three days old as we head for the IX Center.  The Club is setting up it’s display for the World of Wheels car show opening Friday, January 4th.  By Sunday night January 6th all 10 Club cars would be taking home trophies.

The Club would receive “Best Club Display” as well as a special “Participation Award” for the Pit Stop contest.  Lou Hanzel was given a special award along with his 1st place Trophy.  Last and by no means least we won $750.00 in the Pit Stop contest.  I’m sorry to say that it was for 2nd place. We had 1st place in the bag until the official managed to lose one spark plug from the parts bin.  This caused Bob Waters to waste a lot of time looking for something that was never there.  1st place would have paid us $1,000!

At our January meeting we discussed our last minute participation in the Silver Anniversary Southgate Wonders of Christmas Parade.  Our Club won 1st place in the “Special Interest” category.  Mary Beth Beiderman, a Southgate representative, attended our meeting and presented us with the award and a 45 minute video of the parade.

Also at this time the Club is taking care of last minute details for the upcoming Cleveland Auto-Rama.  This years show would run from February 1st to the 3rd.  The Club is also making plans for some future fun events.  We have locked in dates for a summer picnic at Valley View Lake Park and a Fall hayride at Blazin’ Bills.

On a sad note, war has broken out in the Middle East.  They call it “Desert Storm”.  We have deep concern for family of Club members that may be affected by a military call up.  “Does this sound familiar”?  I will always remember this years Auto-Rama.  Not because the Club entered 14 cars, with each one taking a trophy, but because the Club entered into a partnership with radio station WNCX 98.5FM.  At the time they were one of our many sponsors. We combined our display with them and they picked up the fees. We became the main attraction so to speak.  The results were awards for “Outstanding Club Awards” and “Best Club Display”.

Jerry Magyar had learned of a little girl named Kourtney May Collins. The two year old had Hurlers Syndrome.  The only known cure was a bone marrow transplant.  Jerry took it upon himself to start a collection at our Club display.  By the end of the awards ceremony Sunday night everyone knew of Kourtney and her condition.  Jerry helped raise $3500.00! This was to be a good start for our charitable endeavors.  A copy of the letter sent to Jerry from the Cleveland Mayor Michael R. White congratulating and praising him for the efforts put forth appears in our March 1991 newsletter.

Saturday night, March 2nd Scott Marquard, Mario Benici and myself accompanied by our wives met with Jack Ehrmantraut, Todd Mack and their wives who are the new owners of Dragway 42 to discuss drag racing events that would include our Club.  The plans looked good on paper.  More on this later.

Some members have asked about sweatshirts.  No problem, $17.50 for a small, $19.50 for a large and $20.50 for an XL.

We have run into a small problem with our 5th annual Memorial Day car show.  Seems that Ron Heitman (Mr. Auto-Rama) would like to use that date to hold his own show.  We won’t change our date!  Will competing against Mr. Car Show himself be our downfall?  We will see.

Sunday, May 5th, started our seasons first outdoor Club event.  I had the honor of leading twelve Club cars down Fleet Avenue to Broadway and past the reviewing stand for the 200th celebration of the Polish Constitution Day Parade.  Also on this day six of our Chevy loving members attended the first annual Chevy Expo at the IX Center.  The results were three first place and two second place awards!

Our refusal to break tradition and switch the Memorial Day Car Show to a less desirable date has put a minor dent in the Clubs relationship with Ron Heitman.  After months of making plans, Sunday, May 26th starts off on a bad note.   On and Off early morning sprinkles hamper registration.  After a heavy downpour at 10:30 A.M. things got better, for a few hours anyway.  We registered 117 show cars on the school grounds behind Pals Drive In.  That was a respectable figure considering the fowl weather and the fact that we were competing with another show.  By the way, we had twenty-five more cars at our show!  Sorry Ron.

Our problems were not over yet.  As we were getting ready for the award presentations our DJ, Richard DePaul also known as “Bugsy the Hitman” suffered a heart attack.  The show was a success in spite of all the problems.  Several weeks later Sam LaNasa and I visited Richard at his home.  We were glad to report back that he was well on on his way back to good health.

Tuesday night, June 4th Cruise Night at Pals Drive In “Another First”.  By 6 P.M. it was obvious something beyond the norm was going to happen.  Someone decorated the front of the building, a DJ was setting up and the TV camera crews were pulling in.  Civilian type cars not normally seen at our cruise were arriving.  Men in suit and ties or wearing tuxedos emerged.  They were accompanied by ladies dressed in party attire.   Soon after our Mayor, Jimmy Dimora arrives.

A tall handsome man wearing a black tuxedo and a red bow tie stands nervously out front.  Silence falls over the crowd as all eyes turn towards the main driveway.  A 1964 Cadillac limousine slowly makes it’s way up the driveway the the DJ turns on the music. From the rear door emerges a tall dark haired beauty dressed in white.  Darcy Angel is here tonight, soon to be Mrs. Paul Terlosky.

After the Mayor performs the wedding ceremony a large four layer cake is cut up and served to all.  Paul and Darcy continue to cruise with us on Tuesday nights at Solon commons.  By the way, my 9 month old granddaughter, Ashley Zabish was at that wedding.  She is now driving her own car!

If you were in front of your TV on Saturday afternoon June 15th watching channel 8 you would have seen your Club represented in the American Legion Welcome Home Parade in downtown Cleveland.  This was to honor the troops returning from serving in Desert Storm.

Saturday night, June 15th, we were back for the 2nd annual Mayfield Village Cruise Night. This was the event that our Club had a major roll in starting.  Once again we had the parking lot on the corner behind the church.  Something had changed though.  Now we had to share the lot and we were not involved in the planning process.  No fireworks this year but there are three bands, Migalito’s Pizza, Wheezers and Yours Truly providing food and entertainment.

Once again on June 22 and 23rd we are the host car club for the Muscle Car Nationals held at Norwalk Raceway Park. On Saturday our Club provided 43 members and three pledges who took charge of spectator parking, staging show cars, spotting swap meet vendors and judging.  Sunday was the day the show cars got to race.  We were at track side helping out.  Fast Lane Promotions once again rewards us with a check for $1,000.00.  That money was a tremendous help in keeping our club financially stable.

The envelope please….And the winner is….The Rock and Roll Capital Street Machines!  On June 24th the Club accepted $100.00 for having the most cars in attendance at the Brecksville Kiwanis Car Show.

On June 28th we displayed 26 of our cars at the Bedford Hts. Home Days.  On July 4th we once again took part in the Bedford/Bedford Hits. Parade. The next day July 5th we have 12 Club cars in the Cleveland Budweiser Grand Prix Parade.  The Club provides rides for a host of radio and TV personalities of the day.

Sunday, July 7th at Garfield Hts. Home Days each member is given a goody bag, food and $10.00.  The members decide to donate the money to the Club treasury.

On July 13th, 103!! Yes, 103 Club members and friends ventured to Dragway 42 for a fun day!  The track is now under control of the new owners (mentioned previously).  The track was shut down repeatedly because of our violations of track rules.  No cameras allowed at the starting line, track side or finish line.  No cameras in the cars unless they are bolted down. Someone spilled water at the starting line.  Ray Kus has been racing his T-bucket for years with no complaints.  Today he is turned away for the lack of a roll bar and helmet!  I was very upset when my camera car set up was shown the door. Track rules say you can’t have a cameraman riding in the tailgate position of a station wagon.  The new owners wrote that rule up as Tim Dragony and cameraman Bob Hamm are driving onto the track.

Shortly after this things got very ugly.  Over the PA system someone is shouting “SHUT DOWN ALL THE CARS NOW!” We had moved some picnic benches together into one area so we could eat lunch as a group.  At this track moving a picnic bench has now become a crime.  We cut our day short, never to return again.

On July 21st we combined our Club meting with a picnic at Valley View Lake Park.  Seventy Seven (77) members spent the day eating, playing games or just relaxing in the sun. Everyone got to sample egg rolls prepared on site by Bill Ellis.  As always, everyone went home with door prizes thanks to our very generous sponsors.

Saturday, July 27th is another day I will always remember.  Through the years I have told this story to many of our Club members.  Here it is again. Six of us went to Walton Manor Nursing Home to celebrate Henry Fords’ birthday, even though no one knew his true birth date.  The idea was to get the patients up and out in the fresh air.

After Henry’s birthday cake had been served the ambulatory patients made their way outside to our cars.  One woman, standing in front of Frank LaMana’s 1950 Dodge caught my eye. Glassy eyed she told me of her first date and her first kiss in a car just like this.

A widow that seemed to be drawn to Steve Estrin’s 1956 Cadillac told me of her poor background and her talented husband.  He had bought a wrecked 1956 Cadillac and repaired it.  “We were poor but we drove that Cadillac with pride until my husband passed away”.  Those were her words.

By August of 1991 I have made it known to all members that I will not serve as president for a fourth year.  I’ve used up my bag of tricks and feel it is time for new management.  Mario Benici is the only person with the courage to take on the challenge.

At the August 18th meeting Mario accepts the nomination for president.  Jerry Magyar is nominated for VP Nancy Fox Treasurer and Bill Ellis Secretary. Being that there are no others willing to run for office we forgo the September election process.  These four people will now take control of a club that has over 140 members.

One Sunday afternoon Ilsa and I were driving about.  On our way home we decided to check out a new construction site. Ilsa’s mind was wasy ahead of me on that warm sunny day.  “Let’s bring the Club here” were the words from her mouth.  “What”? She continues with “look at that food court they are building.  They will have bathrooms, a paved parking lot for a hundred cars and look at all the lights.”  My mind still does not follow her thought process until she says “this place has everything we are lacking at Pals Drive In”.  Cha Ching!

At the August Club meeting I present our find to the members.  After the meeting many members drive East on Aurora Rd to Enterprise Parkway in Solon.  After spending months looking for a cruise site to replace Pals Drive In, most people agreed that this place called Solon Commons looks very promising. With Mario in tow we set off to speak with the property manager Don Woodard.  Most non car people have no idea that a car cruise means parked cars, food, music, adults (the responsible type) and no bad behavior. Once Don understood he gives us permission to use the property on Tuesday nights.  I visit Solon City Hall to inform them of what will take place in 1992.

Mayor Robert Paulson suggests talking to the Police and Fire Chiefs which is taken care of within hours.  Everyone has said OK, but with reservations.  This is all we needed, “Look Out, Next Stop Solon Commons”.

On August 31st wedding bells ring again when Frank LaManna is married to Cookie White.

The Club was once again involved wit the “Motor Meet” cars shows at the Berea Fairgrounds but on a smaller scale than before.  On Sunday, September 1st we served as judges, producer Bill Sporck handles everything else.

Saturday night, September 7th, a dinner of ribs and chicken along with many side dishes are enjoyed by our members at another hay ride at Blazin’ Bills. Mario has brought in a DJ making dancing an attraction in the big barn.  All this along with many games and door prizes will have cost our members only $8.00 each.  Non-members would have to pay the full price of $14.75. Members went home smiling that night.

Mario has made a connection with a place called Deli on the Rye in Hudson.  Our first Club cruise to the Deli drew 40 cars and over 60 people.  Alex Stein, the Deli owner rewarded us with three 5 foot sub sandwiches.  It’s amazing what free food will do.

Saturday, September 21st we have our last Club day at the drags. We have gone back to Norwalk Raceway Park.  Bill Baeder treats us with respect and helps us in any way he can.  This day everyone has a good time and the Club makes a profit.

September 22nd the Club again escorts the 2K and 10K runners through Bedford Hts.

We are now starting to make plans for the 1992 car show season.  There will not be a show at the IX Center in “92.  Ron Heitman has assured us that we will have our same space as last year and more at the Auto-Rama in February.

At our October meeting we learn that Chuck Vella has had another operation.  Cancer has again surfaced.

As the year winds down we have a “Name the Newsletter Contest”.  Out of 33 names submitted NEWS AND VIEWS is chosen by the members. Also at this time the Club had a model car contest as well as our first bowling party on November 24th.  Club members are now meeting at the Solon Commons food court on Tuesday. Bill Ellis has replaced Jerry Magyar as VP and Joanne Magyar-Obreza is now the new Secretary.

The white t-shirts came into being this last summer.  We still have one or two old timers that would die before putting one on.  Ask Sam LaNassa who they are.

On December 17th Mario Benici, Bill Ellis, Ken Dovak and myself met with Don Woodard from Davis Development and Paula Sabol from Wendy’s Management.  The plans for our 1992 cruise season in Solon are finalized.

As always we end the year with a Christmas party.  Good food, good friends and Santa Claus.