Starlite event attracts cars, enthusiasts
WEXFORD — Imagine the sight of freshly waxed paint and shiny chrome glinting in the sun. The air is filled with the sound of people talking and laughing, oldies music, and the occasional carbureted engine revving.
Is this a scene from “American Graffiti?”
No, this is the Wexford Starlite Car Cruise on a Friday night in June.
During the past 12 years, North Way Christian Community has held the Starlite Car Cruise in its parking lots as an effort to bring together people of all makes and models.
Jay Passavant, founding pastor of North Way Christian Community, began the cruise after his father suggested the idea to him. “My dad had been a (car) restorer. And he said, 'You have a big parking lot at the church. Why don't you use it for something?'”
More than a decade later, the cruise has become a driving force on Friday nights.
Passavant speculated that the Starlite Car Cruise is the largest weekly car cruise in the country. The maximum amount of cars North Way can accommodate is 2,800 and though it often comes close, the cruise has only reached this limit once during the season finale in 2010.
The purpose of the cruise is not only to connect car enthusiasts in the greater Pittsburgh area, but also to connect the community as a whole.
“We extend the invitation to the community and families to come and make new friendships, whether they're interested in cars or not,” Passavant said.
The cruise draws in family groups, teenagers and retirees. But the ones who seem to dominate are the car buffs themselves.
Dedicated cruiser Sam McVay of Cranberry Township holds the record for the earliest arrival time. McVay said he arrived promptly at 5:31 a.m. on the opening Friday this year in order to save his usual spot for himself and his friends.
McVay had his black 1965 Mustang 2+2 fastback at the cruise on Friday. He bought it 22 years ago and has put more than $50,000 and 1,500 hours of work into restoring and upgrading it.
Bob Frantz of Butler Township, also known as “World Famous Mustang Bob” among his peers, sat behind his white 1988 Ford Mustang on Friday night with a group of other Mustang enthusiasts. He said he bought his first Mustang in 1967 and when asked how many Mustangs he's owned he claimed he “can't count that high.”One of his counterparts shared a similar story. Rich Toborkey of Natrona Heights brought his red 2005 Ford Mustang on Friday night, but he spoke about his enthusiasm for the model. “In 1964, I bought the first high-performance (Mustang) in Pittsburgh, and I've had one ever since,” Toborkey said.The cars aren't the only thing that make people return each week. Jonathan George of Valencia has been coming to the cruise for almost 10 years because, among other things, it's simply a good time. “It's a lot of fun,” he said. “It's more of a social event than anything else. You get to talk about cars instead of problems.”Besides the cars and camaraderie, some come to the cruise to relax.Jack McEwen of Moon Township drove his red 2010 Ford Mustang GT to the cruise on Friday. He said this is his third year attending and he tries to come every week. “I call it my weekly therapy. I come up here for therapy.”For Bill Miller of North Hills the cruise is a time for nostalgia. “For me it's like looking at all the cars I used to own and drive and to get away from the everyday hustle and bustle.” Miller drives a rare black 2009 Cadillac XLR hardtop convertible, which is one of only 51 cars made.The cruise had a modest opening season in October 2000. There was only one cruise that year and Passavant said about 150 cars showed up.After seeing the potential in the venture, another cruise was held in October 2001, but this time Mother Nature had different ideas. “It snowed and hardly anyone showed up,” Passavant said.Thus began the weekly cruise held during the summer. Beginning in 2002, the cruise ran from the first Friday in May to the last Friday in September. After five years, the cruise was cut back to run from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.The cruise is held from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m. every Friday through the summer, unless it's raining. Every Friday has a different theme (Chevy, Ford, Pontiac, Street Rods, etc.) but any car is welcome on any night.For more information on the cruise, visit www.starlitecarcruise.com.
