Mega Cruise draws crowd
PENN TWP — The Penn Township Volunteer Fire Department's Mega Cruise raises a little money for the fire department and makes a fun day for people to display their classic vehicles, motorcycles and muscle cars and for people who like looking at them.
Pleasant summer weather Saturday lured thousands of people to the fire department's 18th annual Mega Cruise, which is held rain or shine, at the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport.
Bill Glace, department chief, said the cruise isn't the department's biggest fundraiser, but the money it raises will go toward the cost of replacing the 20-year-old rescue truck as well as other equipment and training for the department.
“It's going for our equipment and training,” Glace said.
Firefighter Kent Shoemaker, who is in charge of the department's fundraising, said 400 show vehicles arrived before the cruise began at 2 p.m. and the count was 600 by 3 p.m.
Saturday's sunshine and moderate temperatures after a recent heat wave helped bring the huge crowd of show cars and visitors.
“If you could describe a perfect day, today is it,” Shoemaker said. “This is rain or shine, so weather can make it or break it.”
He said the $2 donation that visitors are asked to pay helps the department, which is located adjacent to the airport entrance and serves as the facility's first emergency responder.
“We do this as a fundraiser, but we do it more for a community event. We appreciate it if we make a profit, but our aim is a great community event,” Shoemaker said.
The department's most successful fundraiser is a tool bash that was held in May, but the cruise could bring in as much as $7,000 for the department, he said.
“It helps with education, training and equipment. We appreciate those donations. It's not a great fundraiser. It's a great community event,” Shoemaker said.
The department also appreciates the event sponsors, who covered the cost of the dash plaques given to the first 600 show cars, the evening fireworks display and other expenses, he said.
The airport, which has been the site of the cruise for 17 of the last 18 years, provides plenty of space for the event and provides visitors with a view of landing and departing aircraft.“We have a good working relationship with the Pittsburgh-Butler Regional Airport Authority. It makes a nice setting. They get to see the airport too,” Shoemaker said.Butler's Stone House chapter of the Antique Automobile Club of America brought the city's 1940 Bantam and 1909 Huselton and the club's 1922 Standard, which were all built in Butler. The vehicles turned out to be a big attraction for visitors at the event.“A lot of people have been stopping by,” said John Pro, club president. “A lot still don't know they were built in Butler.”Three classic Mopars parked side by side in the lawn adjacent to the taxiway also drew some attention.One of them was a restored green 1968 Plymouth Roadrunner owned by Jim Claypoole of Petrolia. Next to his ride was a restored red 1971 Dodge Demon owned by Greg Thorhauer of Karns City. And on the other side was an unrestored, original white 1968 Plymouth GTX Hemi owned by Bob Miller of Karns City.Claypoole's car was restored a couple years ago. Thorhauer's looks freshly restored, but the work was done 14 years ago. Miller described his car as a survivor.They said this was the second year they drove their classics to the cruise.Gregg Berry of Chicora brought a 1901 Riker Phaeton handed down from his great grandmother and grandfather, who swapped the car's original electric motor with a gasoline-burning engine sometime between 1903 and 1917.“Granddad was a machinist in Pittsburgh. The car was in an accident with a trolley car in Pittsburgh. My granddad brought it to his machine shop in Petrolia,” Berry said.
With his wife, Diana, and daughter, Emily, Berry towed the Riker on a trailer to the cruise, its first trip out of Chicora in many years.The wooden body car runs, but still needs some work. Berry said he would like to have it running in time for Chicora's Memorial Day parade next year.“I'm slowly working on it. It's running pretty good. It's still pretty sturdy. It stood the test of time pretty well,” he said.All the shiny classic cars made Charlie Ellenberger of Butler regret selling his candy apple red 1966 Ford Fairlane a few years ago.“I bought it new,” he said.He enjoyed the cruise even though he didn't have a car to show off.“This is the biggest crowd ever,” Ellenberger said.Gary and Carol Verrico of Rochester drove their restored red 1964 Ford Galaxie 500 and their friend, Vince Fazero of Rochester, drove his 1968 Dodge Charger to this cruise and all 17 previous ones.“We drive it. We have fun with it,” Carol Verrico said. “This is one of our favorite shows.”
