Cruise-A-Palooza hits 20
Butler's Cruise-A-Palooza is proof that behind every car is a memory.
Thousands of cars from about every decade, size and color lined downtown streets Sunday. In addition to cars, there were music, food and other vendors packed along Main Street, stretching from Diamond to Pearl streets, and spilling over to almost every side street in between. The 20th annual event was organized by the Rodfathers Motorsports Club of Butler.
Joe Vaughan of Center Township bought his two-tone 1956 Chevy 250 last month, because it reminded him of a Chevy he owned in the 1960s, when he was a college student in Oregon.
“I have such good memories with that car,” said Vaughan, who teaches architecture classes at Butler County Community College. “The '50s had a lot of pastels, and a lot of two tones.”
The turquoise and white car he displayed was almost the same color as the 1955 Chevy he had in architecture school. The car he just bought was already restored, but he's added a few modern components for safety, like seat belts and new brakes.
He recalled drag racing his old car with a Corvette along the Oregon coast one summer with friends. A state police officer pulled him over while the other car sped away. He was handed a $20 ticket.
Vaughan said his latest purchase was a worthwhile splurge not only to bring back old memories, but to socialize with other car owners.
“If I'm practical and save my money, I'll probably save it all for the retirement home,” he quipped.
Gary Radford of Franklin Park showed off his burgundy 1966 Chevy Corvair. He, too, had a similar car when he was younger.
“When I first bought it, it was priced right. I couldn't afford anything else,” he said.
Of his new one, he said, “I had three before this one.”
His brother, Rick Radford, of Cranberry Township, and his cousin, Al Scholze, of Franklin Park, were at Cruise-A-Palooza with him. Scholze was showing his forest green 1950 Ford, parked on North Street.
“My father had one when I was just a little guy,” Scholze said. “I was brought home from the hospital in it after I broke my arm when I was 13.”
Meanwhile, for John Camus and his 10-year-old son, Tony, car collecting and shows are just as much about making new memories as reminiscing.
Camus has owned a burgundy 1973 Chevy El Camino for the last decade, with bucket seats, original color and engine. He also had a similar vehicle in his younger years. He also has a 1977 Pontiac Trans Am, but it's not ready to show off quite yet.
“It's in pieces,” Camus said.
“It'll be mine,” Tony said.
They've been restoring the car in their garage for the past two years. They're slowly but surely getting it done, together.
“When he turns 16, it'll be there,” Camus said. “It's a father/son thing, you know?”
