MORAVIA - Rainy weather couldn't keep devoted car fans from turning out for Sunday's Fillmore Auto Show to view the classic cars and support the Moravia community's non-profits.
Jennifer Meyers / The Citizen
From left, Justin Clink, 16, Colby Bancroft, 13, Scott Morey, 17, and Mike Murray, 17, yell “light them up” as automobiles exit Fillmore Glen State Park after the Classic Auto Show Sunday afternoon.
From left, Justin Clink, 16, Colby Bancroft, 13, Scott Morey, 17, and Mike Murray, 17, yell “light them up” as automobiles exit Fillmore Glen State Park after the Classic Auto Show Sunday afternoon.
Sunday marked the 30th annual car show at Fillmore Glen State Park. The show that began as a 20-car show behind the elementary school has since grown to one of the larger car shows in the area. With good weather, it has drawn crowds in the thousands.
Aside from being a car show, however, the event is also an opportunity for several of Moravia's non-profit groups to raise funds.
On Sunday, the Alliance of Parents and Teachers were working the front gate, the 50-50 raffle was organized by Powers Library, the Moravia Volunteer Fire Department was in charge of the chicken barbecue, and several other groups, including the Moravia Little League, the Girl Scouts, the Rotary Club and the Youth League pitched in to help with the show as a way to raise funds for their groups, said Gary Mulvaney, treasurer of the fire department, who organizes the non-profits for the show.
“It's basically 100 percent a community event,” said Bill Haessner, a former president of the Fillmore Auto Club, who organized the vendors this year. Haessner said the club sets aside enough money to fund next year's show and then allocates money to the non-profits for their work. Anything left over is donated to a charitable organization, he said.
Several vendors also rent spots at the car show for the annual flea market.
The event is primarily a car show, however.
Cars are judged in various categories by year. But there are also special trophies given out in categories including people's choice, favorite GM and best paint. Winners are able to drive up to the trophy area to receive their awards.
“We get a really good quality of cars, some different ones from year to year,” said Gary Fickeisen, an organizer of the show.
Austin Weaver, who was instrumental in starting the show, has shown at least one car every year. This year, he was displaying a 1948 Chevrolet Coupe in the car corral, which is the area where cars are sold.
Weaver has been tinkering with cars since he was 16 years old.
“It was either a choice of girls or cars, and I knew how to fix cars,” Weaver said, of his first ventures into the hobby.
He has won numerous trophies for his cars, but Weaver said the trophies aren't important - he comes to the shows to display his work: “Hopefully, you're proud of your work.”
Sunday's car show was a family affair for the Birchard family, of Moravia.
Jason Birchard, of Auburn, came with his son, Ryan, and his parents, who now live in Moravia.
“It's fun to see some of the older cars,” he said. “I'm more interested in newer cars, just because that's what I grew up around.”
His father, Dave, however, has more knowledge about the older cars. Dave Birchard had his father buy a 1967 Plymouth GTX for him while he was serving in Vietnam. He used to tinker with the car, but eventually had to sell it.
“I wish I still had it,” Birchard said, as he was surveying a group of 1940s Ford models. “I'd love to (restore) something like that. I'd love to have on old one someday.”
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net.
Aside from being a car show, however, the event is also an opportunity for several of Moravia's non-profit groups to raise funds.
On Sunday, the Alliance of Parents and Teachers were working the front gate, the 50-50 raffle was organized by Powers Library, the Moravia Volunteer Fire Department was in charge of the chicken barbecue, and several other groups, including the Moravia Little League, the Girl Scouts, the Rotary Club and the Youth League pitched in to help with the show as a way to raise funds for their groups, said Gary Mulvaney, treasurer of the fire department, who organizes the non-profits for the show.
“It's basically 100 percent a community event,” said Bill Haessner, a former president of the Fillmore Auto Club, who organized the vendors this year. Haessner said the club sets aside enough money to fund next year's show and then allocates money to the non-profits for their work. Anything left over is donated to a charitable organization, he said.
Several vendors also rent spots at the car show for the annual flea market.
The event is primarily a car show, however.
Cars are judged in various categories by year. But there are also special trophies given out in categories including people's choice, favorite GM and best paint. Winners are able to drive up to the trophy area to receive their awards.
“We get a really good quality of cars, some different ones from year to year,” said Gary Fickeisen, an organizer of the show.
Austin Weaver, who was instrumental in starting the show, has shown at least one car every year. This year, he was displaying a 1948 Chevrolet Coupe in the car corral, which is the area where cars are sold.
Weaver has been tinkering with cars since he was 16 years old.
“It was either a choice of girls or cars, and I knew how to fix cars,” Weaver said, of his first ventures into the hobby.
He has won numerous trophies for his cars, but Weaver said the trophies aren't important - he comes to the shows to display his work: “Hopefully, you're proud of your work.”
Sunday's car show was a family affair for the Birchard family, of Moravia.
Jason Birchard, of Auburn, came with his son, Ryan, and his parents, who now live in Moravia.
“It's fun to see some of the older cars,” he said. “I'm more interested in newer cars, just because that's what I grew up around.”
His father, Dave, however, has more knowledge about the older cars. Dave Birchard had his father buy a 1967 Plymouth GTX for him while he was serving in Vietnam. He used to tinker with the car, but eventually had to sell it.
“I wish I still had it,” Birchard said, as he was surveying a group of 1940s Ford models. “I'd love to (restore) something like that. I'd love to have on old one someday.”
Staff writer Anne Gleason can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 248 or at anne.gleason@lee.net.
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