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Car buffs of all kinds and ages prepare to head to Boardman Park

By J.T. Whitehouse

POSTED: July 29, 2010

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From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, the Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club will be hosting its 32nd Cars in the Park event at Boardman Park. This year’s event will be a fundraiser for Brett Wilcox, a two-and-a-half-year-old boy from Austintown who is undergoing treatment for leukemia.

The Cars in the Park event started out in Austintown when the MVOCC first organized the giant one-day show. Over seven years ago it was moved to Boardman Park off U.S. 224 in Boardman where is has seen upwards of 300 cars each year. MVOCC President Rich Posibak said it’s not the biggest show around, but he is happy with the local draw.

“We usually get over 300 cars,” he said. “It’s not a big show, but it is big for us.”

The MVOCC presently has 200 members, most with classic or vintage automobiles. It is not a requirement though.

“You don’t have to have a car to be a member,” said club event promoter Dee Trip.

She said the club has members from all over the Valley, the tri-county area and into Pennsylvania. Among the membership is a wide cross section of classic and vintage automobiles and in many cases, members who have a collection of two or more. One such member is Dennis Siciliano from Girard. He has a 1950 Ford business coupe and a mint 1991 Camaro.

“I became a member in 1993,” he said. “I like what the club does and I will have my cars at the show.”

Another member, Rick Wagner of Boardman joined the club in 1983 after getting his washing machine fixed.

“I had a repairman come to my home to fix my washer,” Wagner said. “He saw a Model A I had and said I should join the MVOCC.”

Wagner did check the club out and liked what he saw.

“The club has a variety of cars and everyone in it gets along pretty good,” Wagner said. “Also, this is one of the few clubs that actually do things with the cars.”

He was referring to the shows like Cars in the Park and cruises where several club members caravan with their classic cars to various locations around the state. Wagner is always open to take part in the caravans, but for this weekend it will be all about parking the ride in the park. He said he will likely have his 1995 Galaxie and possibly his 1960 Ford F-100 pickup at the event.

Of the membership, the oldest vehicle owned by a member is a 1917 roadster. The newest could be as new as a 2003 Mercury Marauder.

As for what the club does with the funds and entry fees it takes in, Tripp said they have always found a young child in need. Wilcox was diagnosed with leukemia over a year ago and has since seen his fair share of medical procedures. It is uncertain if he will attend this year’s event as he was recently taken to Cincinnati for a bone marrow transplant.

Members of the MVOCC realize Brett and his parents Sharon and Don Wilcox are going through a tough time in life and the push to get funds for the family is well under way with Cars in the Park playing a big role.

The show is also geared to younger car enthusiasts with the third annual Pinewood Derby race. Last year, 40 competitors each built and designed their own Pinewood Racer. Tripp said she expects at least that many this year.

For more information on the event, visit www.mvocc.com.