pilot

You really “AUTO” have been there

by Cate Murway

Sunday was a step back in time day of cars, family fun, awesome eats, and perfect weather in historic Bristol on the Delaware.

Everyone remembers his or her first love and for some it wasn’t a person, it was a car.

An eclectic mix of hot rods, street cars, muscle cars, custom rides and classics- something for one and all!

Real deals or replicas? You would have loved them either way.

Residents and visitors, the show is growing in the number of participants each year, converged to marvel at the absolutely stunning vehicles at the 32nd Annual Bristol Antique Auto Show sponsored by the Bristol Borough Business Association.

Bristol always celebrates in a big‚ small town way.

There is a wealth of auto enthusiasts in this area, and this setting gives auto-related businesses an unparalleled opportunity to market directly to their target consumer.

Roland Hems III and Megan McAleer, owners of “Hems Truck and Auto” on Farragut Avenue, totally enjoyed the Elks Breakfast and the Mill Street Car Show, the longest running car show in Bucks County.

For the entire month of May, they offer a “Hems” special.

“We Honor and Support our Vets and Soldiers and to show our gratitude we are offering FREE State Safety Inspection!”

Chef /owner of “Café Bombay”, Gigi Eapen and his wife, Jancy

and their children Angela and Andrew

happily checked out the large number of cars

that consumed most of Mill Street and lined down

partially onto Radcliffe Street along the water’s edge.

Local author, William “Bill” Pezza, BHS ‘65 put down his pen,

walked away from his PC and

enjoyed his jaunt along with the rest of “Anna’s Boys”

through the vintage vehicles and without “Stealing Tomatoes”.

He shared that he once owned a “pre-children” MG.

Levittown Boy Scout Troop #316 and their assistant scoutmaster Pete Liptrot

brought their fundraising special “Trail’s End” butter popcorn to the event.

Apparently they are truly convinced that “anything is possible with popcorn!”

Susan Corleto and her husband Steve run “Barking Spyder Board Shop” and “Steve’s Tees and DeSigns” and are soon to open an additional shoppe, “Sweet Mustard Seed”. They proudly displayed a table full of selections from their current stores. Their smashing smiles show that they love Mill Street with its friendship, love, esteem and good will.

Serena [Manzo] Sylvester, BHS ’92 and her 5-year-old son Matthew

were excited about seeing the cars and hanging out

with this fun community.

Bristol- small town living at its best with its four season natural beauty!

The proud owners are more than happy to tell you all about their vehicle, how it was restored, plans for future restoration, or any other topic you want to discuss.

Dr. Stephen J. Matlaga, D.C. from Burlington, NJ came to Bristol for the very first time and he “enjoyed it immensly”. A good friend talked him into coming. “I was pleasantly surprised; it’s a nice little town and I will be back for dinner in the restaurants.”

He proudly presented his stunning 1949 Chrysler Town & Country convertible that he purchased in 1985 from the owner of the former J. Sterling Dairy in Wrightstown. Only 993 of these spectacular cars were sold in 1949, the last Convertible “Woodie” offered, and less than 150 are believed to survive today. He boasted, “All original and restored, original ashwood, paint, chrome, and interior with the original 119,000 miles”.

Yes, he admitted, he still drives it about!

Ben DiPette used to live in the Borough but he comes back often for all the activities. “Taking a look at stuff I’d like to have but don’t.” He drives a champagne 1992 Cutlass.

Friends of his accompanied him. Jay Brown came because he’s “really into old cars” and Chuck Mayberry, because “I do like all cars, especially the old ones.”

Borough residents Christina “Lucky” Luciano and Rachael “lateTbug” Ferguson came to the show because they like cars and they are friends of Carl Schultz, the proprietor of “Flash Effects”. He sponsors them in the flat and banked track Penn Jersey women’s travel team, the She-Devils [PJSD] Roller Derby.

Serrie and Gail [Messenger], BHS ’63 Aita

owned a grocery store in town for years.

Serrie’s Market was in the current location of Schmidt’s Florist.

Gail’s brother, Frank, BHS ‘68 has a ‘57 Chevy and

a ’73 very orange VW entered in the show.

Guido Kaiser has been living in the Borough for almost ten years. He entered his jalopy, a homemade jeep hot rod, basically a ‘Rat Rod’ built of spare parts. His red 1947 Harley- Davidson WL is a piece of American history. H-D was one of two major American motorcycle manufacturers to survive the Great Depression and soldiers rode these distinctivly designed “Harleys” during the War.

Richard Voroscak and his twin brother, Robert, BHS ‘80 go only to the car shows in Bristol. “We come every year.” No cars to show. They just come to see.

Virginia Burton, BHS ’81 and Captain Richard Hughes were stationed on the corner of Pond and Mill Street for traffic and crowd control. “Good crowd and very steady.”

Norm Ely comes to the car show every year because “I like cars.”

Molly and Louis Marseglia live in the Borough and “his” ‘76 Corvette Stingray was displayed in the show. Molly said, “It’s his car. I clean it.”

Art VanNess read BBBA President Rich Vallejo’s flyer advertisement for the car show at Farmco Auto Electric. He entered his friend, Bill Mortland’s vehicle, a ’51 Mercury Custom with the “chopped top roofline” that he helped to restore. Bet you it’s what James Dean would drive if he were here today.

Paul Singh of the Bristol MiniMart/Convenience Store liked the purple-ish “hydraulic” custom Cadillac parked outside his store window. “He did a lot of work on that car.”

This small town sure draws big crowds.

Hope to see you soon as the Bristol Lions present the outdoor summer band concert series in the Bristol Lions Park gazebo on the Delaware River every Sunday. Bring your lawn chair, a “sit-upon” or fleece blanket, visit with your neighbors, read the Bristol Pilot and enjoy the music.

Pick up your copy of the monthly publication of the Bristol Borough Calendar and check for the scheduled events.

Recommend a “Spotlight”: e-mail vjmrun@yahoo.com