New Jerusalem >> Larry Dey Auto Service’s seventh annual Cruise for a Cure drove in ahead of a severe thunderstorm watch Saturday, Sept. 6.
Despite weather being the biggest challenge for this event, 175 cars, ranging from street rods and customs to antiques and even motorcycles, drew a large crowd of car enthusiasts and supporters.
“My wife had breast cancer a little over seven years ago and this is to help raise awareness and help the people that get breast cancer,” said Larry Dey.
“It’s a wonderful feeling that we can do this. It’s just so wonderful how the people are so generous.,” said Faye Dey.
“The people who bring their cars and the spectators and then we have wonderful business partners who donate prizes for us and our friends and Relay for Life Team, our church and other members of our church, they just all pitch in and make it all so much easier and worthwhile,” said Faye Dey.
Larry said he has a lot of help to get it done from friends and what really helps to make it work are the donations from local business people and people he deals with in his business.
Last year’s car show raised more than $11,000 for Relay For Life. The first year the event was held raised around $3,000 with a turnout of 75 cars. Over the years the car show grew and at last year’s show there were 250 cars.
Food was donated by Janelle Hall, Bowers, Boyers Market at Boyers Junction, and the members of the Relay For Life team with the New Jerusalem Lutheran Church, Fleetwood, provided baked goods and beverages. Everything was donated including the door prizes and contributions from the exhibitors.
“The best thing about car shows is memories,” said Donna Becker, Kutztown. “It brings you back in time. I grew up in the 60s and 70s so seeing these cars brings back good memories in that time frame.”
It wasn’t hard for Becker and others to feel nostalgic looking at the vintage and antique cars, smelling the aroma of grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, and listening to golden oldies like Danny and the Juniors, At The Hop, playing over loudspeakers.
Kenny Gruber, good friends with Larry Dey, enjoys going to car shows with his 1934 Chevy Coupe.
“I build them myself. It’s pretty much the pride of having people look at the car and just enjoying the car,” said Gruber.
Gruber also has a 30 Model A Coupe and two Camaros, but the 34 Chevy is his favorite. He used to race stock cars and put the motor from his stock car into the Chevy. Everything on that car he built and painted. It took him four years to finish it.
If you are interested in getting an old car, Gruber suggested going to car shows and ask a lot of questions. The most important thing to consider is what you want to get out of it as far as fun, strictly show, or something to drive around and just enjoy. It also depends on how much money you’re able to spend. Gruber said he invested as much as some houses into his Chevy.
Some of the exhibitors admitted to liking their cars purely on color or if the car was from their time era.
Mike Sabocheck, dressed in a neon lime green shirt, stood alongside his deep purple 1931 Ford Sedan. Besides favoring the color, he said his car was actually featured in a magazine in 1975. It is considered unique because it has four doors rather than the standard two and only 1,600 were made in 1931.
“When I was looking to get a hotrod, I had said to the wife [Tracy] that I was looking to get one and she says well it would be nice if it had a back seat,” said Sabocheck.
Sabocheck bought his car about eight years ago already finished and likes being able to take his friends for a ride in it.
