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Community Corner

2nd Annual Bensalem Rotary Club Car Show

Saturday, May 21, 2011 kicked off the 2nd Annual Bensalem Rotary Club Car Show, a fund raising event that benefits students and area residents.

Bensalem High School’s parking lot filled fast.  For the first day in nearly a week, the sky was clear of rain clouds.  It was the perfect weather to hold Bensalem’s annual Rotary Club car show, the largest fund raising event for the non-profit organization.  As drivers made their way off Hulmeville Road, Rotary Club members and volunteers directed them to parking lots at the sides and back of the school.  

Arriving at the Bensalem Car Show

Dionne and her husband, Bob, parked and made their way to the show and vending area.  “Our son told us about the event,” Dionne said, hurrying to catch up to her husband.  “My husband loves cars,” she continued. 

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Bob agreed.  He added, “I also came to hang out with our son.”  

Tom, another car show attendee, said, “I’ve been going to car shows for years, usually in Philly.  This is my first time at the Bensalem car show.”  Compared to other car shows he’s been to, Tom thought the Bensalem car show was, “Pretty big.  It’s a nice show.” 

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Rows of polished cars, many of them classics, greeted Dionne, Bob, Tom and hundreds of the shows other attendees.  Some of the cars were nearly 80 years old.  Car enthusiasts, some more knowledgeable about automobiles than others, made their way slowly through the rows of cars, admiring the engines, styles and interior designs.  Kids and adults of all ages came out and enjoyed the event, the atmosphere inviting and relaxing. 

Cars Connecting People to Glory Days

Rich was a registrant in the show.  He displayed a 1936 Ford.  “This is my first time at the Bensalem show,” he said.  “However, I’ve been in car shows for 10 years.  Normally, I go to shows in Philly and in upper Lehigh Valley.  I’m always looking for new places (shows), so I can see different cars.  I’ve been a car enthusiast since I was a kid,” he added.  In comparison to other car shows he’s been to, Rich said the Bensalem Rotary Club’s car show is, “a nice car show.  There’s a nice variety of cars here.”  

A few cars ahead of where Rich sat next to his 1936 Ford, another registrant, Frank sat on a lawn chair alongside friends.  While he relaxed beneath the gentle noonday sun, he talked about his 1956 Ford Customline.  “I drove this type of car when I was in high school,” he shared.  “I got this car in Wisconsin.”  He stood and walked to the side of the car.  “This was a worker man’s car.  It had seat belts and padded dash boards in 1956.  People paid extra for safety features back then.  However, people didn’t want the safety features.  They bought cars for style in 1956.”  He stepped back, sunrays glistening off the side of the car and added, “I’ve done everything on this car except the paint job.  I’ve had it for about four years.” 

Good Food, Music and Fun

Like Frank, many of the car show registrants have had their automobiles for several years.  This year’s car show had about 160 cars on display, considerably more than the previous year’s 75 registered cars.  There were also 50 vendors at the car show selling a myriad of items like pizza, kettle corn, pulled pork, jewelry and t-shirts.  Texas Roadhouse and Palumbo’s provided much of the food.  In fact, Palumbo’s made fresh hot pizzas on site.  A few feet away from Palumbo’s booth workers from Tucker Chiropractic gave people free massages, blood pressure screenings and natural health care advice.  At the front of the high school, in the grassy area, were slides and other games for children.  Radio station WOGL provided music via the overhead system.  It was all made possible with the work of Rotary Club members, particularly Barry Schlein.  

“We had the car show idea for several years before we launched it in 2010,” Barry said.  “The car show is our largest fund raising event.  Dominick,” he said pointing to a middle-aged man sitting in a chair next to the trophy stand, “has been very helpful.” 

“We plan to have the car show next year,” Barry said. 

“And make it bigger,” Dominick leaned forward and enthused. 

“All proceeds go back to the community,” Barry said, “for scholarships and to help people in the community.”  

Barry has been a member of the Bensalem Rotary Club for 15 to 16 years.  Currently he is the club’s treasurer.  The previous three years he served as Club President.  Although the club started working on this year’s car show in January, Barry and Dominick both agreed that they would start working on next year’s show as soon as this year’s show ended. 

Registrants for this year’s car show get to vote on winners, proving that perhaps there is no greater satisfaction than being told by one’s peers that one’s work deserves a hearty “well done.”  Categories for this year’s show included best mustang, corvette and muscle car.  Winners are awarded a trophy.  Of course, they also earn the bragging rights to tell their family and friends that they came out on top at the 2nd Annual Bensalem Rotary Club Car Show.

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