Apex Automotive Magazine - Summer 2017

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CAR REVIEWS / LOCAL SHOP STORIES / LOCAL BUILDS / CAR SHOW COVERAGE

SUMMER 2017

FREE

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CENTRAL NEW YORK’S AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE

FORD FOCUS RS DRIVEN We test drive Ford’s latest hothatch. Is 350hp/350tq and AWD enough to make this car special?

2017 CAMARO 2SS DRIVEN We were excited to get our hands on latest LT1 powered and much lighter SS Camaro and boy was it awesome.

1961 PORSCHE

356B

FEATURED CNY SHOP

THE RIM DOCTOR OF SYRACUSE, NY IS YOUR ONE STOP RIM RESTORATION SHOP

CABRIOLET A 1965 Chevrolet Impala that cut weight and is built to handle the twisties and the straights (Pg. 20)

Team Venom Racing is a force to be reckoned with both at the race track and on the streets (Pg. 30)

We check out a rare Honda Civic Si that is truly built not bought (Pg. 24)

THE TEAM

Summer Issue 2017

Managing Editor Kevin Crandall Marketing Manager Bob Sblendorio Creative Director Justin Palmer Director of Photography Chris Penree Photography Thomas Sblendorio, Dalton Dobson, John Zachary Contributing Writers Justin Palmer, John Zachary, Nick Graziano, Bob Sblendorio, Jacob Cetnar, John Cannizzaro, Mike Mastracco Proofreaders Denise Crandall Account Manager Elise Robinson Website Damon Maldonado at MPW Marketing Proudly printed locally by Kenyon Press Inc. Advertise with us!

Apex Automotive Magazine is the only publication of its kind in CNY. Each issue contains articles featuring custom builds, local car shows, area custom shops, auto enthusiasts, unique car stories, and everything else automotive.

Thank you!

We appreciate all of our amazing advertisers, without them this publication would not be possible.

Please give them a chance to earn your patronage and tell them you saw them in Apex Automotive Magazine.

Online To find out more about advertising in Apex, visit apexautomag.com or call 315.280.8305 Apex Automotive Magazine is published four times per year by Seven Horsepower Publishing, LLC. To subscribe: Please send $10 to the below address.

Magazines will be delivered via USPS. Apex Automotive Magazine PO Box 344 Sherburne, NY 13460 We welcome feedback, story suggestions, reader contributions and anything else you might like to share with us. Send us a note to info@apexautomag.com.

All contents copyright 2017, Apex Automotive Magazine. No part of this magazine may be reproduced or republished without consent.

Apex Automotive Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited submissions, photos, or artwork.

10.

THE SPEEDSTER THAT NEVER WAS

We take a look at one of the most incredible home builds we have yet to feature.

By Nick Graziano

14.

20.

30.

Mark Schultz not only is in the business of classic Porsche’s, he happens to own one.

A 1965 Chevrolet Impala that cut weight and is built to handle the twisties and not to mention ... it’s also fast in a straight line.

This mighty Nissan Titan is built for both pulling power and for speed.

1961 PORSCHE 365B CABRIOLET

By Bob Sblendorio

AUTOCROSS MUSCLE

By Jacob Cetnar

TEAM VENOM RACING

By Bob Sblendorio

COOL CAR STORIES

CAR SHOWS

24. A Super Clean EH3 Built with Love

50. Corvette Cars and Coffee

36. The Rim Doctor

59. CNY Cars and Coffee.

42. Race Car Driver Stewart Friesen

61. Kruising Knights Car Show

46. Fulton Speedway 52. CNY Porsche Club Detailing Clinic

APEX SPONSORED SHOW

56. The Crystal Ball Cruise

63. Street Scene Pre Show Coverage

Online: apexautomag.com | Facebook.com: facebook/apexautomag.com | Instagram: apexautomag

CONTENTS PHOTO BY THOMAS SBLENDORIO \ COVER PHOTO BY CHRIS PENREE

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 3

A LETTER FROM OUR TEAM We’ve been hard at work, cranking out this latest edition of the magazine while also hitting the streets for new stories and events. Hopefully you were able to see us at a couple of the recent big shows we attended like the Fountain Elms show at Munson Williams where we co-sponsored the Invitational segment. We also paired up with our friends at Tucci Hot Rods again and handed out thousands of magazines at this year’s Syracuse Nationals.

In this issue, we’re once again showcasing a variety of car stories throughout the upstate New York region. We have some exciting motorsports stories, covering driver Stewart Friesen, Fulton Speedway and an incredible Nissan Titan.

We’ve also got a number of very unique vehicle feature articles and we visit the Rim Doctor as our featured shop for this edition. If there is ever a segment of the area’s car culture that you believe we’re missing out on, please feel free to contact us - we love hearing from our readers!

As we round out the summer season, there are still several shows worth keeping in mind to attend, including Street Scene, Adirondack Nationals, Dover Drag Strip Nostalgia Drags, Adirondack Nationals, and the River Rat Rod Run. A detailed schedule is once again in the back of the magazine.

We’re still looking for help if anyone has an interest in writing, ad sales, distribution, working at car shows, etc. This is especially true in other sections of the state (Rochester, Albany, Binghamton). If you are passionate about the area’s automotive scene and want to be part of our team, shoot us an email to info@apexautomag.com.

Thanks for reading. As always, we’d like to encourage you to support our advertisers, as without them, Apex would simply not exist.

See you on the road.

YOU SEND YOUR FAVORITE CAR PICTURE  WE PUBLISH IT  YOU WIN FREE NORTHEAST CLASSIC CAR MUSEUM TICKETS

Readers Rides EACH ISSUE WE SHOWCASE A FEW OF OUR READERS RIDES!

2010 Camaro SS Owner: Cody Powers This is my 2010 Camaro SS. I bought this car about 2 years ago and have been modding it ever since. It replaced my last “sports car” which was a 2005 Dodge Neon SRT-4 with a big turbo swap that made 400whp & 400ft/tq. I bought the Camaro because at the time I was looking for a American v8 that was easy to modify

and make power. I also really like the style of the 5th generation. I love the style of the exterior - the taillights, the wide body and I think the grill is pretty aggressive looking.

The Camaro currently has a full Borla exhaust, kooks longtube headers, ported throttle body, custom ground

cam, nitrous express plate system, the car is lowered on bmr springs, it also has PFADT rear control arms & trailing arms. As far as the exterior it’s got 18 x 8.5 race stars up front & 17 x 10.5 in the back. The interior features a mgw short throw shifter, sjm line lock system, AEM wideband, and Aeromotive scan guage. The car makes 570whp & 625ft/tq. I enjoy having the power on command almost in any gear and any rpm.

It’s a great feeling to have with the nitrous. It’s a game changer and puts the car into a different bracket.

I enjoy the car anytime I fire her up. If it’s driving to a car show or the race track the car is a lot of fun. It always puts a smile on my face. The car is pretty much done for now. I’m sure there will be some little things here and there but as of right now the car is just as I wanted it to be in terms of looks and power.

1963 International Scout Model 80 Owner: Butch Dreher

This Rat Rod started its life off as a shop truck for Butch’s father inlaw’s boat shop. After his passing the truck fell into disrepair and was bound for the scrap yard! That’s when Butch came into the picture and brought what was left of the Scout home and promptly chopped 12 inches from the center section effectively lowering the Scout a total of 17 inches. From there Butch wedged a Ford 4.6 liter DOHC motor, hooked to a 4 speed automatic transmission, and a one ton Chevy dually rear end with 4:10 gears.

DO YOU HAVE AN AWESOME RIDE YOU WANT US TO SHARE?

Email high-resolution, clear photos and a brief description about your vehicle to rides@apexautomag.com.

Please include your name and hometown.

All of this issue’s Reader’s Rides features are getting 2 FREE Admission tickets to the North-

east Classic Car Museum! We want to thank the Museum for sponsoring this section with this great prize package. If you haven’t been there lately, go check it out!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 5

LIMITED TIME ONLY! 5 winners picked!

Subscribe + Win! Visit www.apexautomag.com before 9/1/17 and you will be entered into a

drawing to win a FREE Apex Automotive Magazine graphic tee, a FREE subscription and a FREE decal!

WIN!

This 1965 Mustang Convertible Drawing: October 6, 2017

Tickets: $5 each or 5 for $20 15 for $50 35 for $100 or 200 for $500

Last year’s winner: Bob Brooks of Mayfield, NY!

I am Purchasing ______________Tickets for $_______________

Total order $_____________

*Please return my ticket stubs by mail. I have added or authorize an additional $1 to cover mailing materials and postage. (Stub not necessary to claim prize.)

Name___________________________________________________________________Address______________________________________________________________________ City________________________________________________________State____________________________________________Zip Code_________________________________ Phone______________________________________________________Email (optional)___________________________________________________________________________ Card #_________________________________________________________________

Proceeds benefit Northeast Classic Car Museum, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit corporation.

Exp. Date_______________CVV #______________

Mail this form, or copy of this form, along with check, money order or credit card information to NECCM, Department APEX, 24 Rexford Street, Norwich, NY 13815.

Also order online at www.classiccarmuseum.org or call 607-334-2886.

Orders must be postmarked by 9/29/17.

NO PURCHASE OR DONATION NECESSARY TO ENTER OR WIN RAFFLE. Open to U.S. Residents age 18+. Void where prohibited. Runs 1/23/17 to 9/29/17. Prize: 1965 Mustang Convertible ($18,000 ARV). Odds of winning depend on number of eligible entries received. To view complete Official Rules visit www.classiccarmuseum.org or send self-addressed stamped envelope to: NECCM Rules, 24 Rexford St, Norwich, NY 13815.

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NEW CAR REVIEW

New car review brought to you by carbone auto group

Driven

2017 CHEVROLET CAMARO 2SS

2017 Chevrolet Camaro 2SS Specs Engine: 6.2L LT1 V8 Transmission: Tremec 6-Speed Manual or 8-Speed Automatic Power: 455hp/455 lb-ft 0-60: 3.9 (Sec) Top Speed: 165mph

H

aving extensively driven a 5th generation 2015 Camaro in the past, I knew that this 6th generation 2017 2SS Camaro had a tough act to follow. The test car was equipped with Chevrolet’s new 6.2L LT1 V8, the proven Tremec TR-6060 6-speed manual transmission, a well-appointed interior with leather seats, heads up display, and all of the modern features expected in today’s cars. The 2017 is about 200 lbs lighter than the 5th generation Camaro and sits on a totally redesigned chassis called the Alpha platform. The new platform, combined with about 30 more horsepower, gives the Camaro a subtle but noticeable increase in accelera-

WORDS BY JACOB CETNAR PHOTOS BY CHRIS PENREE

tion over its predecessor.

Upon driving the Camaro, I was happy to learn that Chevrolet improved upon the already stellar handling of the 2015 model. The steering is more responsive and the car feels more confident in quick maneuvers and various types of corners. As expected, the car felt great in high speed corners even on some of New York’s typical rough roads. What surprised me though, was how light and nimble the roughly 3,600 lb car felt in sharp, slow speed corners. Despite its added power, reduced weight, and the 45 degree temperatures on the day of testing, the car still had very little issue maintaining traction. Only from a dead stop or shifting hard into second

did the tires start to break free if I wasn’t careful. Despite its power, the car is extremely well behaved and easy to drive. It is a far cry from the solid rear axle equipped muscle cars from years past.

Although a worthy performance adversary, to cars like the BMW M4 and even the Corvette, in many ways the Camaro does not sacrifice its unique personality. The chiseled body design, iconic gauges, and sharply contoured dashboard constantly remind the driver of the Camaro’s 50 year history. Aiding in this personality is the Camaro’s active exhaust. Unlike the disappointingly quiet exhaust on 5th generation Camaros, the new setup transforms the driving experience. It makes the

car smooth and quiet enough to take on any road trip, while also providing a satisfyingly loud exhaust note under acceleration. Simply put, there is no mistaking this car for a V6 model.

Overall, I thoroughly enjoyed driving the new Camaro.

I remember going to the Camaro opening day back when they first came out seven years ago. To see how far they have come since then is incredible.

I would definitely recommend buying a 2017 over a 5th generation model, I think it is well worth the extra money.

Apex Automotive Magazine would like to thank Carbone Auto Group for allowing us to review this awe inspiring 2017 Camaro.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 7

Specializing in Quality Used European Automobiles AUDI

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315 724 9818 senshinemotors.com SAM WILT Speed Shop Manager 4475 Commercial Drive New Hartford, NY 13413 315-768-1015

NEW CAR REVIEW

New car review brought to you by Steet Ponte Ford Lincoln

Driven

2017 FORD FOCUS RS

2017 Ford Focus RS Specs Engine: 2.3L Turbocharged Transmission: 6-Speed Manual Power: 350hp/350 lb-ft 0-60: 4.7 (Sec) Top Speed: 165mph

W

hen most people think of a Ford Focus they think of a small sensible hatchback car that gets good fuel economy. They know that it can easily haul four adults or a multitude of large objects with the rear seats folded down. In most hatchbacks, this level of practicality usually exists at the expense of power and handling. Most people don’t expect a Focus to be very fast or fun to drive, a perception that the 2017 Ford Focus RS seeks to drastically change.

In creating the Focus RS, Ford aimed to make a Focus for the automotive enthusiast who wants a fun daily drivable car. By giving the RS aggressive looks combined with a 6-speed manual transmission, Ford was

WORDS BY JACOB CETNAR PHOTOS BY CHRIS PENREE

off to a good start. To do both the looks and transmission justice, a 2.3L 350 horsepower turbocharged 4-cylinder engine and an advanced all-wheel drive system was added. This combination of components gives the RS the ability to go from 0-60 mph in only 4.7 seconds. To tame all of this power, the RS is fitted with tried and true Brembo brakes. Despite these impressive performance specifications, it still has the same interior space and features of any other Focus. Even with many RS’s currently selling over MSRP, the car’s great qualities can still be enjoyed for about the price of a four-door sedan.

To top it all off, the RS is a performance car that can be enjoyed year round. The

car’s advanced all-wheel drive system is not only valuable for performance minded drivers, but also for dealing with Central NY winters. Coupled with a set of snow tires, the RS goes from being a fast summer car to a car that can handle even the worst winter snowstorms.

With performance rivaling less practical cars like the

Mustang or Camaro, on paper the RS has the ability to be both a fun sports car and a practical family and equipment hauler.

To find out Apex Creative Director, Justin Palmer’s thoughts on driving the 2017 Ford Focus RS, please check out our Facebook page and view his detailed video review: https://www. facebook.com/apexautomag

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 9

PASSION PROJECT

THE

SPEEDSTER THAT NEVER WAS. WORDS BY NICK GRAZIANO PHOTOS BY CHRIS PENREE

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“I can’t get tired of staring at it.

No one has seen anything like this, even Studebaker people.”

At first sight of Vic Oliver's Studebaker you're mesmerized.

Its two-tone paint job calms your eyes, making it a pleasure to study every angle of the exquisitely proportioned car.

Its chrome accents and white leather interior give it the chic and sophistication of a 1950s Lincoln, while its convertible two-seat design with dual fins protruding from the rear gives it the allure of a 1955 Ford Thunderbird.

The Studebaker’s characteristics add up to a familiar formula, yet when further examining the car it begins to look atypical; especially when your eyes find the gold “Speedster II” emblems at the rear of the car.

And that’s because the car doesn’t exist – technically.

The car was originally a 1953 Studebaker Starlight. But after only eight months of extraneous work, an assortment of original Studebaker parts and a clear vision, Oliver turned the Starlight into a concept car the engineers at Studebaker never got to make.

The idea for the convertible Speedster II came from a 12 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

PASSION PROJECT

In the eight months it took him to build the Speedster II last year, he had about 3,000 hours of work into it. Every day he worked on it were 12 to 15 hours days.

The project was the biggest one he had ever attempted.

conceptual drawing by legendary car designer Bob Bourke. The drawing was of a conceptual sports car design fashioned from production steel panels.

It was meant to have the sporty, racy appearance similar to the styling feature used on Continental Mark Vs and Ford Thunderbirds of the time, according to the book Bob Bourke designs for Studebaker

by John Bridges, where the original design can be found. One of the only main differences between that design and Oliver’s finished design is he made his convertible – something you would not find on Studebakers between 1953 and 1959.

And before Oliver had the inspiration to take on the project, the idea to make the concept a reality was originated from the previous owner of the 1953 Starlight, Jack Morris.

A few years ago Oliver went to a swap meet in Philadelphia, looking to research Studebakers and potentially find a new project. His wife, Connie, found Morris sitting with a bunch of Studebaker parts and items. They struck up a conversation and Jack told them about this Studebaker project he had with a 1953 Starlight. It was a project Oliver knew he wanted to take on.

And when he came across the concept drawing by Bourke, Oliver said he thought, “I could see myself doing that.”

His passion to work on cars began in high school when he would hang out at an automotive shop in Mattydale, learning how to sculpt body work, among other skills. It was about this time when he fell in love with Studebakers, too, saying he just thought they were cool.

He had many hot rods when he was in high school and always dreamed of having his own place to work on them. But soon after life took over. He got married and had a family. His passion for working on cars had to be pushed to the side for a while.

Oliver, now 65 years old, decided to retire at age 57 in order to pursue his dream. He said there are a lot of people who dream of doing something, but by the time they retire they’re too old to do so. He wanted to get out before he got too old.

From there on he spent his time working on and building a variety of classic cars before finding his latest passion project, the Studebaker. Every step of the build, from the body work to the welding to the paint, was done by Oliver.

In the eight months it took him to build the

Speedster II last year, he had about 3,000 hours of work into it. Every day he worked on it were 12 to 15 hours days. The project was the biggest one he had ever attempted.

“I can’t believe I did it,” Oliver said.

He sought help where he could, too. Friends and family helped along the way, and even a FedEx driver at one point. Oliver said one day when he was working on putting the rear bumper on the car, a FedEx driver was delivering a package, and he pulled him into the garage to help him out.

Oliver said, one of his biggest supporters was his wife, who like him, has a passion for classic cars. “I couldn’t have done it without her,” he said.

When building the car, Oliver said he tried to put himself in the mindset of the Studebaker engineers. He wanted to build the car the way they would have done it. That meant using all Studebaker parts and having to get creative in how he used them. Acting as the Studebaker edition of Dr. Victor Frankenstein, Oliver used an assortment of parts from 1950s and 60s Studebakers to bring his creation alive.

The rear fins are from a 1956 Studebaker, the dashboard from a 1960s Studebaker, the fender trims from a 1950s Studebaker, and so on. The two-tone blue paint is of his own choosing, though. He just liked the color scheme, he said.

The only custom part on the car is the gold “Speedster II” emblems, which Oliver had a local jeweler make. Under the hood is a 289 V8 engine, which is attached to a 4-speed manual transmission.

Oliver calls it a 1955 Speedster II. “I love every part of the car,” Oliver said. “I can’t get tired of staring at it. No one has seen anything like this, even Studebaker people.”

But soon many will. As part of a special exhibit, Oliver’s Studebaker will be placed in the National Studebaker Museum in South Bend, IN for about six months. For those as passionate about Studebakers as Oliver, the car is sure to catch their eye and draw it to every perfectly proportioned section of the car. They’ll be mesmerized at first sight.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 13

VINTAGE PRIDE 101 years in business…Mark Schultz is the 4th generation business owner! The original business was started in 1916 by Mark’s great, great grandfather, Jacob Schultz, who was a blacksmith. He built custom chassis, wagons and wheels in Utica.

Mark’s grandfather, Walter Schultz, moved the business to Rome in 1940. Walter was known as “Dutch”, a nickname because of his resemblance to an infamous mobster from the 1920s and ‘30s, Dutch Schultz. He embraced the resemblance and named the

business Dutch’s Body Shop, which was located on West Park Street.

Mark’s friend, Lou Mangino knew Dutch very well. Years ago, Lou’s father (Pat Mangino) owned Mangino Auto Supply on Erie Boulevard in Rome. Dutch would frequently come there for paint supplies.

Lou described Dutch as a “gregarious and outgoing guy.”

Lou went on and told of a humorous story that kind of summed up Mark’s

grandfather…Dutch: “In the ‘70s, on a hot summer day, with both doors of the business open, Dutch (and Mark, who was 7 or 8 years old) came to Mangino Auto Supply to pick up a paint order — drove right through the open doors, into the store, up to the counter, rolled the window down, made us deliver the paint order to the window and said to my father —‘it’s about time you put a drive through window in here!’” Lou went on to say that “everyone loved Dutch, he would give you the shirt off his back. He was that kind of guy.”

1961 PORSCHE 356B CABRIOLET

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Words by Bob Sblendorio and photos by Chris Penree

A fourth generation business owner and widely respected Porsche lover who started his passion for Porsche with the 365B.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 15

VINTAGE PRIDE

Eventually Mark’s father, Bruce Schultz , took over the business. Mark said, “years ago my father told me ‘go work for a lot of people and come back and you will know a little bit more than if you only worked at the family business,’” and Mark did just that.

In 1999 he finally opened his own shop… Schultz Autoworks, at 1006 Thorn Street, Utica. The shop specializes in Porsche restoration and service. They do work on other cars as well, but working on Porsche cars represents the bulk on the work. “I am a sports car guy and I’ve always loved the car [Porsche]. I’ve owned muscle cars and still have a 1964 Olds Cutlass 442 that I bought when I was 15 years old, which was my first car; but I really love the Porsche styling.”

When he first saw a Porsche 356 as a kid in his father’s shop, his father referred to it as an “upside down bathtub,” a frequent nickname for the 356 model.

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1961 Porsche 356B Cabriolet Super 90 Performance 90 HP Engine 1.6 L, opposed 4-cyl, air cooled Drivetrain 4-speed, rear-wheel drive 356B Production 1960-1963 (production of all 356 models, 1948-1965) Body Steel built by Reutter company Brakes Drum, all 4-wheels

Nowadays, those “Upside down bathtubs” can fetch well in excess of six figures to purchase.

Mark bought his 1961 Porsche 356B in 2002.

It was taken all apart and restored piece-by-piece, a process that took about 6 months. Even though it only has 90 hp (Super 90), it is “quick and nimble to drive.” Mark continued, “it’s kind of archaic compared to the cars of today, but it’s the kind of car that every time you drive it, puts a smile on your face. You definitely get the gawk factor from people and it’s just a fun car to drive.”

So if you ever are in need of expert work on your Porsche, or anything else, go see Mark at Schultz Autoworks in Utica. He runs the shop with his cousin, Danny — and his two trusted and friendly four-legged assistants — Carrera and Cayenne!

Porsche 356 The production of the 356 started in 1948 and is considered the first car manufactured by Porsche. The car was the work of Ferdinand “Ferry” Porsche, who was the son of the founder. The car was largely based on the VW Beetle platform, and sourced initially with many mechanical parts from Volkswagen. By the late 1950s, fewer and fewer parts came from VW. The 356 was manufactured until 1965, and there were four different models. Initially there was the 356 (pre-A), produced from 1948-55; the 356A, produced from 1955-59; the 356B, produced from 1959-63; and lastly the 356C, produced from 1963-65.

The engines throughout all the models were always air-cooled, initially 1100cc and as time went on, increased to 1600cc. Even though the engines were small, the cars didn’t weigh that much (1700-2296 lbs). They were always quick and nimble to drive.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 17

BUDGET BEAST

AUTOCROSS MUSCLE WORDS BY JACOB CETNAR AND PHOTOS BY CHRIS PENREE

1965 Chevrolet Impala might at first look like a straight line monster, but this big girl likes to dance

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Engine Small Block Chevy 388 stroker Power 450bhp Gearbox 4 speed

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 21

BUDGET BEAST

With modern muscle cars’ plethora of amenities, it’s easy to forget that they once came without airbags, warning labels, and an interior that’s quieter than your house. Thanks to Tim LaRochelle and his 1965 Chevy Impala though, I was honored with the opportunity to be reminded of all that.

Tim’s car started off as a basket case when he bought it over 35 years ago. Despite owning it for so long, it took him many years to finally build the car the way he wanted. With a laugh, Tim said, “I bought those tires and wheels for the car 20 years ago and I said, someday they’re going to go on the car...someday they did.” Although some parts were purchased long ago, it wasn’t until well into the 2000’s that the car was finally fully restored.

To understand the design decisions made with this car, it is essential to first get to know Tim and his son. Tim is an old school guy.

When I first texted him to schedule a time to discuss the car, I received no response. I finally called him and he explained that he doesn’t text. This nature shows up in the car too. The small block Chevy powering the Impala is an old 350 turned 388 stroker, which came out of one of Tim’s old trucks. It is topped off with a carburetor that has a well-crafted dual cold air intake system feeding it. In true muscle car fashion, the Impala produces a healthy 450 horsepower with a new cam Tim just installed. Completing the engine are headers off of his old racecar and side pipes off of an 22 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

older NASCAR, further aiding in the car’s old school feel. Behind it is a tried and true 4-speed manual with a 3.31 rear end to provide reasonable cruising rpms at highway speeds. The Impala is the factory color, and despite being a 13 year old paint job is in very good shape. All in all, a setup true to the car’s era.

Upon further examination of the car, it became clear that Tim’s son made his mark too. Tim told me that although he likes building them, his son is primarily the one who drives and races the car.

Every year they go down to the Good Guys event in Charlotte, NC and compete in autocross. As a result, the car has a full roll cage, modernized custom suspension, 5 point harnesses, and even cooling ducts for the front brakes. I then realized that the car may have a lot of old school components, but it has all of the modern parts where it counts. To top it off, this Impala, a car that is almost as long and wide as a full size pickup truck, is only 3,500 lbs.

Despite his better judgement, Tim let me drive his car (thanks Tim!). Unfortunately, I have not had the opportunity to get behind the wheel of many old muscle cars, so I was very happy to do so. Tim warned me that due to his new cam and carb setup needing a bit of tuning, the car was a bit tricky to drive.

Unsurprisingly, despite this warning, I

The car has a full roll cage, modernized custom suspension, 5 point harnesses, and even cooling ducts for the front brakes.

still managed to stall the car immediately.

Once I got moving though, I was shocked at the steering feel of the car. Body roll was minimal and the steering was as tight and responsive as any modern car I’ve driven.

The weight of the steering was perfect, as was the feel of the clutch and gas pedal. The car did not feel like it was over 50 years old at all. After some more hiccups along the way, I finally started to learn the car and it became much easier and even more of a pleasure to drive. Having nothing but a lap belt on, a basic dashboard, and zero traction control add-ons or electronic gizmos made it a very refreshing experience. In true muscle car fashion, talking to Tim while driving consisted less of actually talking and more of yelling at each other over the glorious sounds of American V8. Just the way I like it.

After hearing about what’s inside this car, many would think that it was probably $20,000 or $30,000 to build. Much to my surprise though, Tim said it only cost him about $10,000. Tim will humbly tell you,

“the car is a little crude,” but by my estimation it is a well built and well thought out machine especially for its price. It may not have fancy racing seats, a high end dash, air suspension, or a wild nitrous setup, but at the end of

the day it will get you down the road or track at a respectable rate while putting an ear to ear grin on your face. It will even take you around a corner too, which in itself is a feat for a 65 Impala. For only $10,000, what more can you really ask for?

I bought those tires and wheels for the car 20 years ago and I said, someday they’re going to go on the car...someday they did.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 23

PASSION PROJECT

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More than just a ride words by JUSTIN PALMER photos by THOMAS SBLENDORIO

For Syracuse resident Dan Leone, his super clean Honda Civic Si is not only a car, but the physical manifestation of an era.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 25

Dan Leone first caught the Honda bug in 1997 when his close friend and fellow Team MCM skateboard club member Chad introduced him to the scene. “I bought my first Honda in 1998, a Honda Civic EX coupe that I still own to this day. I’ll never part with it because it has so much sentimental value and brings back a lot of memories.” Some of the parts of the coupe even made it into his black EH3 build.

When I asked Dan why he chose the EH3 as a canvas to build from he replied, “When I got into cars I didn’t relate to domestic guys. Tuning imports was a completely new concept then (at least where I lived) and no one was into them. Everyone was talking crap about Hondas and it almost made me want to get into the scene even more. They are just a completely different approach to performance.”

Before Dan owned this clean little hatch, it was his friend’s car. His friend almost immediately stripped the car down and resprayed it from its OEM red color to its current black. The car was almost 100% perfect with the only major issue being a dent in the quarter panel that he fixed before the respray. Lacking the funds to modify the car, Dan’s friend installed all the OEM parts back into the car and listed it for sale so he could fund his next project, a Honda S2000. Dan wanted the car badly and offered his friend a deal. He would put half down and pay him back over the next two years for the other half. Although there were plenty of people willing to buy the car in one whole shot, his buddy agreed to the terms because he knew how much the car meant to Dan. Dan kept his word and paid his friend back, and they are still great friends to this day.

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I bought my first Honda in 1998, a Honda Civic EX coupe that I still own to this day. I’ll never part with it because it has so much sentimental value and brings back a lot of memories.

Wanting to keep the car clean and as factory looking as possible, Dan opted to restore the car to mostly OEM specs. However, many of the components were swapped to Japanese OEM specifications.

So, while at first glance to a non-Honda enthusiast, this EH3 may look stock, it has plenty of work and passion behind it.

Now usually when you think of the word ‘sports car’ you almost always think of a coupe shape, so I asked Dan why he chose the more practical hatch version of the Honda Civic Si. “I started off with coupes, but over time I liked the hatch because it was an underdog. The sheer fact it was a hatch and front wheel drive made it a total odd ball back in those days.”

One thing I noticed right away with Dan’s car is how clean it is. We live in a world of overly modified cars, huge wings, horrid body kits and plasti-dipped

PASSION PROJECT

neon pink wheels - but Dan’s super clean hatch seems to really stick out because of how tasteful it is. “Stance is everything. You can have great wheels, great mods and great paint but you need the correct stance with era specific wheels to really set your car apart and that’s what I have done here. You should always try to pay respect to the cars homage and use era specific components to enhance the integrity of your build including subtle changes to make the car really stand out. I really love the body lines of the EH3 hatch. They still break my neck and I’m more apt to stop and look at a clean Honda hatch than a Ferrari. They just really do it for me personally.”

Dan did most of the wrenching on his ride himself with the exception of the engine. The current powerplant is a 200+hp B-Series that

started life as a 1.8L and was punched out to a 2.1L. After a few tweaks to the engine Dan thinks power should be right around 230hp.

Currently this hatch is rocking a rear seat delete, a Recaro race bucket for the driver, US Integra type R front seat for the passenger, suspension, wheel and brake upgrades and even the roof liner has been removed to keep this naturally aspirated ride as light as possible.

Dan really enjoys going to the junk yard and finding all sorts of new parts for the car and is a self-admitted Honda hoarder. “Honda parts are getting out of control and the market is only getting crazier. I saw a set of Type-R OEM floor mats go for almost $900!.”

One of Dan’s favorite aspects of his car is the fact that he can swap out parts so easily if he gets bored. He currently has 4 sets of wheels and front bumpers that he will swap out when he gets sick of looking at a certain setup. He also likes going to meets and just plain driving the car, but admits that as he gets older, he has more responsibilities and it’s hard to really be as active in the scene as he once was.

Dan plans on keeping this EH3 and eventually modifying his other ride, a 1994 Honda Civic DX hatchback. That will be more of a racecar that he will bring to SCCA events and compete with and not worry about the paint and other cosmetic issues as much.

We want to thank Dan for letting us check out his awesome little EH3 and can’t wait to see what he does next!

“I started off with coupes, but over time I liked the hatch because it was an underdog. The sheer fact it was a hatch and front wheel drive made it a total odd ball back in those days.”

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 27

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T E A M V E N O M

We take a look at this award winning Nissan Titan and the man behind its success, Walt Cheney.

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SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 31

words by BOB SBLENDORIO & JACOB CETNAR photos by THOMAS SBLENDORIO

VENOM RACING

“Bring me home a 1st place trophy” were the last words spoken to Walt Cheney

while at his dying mother’s side.

“B

ring me home a 1st place trophy” were the last words spoken to Walt Cheney while at his dying mother’s side. And with that, he went out and won at the Argyle Pull for a Cure in Argyle, NY in 2014. Unfortunately, his mother passed away while he was there racing for that trophy. For that event, Walt said, “there was no way anything less than first place was going to happen.” Additionally, he won the Truck Pulling Championship in 2014, and started a cancer awareness race team “Pull for a Cure” to fund cancer research and awareness. Walt’s mother was his biggest fan!

When the Apex team met with Walt and his fiancé Amber, they shared a story from the day before.

They attended the 2017 Smoke & Speed Magazine Breast Cancer Benefit Event in Connecticut. It was a dirt drag racing and truck pulling event with many different classes of each. For the Street Class, the final drag race came down to Walt against Amber… really?

Walt just completed building this truck specifically for Amber, with pink graphics, and now he was racing against her in the final race. Amber stated emphatically to Walt, “don’t let me win, I’m going to earn the win!”

It doesn’t get more exciting for Team Venom and the fans than this. Amber, in her newly built 2004 Chevy Silverado, known as “Havok,” against the veteran racer in his 2010 Nissan Titan, known as “Venom,” in the final!

And the winner was: Walt!

It was Amber’s first dirt drag race and she learned a lot. Both drivers are very competitive and it should be fun to see how the season of racing unfolds with the newest addition to Team Venom.

START IN RACING Walt grew up in a family that did a considerable amount of physical work, like logging, working in saw mills, and “fixing things.” His brothers started drag racing trucks and doing truck pulls when Walt

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was a young kid. The racing required much work to fix and constantly modify the trucks to be able to compete. As a result, Walt was hooked to racing at an early age.

For Walt to build his first truck it required a cab swap, a different engine, and other modifications. He was young and it was necessary to have some mechanical skills, which he learned from watching his father and brother do similar work to their trucks.

At 18, he started to compete in truck pulling and got his first win too. He was very proud of that first win at such an early age.

When he’s not fixing or modifying his truck, Walt works as the Head Mechanic at the local school in Port Henry, NY, a small HOW IT STARTED Walt Cheney’s town near Lake Champlain. Driving the first ever truck pulling win at 18 truck to work and all the articles in the local years old. newspapers creates a lot of “buzz” at school.

Walt says, “I can see it in their eyes, when the kids are checking out the truck.

I’m just a low budget guy from a small town, it’s humbling to me to be a role model to them.”

TEAM VENOM RACING For 2017, Team Venom consists of three trucks: Walt’s truck Venom; Havok, which will be driven by Amber and Walt’s three sons (Trevor, Jordan & Hunter); and Black Widow, a 2016 Nissan Titan XD diesel, driven by Alex Cheney Jr, who is Walt’s oldest brother. He joined the team last year and, in 2016, already has won two truck pull championships in his first year! Alex, an army veteran, influenced Walt to start racing years ago, and Team Venom is excited to have Alex as part of the team.

Walt competes throughout the Northeast in the street legal class of truck pulling and dirt drag racing. To be street legal is particularly challenging, because if something breaks at an event, getting the truck fixed to drive home can be a big problem. The sleds generate a minimum of 25,000 to 30,000 lbs of force and typically up to 50,000 lbs –– so there are tremendous forces involved in truck pulling.

In drag racing, Walt’s truck Venom, currently holds many world records, SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 33

VENOM RACING VENOM NISSAN TITAN SPECIFICATIONS: ENGINE

including: Fastest Titan in the ¼ mile and the Fastest Titan in the ⅛ mile. His website has all of the records listed and it’s impressive: www.venomtruckpulling.com.

SPONSORS To compete and accomplish all the world records, the wins, and the championships requires a lot of help. In many cases, this help transcends the traditional sponsorship relationship, and for Walt, he has made a lot of close friends too. He has over 60 sponsors to make that truck go, and they are all listed on his website. Some of them include: UpRev for the tuner support; Huttig Nissan in Plattsburgh, NY; Level 10 Transmission; BVC Racing in Plattsburgh for the wraps.

To find where Team Venom will be racing next, check out their website. They compete throughout the Northeast, drag racing and pulling 50,000 lb sleds...with a street legal truck!

VENOM NISSAN TITAN TRUCK With Ford, Dodge, and GM full size trucks severely outselling the Titan for over 10 years, it is easy to overlook it as a worthy competitor. Contrary to its

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lack of popularity though, the Titan was actually a revolutionary truck for its time. Back in 2004 when it came out, the Titan was making 317 horsepower, 385 lb-ft of torque, and had a 5-speed auto transmission. It took many years for Ford, Dodge, and GM to make trucks with comparable specs. As a result, unlike many Titan owners, Walt saw this potential in his 2010 crew cab Titan and decided to turn it into something more.

The trucks lowered stance, severe rake, anthem off road wheels, and eye catching wrap make Walt’s Titan turn heads going down the road or track. What’s really awe inspiring about the truck though is what’s inside. With the help of his sponsors, Walt has taken this already stout platform and turned it into a beast on the racetrack. It took many years of design, building, and research, due to the lack of aftermarket performance parts available for Titans. As a result, when describing most of the modifications done to the truck, phrases like “custom”, “handbuilt”, and “one-of-a-kind” are necessary.

Having had the opportunity to dirt drag race with Walt in Fonda NY, I have seen him and his truck in action both on and off the racetrack. It’s quite impressive seeing him beat more powerful and costly trucks with great consistency and ease. After the races, multiple competitors came to talk to him, amazed at the Titan’s performance.

It struck me after the races that Walt achieved the impossible. He took a truck that in most eyes barely exists and turned it into the truck that steals the spotlight at every race. I look forward to seeing what’s next for the world’s fastest Titan! www.venomtruckpulling.com

+ Stock 5.6L Nissan VK-56 engine block + Custom Venom 102mm intake built by Peak Speed + R2C intake tube and air filter + JBA long tube headers + Fully custom Cajun 3” header back system to a Magnaflow “cat back” exhaust + Nitrous Express full SAFE wet jet with 102mm plate system + Full engine tuning by Randy Baker at UpRev + Custom 3 core aluminum radiator + Custom dual electric fan setup provided by The-Fan-Man + Electrical grounding kit provided by Jacob Warren + Evans Waterless Coolant + JC Alternators high amperage alternator + Custom Venom Racing power steering + Custom Venom Racing coolant reservoir + Stinger Performance coolant hoses + Air conditioning delete TRANSMISSION

+ Full bulletproof build by Pat Barrett from Level 10 transmission + Custom stall converter and valve body + Fully built front and rear differentials with parts provided by Drivetrain America SUSPENSION/WHEELS

+ Fully custom radflo coilovers and shocks, rear Trac bars, custom rear spring setup + PRG products throughout chassis provided by Greg Gagnon + R1Concepts brakes + Anthem Off Road wheels + Tires provided by Rouse Tire BODY

+ BVC racing vinyl body wrap + Open Wide Performance dual ram air hood + Various EGR USA body accessories

FEATURED SHOP

Rim Doc 36 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

octor Rim Doctor can provide many services, including the repair and refinishing of your wheels.

words by BOB SBLENDORIO

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 37

FEATURED SHOP

It never ceases to amaze us here, at Apex Automotive Magazine, the range and talent of the automotive businesses that exist in Upstate NY. For example, when a 1972 Lamborghini Miura wheel made of magnesium has a hairline crack the wheel needs to be replaced, right?

Wrong! Meet the experts at Rim Doctor!

A customer brought a set of wheels to be refinished.

During the preparation process, which included a dipping of the wheels in a specialized chemical to remove the existing finish and then sand blasting with water, it was discovered two wheels had hairline cracks. No problem, the skilled technicians at Rim Doctor will weld the magnesium wheels and check integrity afterwards.

FACILITY TOUR When Apex writer Mike Mastracco and I arrived at the Rim Doctor facility located in Syracuse, NY, we were warmly greeted in the parking lot by Peter Schultz, who is the General Shop Manager for Rim Doctor and the Fixed Operations Director for Image Auto. (Rim Doctor is just one of the businesses under the Image Auto umbrella of businesses.) From there, we were given an all access tour of the 10,500 square foot facility.

Mike and I also got to meet many of the talented employees, who come from all parts of the United States, including Hawaii, that now call Syracuse home.

Rim Doctor is growing. They moved into this new location, which is a much larger facility, because of the expanding customer base in the commercial and consumer space. With this new location, they were able to add more specialized 38 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

equipment and offer more capabilities, including wheel machining and powder coating. They have a website, Facebook page, Instagram, and Twitter account, so they are easy to find and it’s easy to check out all of their capabilities.

SERVICES Rim Doctor can provide many services, including the repair and refinishing of your wheels. If you hit a bad pothole or a curb and the wheel is damaged, give these guys a call.

They have a high tech wheel straightening machine that is capable of repairing that damaged wheel.

They can also resurface a wheel face that may be worn looking or damaged. The machine that they have, essentially a lathe for wheels, is computer controlled. On our tour,

they gave us a demonstration of how it works with a wheel that was being repaired for an insurance claim. It was very interesting to see the technical skills needed to operate the machine.

Another service is powder coating, and we were able to see a wheel being sprayed while on the tour. They explained in some detail how the material being sprayed has a positive charge, while the wheel has a negative charge, achieved with grounding straps. After that is complete, the wheel is then placed into an oven, so that the coating can be cured at a high temperature for a certain amount of time, depending on the coating applied. The process is complicated, but these guys have it all figured out so that the customer gets a great looking wheel when it is all done.

They provide services locally and

throughout New York, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut with their mobile fleet of vans to dealerships of all sizes. They pride themselves on professional and consistent services. And the word has been getting around, as their business is constantly growing.

It was obvious to Mike and me, that the folks at Rim Doctor are smart, highly skilled, and passionate about their business. With the level of energy among its employees and a sound business execution, these guys and gals are the real deal!

So whether you represent a commercial interest or a consumer, and need pretty much anything done to your wheel — powder coating, straightening, custom re-finishing, welding — think Rim Doctor!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 39

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FEATURED DRIVER

STEWART

FRIESEN Words by BOB SBLENDORIO photos by GETTY IMAGES & JOHN ZACHARY

Stewart Friesen— an accomplished dirt track racer — with 11 Big-Block Modified Championships has moved up to a full-time ride with the NASCAR Camping World Truck Series in 2017. Even with that added commitment, he is still racing dirt track venues throughout the Northeast as well…how is that possible?

“It’s pretty crazy, the truck schedule requires a lot of travel, a lot more time away,” Stewart explained. Since the truck series races are mostly on Friday nights, he will be running at Fonda Speedway on Saturday nights as much as possible, the advantage of which it is “only 15 minutes from the shop.” In addition, he is planning to run as many dirt track venues as possible, while staying committed to the full-time schedule of the truck series.

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N

FEATURED DRIVER

BIG-BLOCK MODIFIED RACE CAR The Big-Block Modified race cars are a highly refined and popular race car that can be seen at dirt tracks throughout the Northeast. We are lucky in upstate New York, because we have many tracks scattered around the state. The cars weigh about 2,500 lbs and have upwards of 850 hp. The transmission has only two gears, a high and low gear. The low gear is for “creeping through the pit areas and the high gear is a 1/1 ratio that connects to the quick change rear axle,” explained Stewart. The drivers are skilled operators, many of which have gained experience in the lower Sportsman series before entering the Big-Block Modified cars. Stewart usually runs 90 to 100 races in a typical year, but with racing in the truck series this year, it will be less this year.

NAPA AUTO PARTS SUPER DIRT WEEK The Super DIRT Week is an event that dates back to 44 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

“CREEPING THROUGH THE PIT AREAS AND THE HIGH GEAR IS A 1/1 RATIO THAT CONNECTS TO THE QUICK CHANGE REAR AXLE”

the early 70s and is the premiere showdown for the Big-Block Modified teams to this day. The event used to be held at the former race track at the NYS Fairgrounds, commonly referred to as the “Moody Mile”. There was a lot of racing history at that track, but the state decided to remove the track as part of a plan to expand other venues at the Fairgrounds.

In 2016 the NAPA Auto Parts Super DIRT Week was moved to Oswego Speedway, which is nicknamed “The Steel Palace”. The track is a 5/8 mile paved track, so some 9,600 cubic yards of dirt had to be brought into (and out) of the track.

The race week culminates with the final race, known as the Bud Light 200, which is the crown jewel race for the Big-Block Modified drivers. Stewart Friesen managed to win that race five times in the last seven years, including the last time the race was at the Fairgrounds and the first time it was held at Oswego Speedway last year — wow! And even

with running the truck series racing this year, he is planning to race there again in 2017 when the event returns to the Oswego Speedway on October 4-8.

SPRINT CARS In July of 2015, Stewart scored his first win in the World of Outlaws Sprint Car Series at the Ohsweken Speedway in Ontario, Canada. The premier World of Outlaws Craftsman Sprint Car Series started in 1978 and now races around the country, including tracks in upstate NY. The cars, with their 410 cu-in, 900 hp engines, are an incredible spectacle to see and hear. Check the schedule on-line to see where they are racing in upstate NY, watching them race will not disappoint.

Stewart also races in the Patriot Sprint Tour on a “semi-regular basis” and has many wins in that series.

The engines have a steel block and 360 cu-in engines.

The winged cars are very light, about 1400 lbs, with a straight shaft known as a torque tube with a 1/1 radio directly to the rear axle. The fact they don’t have a transmission, starter and battery saves weight, but requires that the cars must be pushed to get them started. The Patriot Sprint Tour races at tracks throughout upstate NY, as well as surrounding states.

NASCAR CAMPING WORLD TRUCK SERIES “It’s always been a dream of mine to compete at that level,” explains Stewart about racing in the NASCAR truck series. His first race was in July of 2016 at Eldora Speedway, NASCAR’s only dirt track. Initially, it was supposed to be a one-off race, but that changed to a total of six races last year. After that, Stewart formed a partnership with Chris Larsen and a fulltime team was put together — Halmar Friesen Racing — to compete in the NASCAR truck series with the #52 Chevy Silverado. The primary sponsor, Halmar International, is a NYC based construction company

known for doing large projects throughout the NYC metropolitan area.

So what does it take to form a startup team and compete at that level? At the shop in Mooresville, NC, there are six trucks: one setup for the only dirt track, Eldora; two for the 1-1/2 mile tracks; two for the super speedways; and one for the short tracks, like Martinsville. Stewart says, “The team consists of six full-time guys and it’s a good group.”

The engines are a Chevy LS1 with aluminum blocks and heads that are spec’d out by NASCAR. The engines have a tapered spacer that “chokes them down to 600-650 hp.”

Stewart explained that on the 1-1/2 mile tracks, the trucks are going 170-180 mph and the grip comes from the downforce generated by the truck body.

“When racing in a pack, you get a lot of dirty air and you lose downforce on the nose. One lap can be really good and be out-of-control on the next. It’s been tough and more of a challenge than I thought it would be.”

PERSONAL Stewart is a native of Niagara-of-the-Lake, Ontario, a scenic town on the shores of Lake Ontario. He played hockey from when he was five years old, until about 18. Stewart has a 4-year science degree from the University of Windsor Ontario in Geology and Physical Geography. During the summers, while attending college, is when he started racing.

In 2014, Stewart married Jessica Zemken, a sprint car driver who is planning to compete in a couple of races this year with her team. They live in Sprakers, NY, where they started a t-shirt screening business known as One Zee Tee’s that provides race apparel for teams and is “doing well,” said Stewart. Their son, Parker, who is 1-1/2 years old should be racing soon... so stay tuned!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 45

DIRT RACING

Excitement On The High Banks

FULTON SPEEDWAY Words & photos by JOHN ZACHARY

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F

ulton, NY is the home of a 3/8th mile high bank dirt oval. Fulton Speedway has been both an asphalt and clay race track in its long history. In 1961 the Speedway opened its doors to fans as a paved oval. Asphalt racing was on the weekly schedule until 1978. Then it was reopened as a dirt oval in 1979.

Over the years top drivers from all divisions have visited victory lane at Fulton, like “Mr. Small Block” Pete Bicknell, Kenny Brightbill, Bob McCreadie, Billy Pauch, and Dale Planck. I remember going to Fulton to see the best Small Block drivers in the Northeast compete at the Victoria 200. Some years, over 100 cars would try and make the star studded field at the Victoria. Big drag rubber, alcohol and high side boards made these cars cool to watch as a fan.

Along with the Small Block cars turning laps at Fulton Speedway, ESS sprint cars ran the high bank track in their first years of existence. Sprint cars still make an appearance at the track throughout the season. Both Fulton Speedway and Brewerton Speedway are owned by John Wight. Brewerton, “The D Shaped Demon,” runs on a Friday nights and Fulton races Saturday nights throughout the summer.

For the regular weekly shows, those 18 and under get in free and races start at 7:00 pm sharp. Dirt Modified, Sportsmans, Late Models, and 4-cylinders are part of the weekly show competing for points.

Throughout the season different series visit the track for special shows for the dedicated race fans.

The world of outlaw sprint cars will make an appearance on October 7th this year. The big race of the year is the 32nd running of the Sunoco Fulton Ethanol Facility Outlaw 200, so set aside September 29th and 30th for an unbelievable event.

fultonspeedway.com

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 47

DIRT RACING

My first visit to Fulton this year was for a regular show plus the King’s Smash’em Crash’em Demolition Derby. When I arrived, the pits were filling up with cars and race fans were making their way into the grandstands. There isn’t a bad seat in the house.

Fans get to see close racing in all classes because of the wide corners that give drivers plenty of room to run side by side. Racers are either feeding on the bottom of the track or are riding the cushion up against the wall.

But if one is hooked up, they can run right in the middle making for some three wide action.

Dirt Modified drivers like Jimmy Phelps, Larry Wight, Pat Ward, and young Max McLaughlin, race weekly on the high banks of Fulton. Over 40 Sportsman Modifieds were present for their two feature races. Record number of Sportsman cars are filling the pits at tracks all over the Northeast. Not only are there a ton of cars in this class, but great racing really makes this undercard class very popular with fans. Jeremy Dygert and Todd Root “Parked it” in victory lane in their Sportsman features. Chad Homan battled his way to an exciting win in the growing Late Model feature event. Sportsman Novice winners were Kyle Perry and Steve Marshall.

Ray Bechler was the big winner in the popular 4-cylinder class.

After all of the great racing in the other classes, fans still had the 35 Lap Tracey Road Equipment Big Block Feature to come. As always, the Big Block race did not disap-

fultonspeedway.com

point. Early on #63 Adam Roberts pulled his Big Block out to a reasonable lead over Tom Sears Jr, Ryan Jordan, and “Mad” Max McLaughlin. Meanwhile heavy hitters Phelps and Wight were on their way to the front.

There was great racing throughout the field, giving the fans their money’s worth. With a few laps to go, Sears made a pass on leader Roberts to take over the lead. It looked like Sears had it in the bag until the yellow flew with one lap to go. This gave Phelps and Wight one last shot at the lead. The green flag dropped on the bunched up field for

a great white checkered finish. Tom Sears Jr. kept his car straight and on the bottom, holding off the hard charging #98 Phelps and the red #99 of Larry Wight. Racing like this keeps people coming back Week after week. I look forward to visiting the High Banks a lot more this season.

If you’re looking for something to do on a Saturday night this summer, make a short trip to Fulton for some fantastic dirt track racing. Visit fultonspeedway.com for the complete 2017 race schedule.

I will see you at the track.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 49

CAR SHOWS

CORVE T TE CARS & COFFEE Words by BOB SBLENDORIO photos by DALTON DOBSON

Apex Automotive Magazine co-sponsored Corvette Cars & Coffee in Syracuse thanks to the support of Jeff Lyman, owner of Jeffrey’s Auto Body.

There was a huge turnout of 100+ cars, mostly Corvettes, but not all. The weather was perfect, a beautiful sunny Saturday morning with temperatures in the mid-sixties. Upon arriving, my wife and I were warmly greeted by the president of the Syracuse Corvette Club, Jim Ennis, whose club has over 300 members from throughout Upstate NY. 50 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

A highlight of the show was the hourly raffle to win a ride in Jeff’s crazy tricked 2015 Z06 Corvette. Just how crazy is this Z06?

• 720 hp on 100 octane racing fuel • Z07 track package • Michelin Cup 2 street legal slicks • Suspension highly capable to withstand 1.4 cornering G forces • Stops with ceramic Brembo brakes

(Above) Jeff Lyman, owner of Jeffrey’s Auto Body’s 720hp Corvette Zo6 that is built for the track.

The raffle winners were selected each hour and were treated to an energizing ride in Jeff’s car. Unfortunately for us, nobody from the Apex crew won a ride.

Jeff races this car at the Watkins Glen Speedway under the guise of the Trackmasters program, an organization that provides high quality driver training and coaching. After talking with Jeff, this is the real deal in terms of really driving and pushing the limits of your car.

For those just starting with Trackmasters, there is a novice class. After much practice, coaching and dedication, you can move up through the different classes. Drivers are evaluated each step of the way and it’s all about safety. If you are good enough, you can achieve the Open Class and drive solo on the track at Watkins Glen, which Jeff just recently achieved. It took 2 years, but now he can turn a lap at 2:04 at over 150 mph! Ok, where else can you legally drive over 150 mph?

Jeffrey’s Auto Body is a full spectrum repair shop that services over 1,000 cars per year and is a certified and recognized repair collision center for: GM, Ford, Hyundai, Chrysler, Fiat, Mopar, Nissan, Jeep, and Dodge…so check them out!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 51

AUTO DETAILING

CNY POR SCHE CLUB D E TA I L I N G CLINIC Words by JOHN CANNIZZARO photos by DALTON DOBSON

O

n May 6, 2017, Detail Johnny hosted the Central New York Porsche Club of America for a detailing seminar. We discussed wet sanding, polishing, clay bar treatment, and how to perform a 3-step paint correction. The event had about 40 people and was hands-on format with a lot of good questions and feedback. Detail Johnny will be hosting other detailing seminars and if your club is interested in having one, please contact john@detailjohnny.com to schedule. Details can also be for on www.detailjohnny.com.

Apex Magazine was on hand to photo and document the event and both the Central New York Porsche Club and Detail Johnny were happy to have them present for the day’s event! Joel Dryden of Flawless Finish (www.flawlessfinishrva.com) in Richmond, VA was on hand to give his expert advice on Porsche detailing and maintenance. Joel is one of Virginia’s leading experts in paint correction, maintenance, and paint coatings in the area and works with many of the local Porsche dealers, shops, and maintains many private collections. Joel’s work can be seen at the Richmond’s Cars & Coffee and Amelia Island Concours d’Elegance just to name a few. A very special thank you to Jeremy at Shine Supply (www.shinesupply.com) for donating products for our demo. Detail Johnny supports Shine Supply product line and is the go to supply for all of Detail Johnny’s needs and is always a product that is recommended for any do it at home detailers.

The event discussed how to properly wash a vehicle using the two-bucket method, proper clay bar process, how to identify and remove swirls & light marring, wet sanding and polish defects, waxes and coatings, what microfibers to use, when and how to care for them, rinse less wash & techniques, and how to choose a machine and what pads are used for what situation.

Our next event with the Central New York Porsche Club will be on how to make repairs to paint with Dr. Colorchip and how to properly wash and detail wheels and tires.

52 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

 Hands on time showing proper technique of removing swirls and light marring on painted surface.

Products used were Shine Supply Classic Cut to remove damage followed

by Shine Supply Classic Polish to perfect the area.

 Discussed the important process of evaluating the condition of the paint and using a paint thickness gauge before starting wet sanding and paint correction.

 Members of the CNY Porsche club came prepared with plenty of questions on how to maintain their vehicles and how to get them looking their best for car shows.

One important question was how to properly detail a vehicle for a point based car show.

www.detailjohnny.com

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 53

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August 10-13, 2017 Downtown Cortland, NY

Thursday, August 10, 2017 Major Sponsors: 6:00 p.m. Brockway Ice Cream Cruise In Friday, August 11, 2017 11:00 a.m. “Huskie Drive” starting at Brockway Museum 4:30-6:30 p.m. Wine, Craft Beer & Cider Tasting at CNY Living History Center 6:00-8:00 p.m. Italian Dinner, fundraising dinner at the Brockway Museum (reservations required) 7:30 p.m. Brockway Live Auction 9:30 p.m. Spectacular Fireworks Display Brockway Silent Auction beginning at Noon on Friday and closing at 5:00 p.m. on Saturday Saturday, August 12, 2017 8:30 a.m. Parade from Brockway Museum to Main Street, Downtown Cortland 9:00 a.m.-3:30 p.m. Trucks parked on Main St.; Brockway exhibit by Cortland County Historical Society 3:00 p.m. Presentation of awards on Main Street (in front of NBT Bank) Host Hotel: Finger Lakes Inn & Suites 5:00 p.m. Bob’s BBQ buffet at Brockway Museum (reservations required) 3175 Fingerlakes East Dr. Sunday, August 13, 2017 Cortland, NY 13045 607.756.2233 8:00-11:00 a.m. Pancake Breakfast at Brockway Museum (pay at the door) 8:00 a.m.-3:00 p.m. Third Annual South Central NY Chapter of ATCA All-Make Truck Show www.cnylivinghistory.org • info@brockwaytrucks.org • www.brockwaytrucks.org

CAR SHOWS

CRYSTAL BALL CRUISE It’s been twenty-nine years since Matt McGill and John (Jack) Murphy have coordinated the efforts for the senior class of Marcellus High School’s annual “Crystal Ball Cruise.”

Words and photos by MIKE MASTRACCO

This is the night that car enthusiasts get together to assist in keeping graduating seniors and their dates safe and sound.

According to the insurance industry, Senior Ball night is one of the most dangerous nights of the year for high school students due to the amount of drinking and driving. In this twenty-nine year time frame there has not been an accident during this event which puts many parents at ease on one of the most active nights of the year for high school students.

A typical evening for the Crystal Ball Cruise drivers begins around 4:00 in the afternoon. These drivers meet at the Marcellus High School to park and show off their cars, mingle with other drivers, as well wait for their students to show up.

One is often able to see Fords from the ‘40s, Chevy’s from the ‘50s, Mopars from the ‘60s up to the latest and greatest modern day automobiles. In order to keep the seniors safe, typically seventy-five or more classic, vintage, sports cars and trucks get together to escort the seniors throughout the night to their final destination. Owners of these vehicles volunteer their time to keep these seniors safe on this very festive evening. Many of the drivers have been participating for well over ten years and come back each year for the fun and excitement of this special night.

Each participating senior is assigned a car while the drivers are each given the names of their student passengers. Seniors and their parents are often greeted by drivers and their passenger as the match up of kids and cars take place. It is then the drivers accept the responsibility to keep the seniors safe throughout the evening and into the night.

At approximately 6:00 pm vehicles leave the Marcellus High School parking lot with smiling seniors that are excited about a very epic night ahead of them. This too is an exciting evening for the village of Marcellus, as many residents set up chairs and 56 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

umbrellas, wave flags, and blast air horns when lining both sides of the streets as if the annual Memorial Day parade was about to take place.

Local law enforcement lead the parade of cars and block off all major intersections in order to keep this senior class caravan of vehicles together. As the seniors leave the high school, they are escorted to the main village intersection then make a lap around the Village Park to cruise through the village one last time on their way to the Senior Ball. Drivers drop off their kids at the Senior Ball location and take off to a driver’s party which includes food, drink (non-alcoholic), desserts and games to play, so they can earn Marcellus money for the kids to be used later that night. Once the Senior Ball has finished, the drivers are waiting in the parking lot to pick up their kids to take them to the next part of the journey; it is now time for the annual After the Ball Party held at the Ultimate Goal. At this time drivers and passengers are invited inside to play more games, as well as sharing in much more

food, however this is also the time that student safety is taken off of the shoulders of the drivers as they are done for the night. Each year the graduating seniors pick a theme for their After the Ball Party such as: Disco Fever, Casino Night, Hollywood, Mardi Gras and so many more.

Twenty-nine years ago when this notable event was in its infancy, approximately fifty percent of the seniors took advantage of the free classic rides.

Since then the participation rate has hit 100%, however averages around 85% each year as some seniors like to drive their own rides. Students sign papers stating that there will be no alcohol or drug use during this event which this goes for the drivers as well. Preparation for this event begins in October of the previous year and continues until the night of the Senior Ball. It takes over 400 volunteers and a lot of funds to prepare and execute an event such as this.

Throughout the year bottle and can drives and car wash fundraisers are held while the largest dollar amount comes from the sale of raffle tickets. Even though the Crystal Ball Cruise is for the seniors and supported by their parents, it is a separate entity from Marcellus School District. Many Marcellus alumni continue to donate funds in support of such a worthy cause even though they may live hundreds of miles away.

Jack has stayed involved in the Crystal Ball Cruise since its inception and continues to do so with no signs of stopping in the near future. Jack has lost two brothers to drug/alcohol abuse and he says if he can prevent just one teenager from the same all this work is worth it. Many of the volunteers had graduating students years ago, but stay involved for the same reason.

There have been many times through the years school districts from all over New York State have sent representatives to talk with Jack and see how this evening unfolds. On request of a school district, Jack has even traveled out state to present this information so these other areas can keep their seniors safe on a very busy exciting evening.

For more information about this event, Jack can be contacted at jjmurphy@ windstream.net. Keeping kids safe is the Ultimate Goal!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 57

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CAR SHOWS

CAR SHOW SEASON

CENTRAL NEW YORK CAR’S & COFFEE

Words by MIKE MASTRACCO

E

ach Saturday morning dozens of car & truck enthusiasts gather at Wegmans Plaza on Rt. 57 in Liverpool to share coffee, Danish and conversation. Now in its 6th year, “CNY Cars ‘n Coffee” attracts car buffs from Watertown to Binghamton and Herkimer to Waterloo.

It was in 2011 when talk of doing a morning car cruise started with a few members of the Syracuse Shelby Mustang Club. It was too late in the season for this particular year, but talk continued to try for the following year.

Discussion of location, time and what weekend day would be best. Once said and done the first morning car cruise in this area, “CNY Cars ‘n Coffee” was in May of 2012. “Our first year was questionable as about 15-25 cars was our max,” said Don Stillwell, one of the organizers. Their second year they moved out front of the supermarket and each week the car count continued to grow. For the first three years the start time was at 7:30 in the morning, however morning cruisers would

be waiting for the Cars ‘n Coffee crew to set up. On year four, the decision was made to start at 7:00 am and go to about 10:30 am.

Since then, the early riser cruisers have been flocking to Cars ‘n Coffee in full force each Saturday from April to the end of September.

April 29th of this year Cars ‘n Coffee was the first car cruise of the season in the Central New York area. The weather was overcast as few sprinkles padded the pavement in the morning, however cruisers waited all winter to get out and socialize.

Over 150 vehicles showed up for this initial Saturday morning cruise. Mike brought his 1923 Model T and Chuck brought his 2017 ten day old Fiat 124 Spider, while cars and trucks from nine decades were represented.

This parking area filled nicely with a contingent of Mustangs that often corral together, a cluster of Challengers & Mopars gathered near the shade trees, and an assembly of Corvettes grouped themselves together towards the top of the parking lot. All other

makes and models filled in the spaces between the parking lot lines. Since the inception of CNY Cars ‘n Coffee all cars/ trucks have been invited; vintage, classic, new age, tuners and a hand full of motorcycles stop to enjoy a cup of coffee and chat with the car enthusiasts.

Each week a 50/50 raffle is done where the proceeds benefit local non-profit charities, door prizes are given out along with car show schedules, flyers and even automotive related magazines are exchanged. Other than the Saturday of the Syracuse Nationals you can find 200 or more vehicles right until the end of September. Usually once a year a cruise to another location after Cars ‘n Coffee to have lunch is scheduled.

You can check out their Facebook page at “CNY Cars and Coffee.” For more information about car cruising, as well as car shows in the greater Central New York area go to www.cnycca.org.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 59

river rat run

CAR SHOWS

CAR SHOW SEASON

KRUISING KNIGHTS CAR SHOW

Words & photos by JOHN ZACHARY

L

ast Friday my son texted me asking if we wanted to go to the Kruising Knights Car Show. I said, “Sure let’s do it.”

So I washed my Camaro Friday after work, and put a much needed coat of wax on her. My car is not a show car, but it looks good and I love driving it.

Saturday morning my wife and I met our son and daughter-in-law and headed to Central Square, NY. It was a beautiful day for a car show; a little chilly, but very enjoyable. Cruz and Janelle drive their Monte Carlo.

We had no idea what kind of show we were heading to and how many cars would be there. Boy were we surprised. After getting sent the wrong way from our GPS, we found the show by following a nice pink ‘32 Coupe that drove by at an intersection.

The show is held in a small park just outside of town. When we arrived the park was 3/4 full of shiny cars and trucks. We pulled up to the event tent and paid our $5 per car admission. They handed us a bag full of cool things from a flashlight to a nice drink koozie from NAPA. There was also a small program giving us the history of the show.

This was the 11th year for the Kruising Knights Car Club Show. Along with the Kruising Knights, the local Lions Club helps put on this great show.

It was refreshing seeing cars that I have never seen before. Nice quality iron graced the well groomed grounds. We met some very nice people throughout the day and invited them to come to the 7 Valley Street Rods Show on August 20th.

A few of them said that they have always wanted to go to that show, so let’s hope

they take the drive south.

The Lions Club did a fantastic job with food and drinks. We grabbed a bite to eat and sat under the pavilion while the music played in the background. All kinds of cars were on hand, from antiques, street rods, muscle cars, as well as some brand new cars.

There was something for everyone to enjoy.

This was a great find as far as car shows go. Nice job to everybody that helped put this show on. Nice cars and nice people make for a very nice show.

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 61

CAR SHOWS

CAR SHOW SEASON

ADIRONDACK NATIONALS 2017

S

eptember 7th-10th are the dates for this year’s Adirondack Nationals Car Show in Lake George, NY. Albany Rods & Kustoms have hosted this show as the Adirondack Nationals since 1988. Their first Nationals Show was held in Glens Falls, NY. The next year the club moved this show to the Fort William Henry Resort in Lake George, NY. With around 1,500 cars entering this show every year, it has become one of the most popular shows in the Northeast.

Apex Auto Magazine will be on hand again the week after Labor Day to cover the entire event for our readers that cannot make it to the show. I encourage you to take the beautiful drive up to the Adirondack area for a great weekend of show cars and great scenery in this small town of Lake George.

During the day, one can walk Main Street and shop the local stores while beautiful show cars cruise up and down all day. Cars line both sides of the street

62 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

words and photos by JOHN ZACHARY

the entire weekend for visitors to enjoy. A short walk down Main Street brings you to Fort William Henry where the show takes place. Show goers will see wonderful looking cars and trucks as they stroll through the show area. The smell of food and the familiar music from the good ole days fill the air as people enjoy the sites.

Along with a huge amount of cars on display, visitors can also make their way to the large vendor area located on the grounds. This show has something for everybody. Dave Kindig from Kindig-It

Design will be on hand to talk to fans during this year’s show. Dave’s TV show Bitchin’ Rides aired on the Velocity channel, giving him VIP status in the automotive industry.

Both Friday and Saturday nights the local authorities shut down Main Street for a few hours of Cruising on Canada Street. This is one thing that makes this show special to its fans.

Seeing these cars cruise up and down Main Street is a beautiful site for sure.

Mark you calendars for September 7th10th, it is a show to remember. You will love it!

I hope to see you there.

CAR SHOWS

CAR SHOW SEASON

STREET SCENE CAR SHOW

words by BOB SBLENDORIO photos by MARC STRESS

S

treet Scene is on Saturday, August 19th, 2017!

This event has grown tremendously each year and this year will likely be no exception.

What started out in the summer of 2013, with about 200 cars, has grown to a premier event with well in excess of 1,000 cars from all over the Northeast. It is at Long Branch Park in Syracuse and it’s the perfect venue for the event.

Chris Burkhart, the show’s founder and organizer, spends countless hours putting this event together, and it takes all year. It is a passion and the level of detail planning is evident for those in attendance.

The show, which was originally for mostly imports, has grown to include pretty much everything: imports — of course, hot rods, classic muscle cars, trucks, ratrods, motorcycles and who knows what else. There will be awards in over 35 categories of car events.

There will be plenty of food vendors for when you work up an appetite walking around and many other fun events too like the graffiti exhibit. There will be a live DJ and plenty of giveaways.

This is one car show you won’t want to miss!

SUMMER ISSUE APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE // 63

CNY EVENT SCHEDULE //

ALL EVENTS LISTED ARE IN NY STATE.

Use the grid to determine event type: l Car Show l Driving/Cruise-in/Motorsports Event

Date

Event Name

Venue

City

l

August 6

UK CAR DAY

Genesee Valley Park

Rochester

l

l

August 6

Tappet Twirlers Charity Car Show

Lee Town Park

Rome

l

August 6

Richfield Springs Lions Club Car Show

Route 20 @ Clock Downtown

Richfield Springs

l

August 6

Ticonderoga Area Car Show

Bicentennial Park

Ticonderoga

l

August 10-13

18th Annual National Brockway Truck Show

Downtown

Cortland

l

August 12

American Muscle Cruise-In

Matthews GM Center

Vestal

August 12

Fingerlakes AACA “History on Wheels”

Downtown

Auburn

l

August 12

Hilton's Classic Wheels on Main Street

Main Street

Hilton

l

August 12

Tuners in the Park 3

Saratoga Automobile Museum

Saratoga Springs

l

August 12

Cruise Nite

Angelo Canna Town Park

Cairo

August 13

ATCA Mid Hudson Chapter Antique Truck Show

Ulster County Fairgrounds

New Paltz

l

August 13

Volkswagen Club of CNY

Oneida Shores

Brewerton

l

August 13

CNY SCCA Solo

Oswego County Airport

Fulton

August 19

Gathering of Orphan Vehicles

3633 Loucks Rd.

East Syracuse

l

August 19

Wings and Wheels Car Show

Masonic Care Community of NY

Utica

l

August 19

Street Scene 2017

Long Branch Park

Syracuse

l

August 19

Elbridge Fire Department 2nd Annual Car Show

Elbridge Fire Department

Elbridge

l

August 19

Crystal City Ferrari Show

Corning’s Market Street

Corning

l

August 20

CNY SCCA Rallycross

Central New York Raceway Park

Central Square

l

August 20

Tioga AACA Antique Car Show & Flea Market

Hickories Park

Owego

l

August 20

Seven Valley Street Rods

Cortlandville Citizens Park

Cortlandville

l

August 26

Jaguars at Saratoga

Saratoga Automobile Museum

Saratoga Springs

l

August 27

CNY SCCA Solo (FLR OOR)

Oswego County Airport

Fulton

l

Aug 31 – Sept 3

Verizon IndyCar Series Grand Prix at The Glen

Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen

l

September 2

Olcott Beach 28th Annual Car Show

Olcott Beach

Olcott

l

September 2

Annual Car Show & Village Cruise

Front Street

Deposit

l

September 3

Olympic Car Show & Parade

Olympic Speed Skating Oval

Lake Placid

l

September 3

Fillmore Auto Show

Fillmore Glen State Park

Moravia

l

September 7-10

Adirondack Nationals

Fort William Henry Hotel

Lake George

l

Sept 8 – Sept 10

U.S. Vintage Grand Prix at The Glen

Watkins Glen International

Watkins Glen

September 9

13th Annual Lisle Fire Co Car Show

9990 Main Street

Lisle

l

September 9

Rockabilly Riot

Union St.

Cobleskill

l

September 9

I-90 Cruisin’ Car Show

SUNY Polytechnic

Utica

l

September 10

Mohican Model A Ford Club

Fireman’s Field

Wampsville

l

September 10

Car, Truck & Jeep Show

Curtis Lumber

Ballston Spa

l

September 10

CNY SCCA Lee Hidy Memorial Enduro

Ad

pg 55 l

pg 60

l

l

pg 48

pg 8

pg 48

pg 19 l

pg 55

Cherry Valley Motorsports Park

Lafayette

l

September 16-17 Dover Drag Strip Nostalgia Drags

Lebanon Valley Dragway

New Lebanon

l

September 17

Racewars NY x Street Scene x WDRC

ESTA Safety Park Dragstrip

Cicero

l

September 17

Rod & Custom Show + Drag Alley Nostalgia Display Lebanon Valley Dragway

pg 29

New Lebanon

l

pg 29 pg 60

September 22-23 River Rat Rod Run

Virgilio’s Event Centre

Fulton

l

September 24

Mountainville Car Show

Black Rock Fish & Game Club

Mountainville

l

September 24

FLR SCCA Solo (CNY OOR)

Monroe Community College

Rochester

September 30

Herkimer College Car Show

Herkimer College

Herkimer

l

October 7-8

Das Laufwerk - Euro Car Show

Hunter Mountain

Hunter

l

l

This list is to be used as a general guide only. Please research any event before heading out in case dates/locations have changed since time of publication.

CLUB SCENE

FEATURED CLUB PROFILE

CENTRAL NEW YORK PORSCHE CLUB

Words by MIKE MASTRACCO photos by DALTON DOBSON

T

his is a milestone year for the “Central New York Porsche Club of America.” They will be celebrating their 60th year as part of a larger automotive organization that spans all of the United States and Canada. That being said, they are the third oldest Porsche club in this organization.

It all began late in 1950 when the first Porsches were imported to the United States. Several years later in 1955 a few Porsche owners would see one another on the road and decided to assemble together to discuss this infrequently encountered marque and to form the first club. This same scenario happened in Central New York. In 1957 several enthusiastic Porsche

66 // APEX AUTOMOTIVE MAGAZINE SUMMER ISSUE

drivers/owners combined forces to begin the ground work for a local Porsche club.

By August of 1957 the “Central New York” charter was granted by the parent organization “Porsche Club of America.”

According to long time member Bill Noroski this CNY club goes north to the Canadian boarder, south into Northern Pennsylvania, east past Herkimer and as far west to the Finger Lakes. With over 300 active memberships, and an additional 250 or more co-members, they have a total membership base that exceeds 550 individuals. CNY Porsche Club members don’t just show their cars they do what they were built for, they drive them. With club member cars that range from 1955 to the latest models, they host

and participate in events throughout the year. The club activities range from a spring Concourse show, auto crosses, a summer TSD (time-speed-distance) rally and a fall tour. Often two “Drivers Education” events are held at Watkins Glen International race track. These events are usually two or three days in length and packed with educational time along with track time. Usually twice a year tech sessions are held at a member’s garage where they may change brake shoes/pads, do upholstery work, condition cars and more. Porsche club members feel blessed is such a way that each of these events also includes a food drive where everyone brings canned goods for the local food banks. There are additional times when they get together such as a planning meeting, a charity auction dinner, a business meeting in November along with a Christmas party that round out the year.

There are other times during the year they have activities, some where they drive their Porsches, while other activities it’s optional.

Many times the CNY Porsche club invites other car clubs in the area to their events as the more-the-merrier, this also builds camaraderie among the entire automotive scene. They also enjoy participating in activities from these other clubs.

Many Porsche owners have more than one Porsche in their garage, and some even have other marques of sports cars which these members often belong to additional car clubs.

They have a great newsletter “The Redline Report” available on-line at their website that includes event information, many articles by members, plenty of pictures as well as technical information.

More information about the club can be found at www.cnypca.org, their history, events, photos of member’s cars and so much more.

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