Syracuse American Legion Cruise-In Braves Weather
Randy Rinker of Syracuse opens the door of “Wild Thing,” his 1953 Chevy Bel Air Gasser. He has had the car for five years and has competed in drag races in Milan, MIch., Rockford, Ill., and West Salem, Ohio. He said he was attracted to the mechanical beast by “the noise and the nostalgia.” He has reached a speed of “close to 140 mph in nine seconds in the quarter mile.”
By Ray Balogh
InkFreeNews
SYRACUSE — Despite smatterings of raindrops and temperatures in the low 50s, the Syracuse Cruise-In, hosted by American Legion Post 223, had an impressive showing.
More than 30 automobiles and a motorcycle were displayed in the post’s parking lot Friday, May 27. The event started at 5 p.m., and ended with Big Daddy Dupree ‘s Broke & Hungry Blues Band regaling the revelers from 7-10 p.m. on the post’s new patio.
Before the live entertainment, a loudspeaker blared ’60s car and beach music a la The Beach Boys, Jan and Dean, Ronny and the Daytonas and other artists.
Raffles for a flattop griddle and gun and a 50/50 drawing rounded out the activities.
The most vintage automobile making an appearance was a 1922 Studebaker Special 6 Roadster owned by Robert Studebaker, descendant of the founders of the wagon and car company based in South Bend.
Studebaker’s 100-year-old yellow automotive treasure was the last of the models made with a wooden frame covered with sheet metal. Only three still exist in the world, and his is the only one unrestored.
Studebaker brought an original price list that showed the cost of the two-door two-passenger model at $1,425. Consumers could purchase the four-door four-passenger version for an extra $50.
The Ford Model T, manufactured for the common blue-collar consumer, cost $319 that year.
The Studebaker company made wagons until 1919, then switched to manufacturing cars until closing its doors for good in 1967.
The flattop griddle raffle sold exactly 100 tickets at $5 each, and Legion volunteers grilled up and sold out 40 hamburgers and 40 hot dogs to add to the fundraising efforts.
All proceeds will be split among Toys for Tots; Operation Comfort Warriors, a benevolence charity founded by the Indianapolis American Legion; and scholarships for graduating Wawasee High School seniors.
Photos of the event, taken by Ray Balogh:
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- The 1922 Studebaker was the oldest car at the cruise-in. Owner Robert Studebaker said, “I drive it often but not far.” A resident on Lake Wawasee, he recounted picking up his daughter from Wawasee Middle School in the Studebaker.
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- Joe Cousins, left, points out his upholstery handiwork on his 1968 Camaro to Jay Duncan, Kent Sawyer and Tim Yoder. The car was completely restored over a two-year period; the project was completed this spring.
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- Rick Holdread of Goshen tinkers with the 428 Cobra Jet engine on his 1969 Mustang Mach 1. He has owned the car since 1975. “It had 17,000 miles on it when I bought it. Now it has 32,000.” He said he doesn’t drive it far because, “with the engine running hot at 4,000 rpm, 20 minutes is a long time.”
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- Mitch Grevenstuk, right, points out a feature of the engine of his 1949 Ford F-1 pickup truck to Haiden Morgan. Grevenstuk has owned the truck for 32 years. “I had it before I had my kids,” he said, adding, “It doesn’t get very good mileage, so it’s a local truck.”
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- Jim Strodtman sits astride his 2017 Indian Springfield, the only motorcycle to make it to the Syracuse Cruise-In. He rode it in from Topeka, but said he was quite prepared for a chilly ride back.
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- American Legion members Mike Koher, left, Linda Yoder and Steve Yoder serve hot dogs and hamburgers to raise funds for the post. Their evening was short-lived, as they quickly sold out their inventory to their hungry guests.
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- Big Daddy Dupree’s Broke & Hungry Band helped dedicate the post’s new patio during its grand opening by playing a three-hour set at the cruise-in.
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- The post’s American Legion Riders Director Chad Berkeypile, left, congratulates Dave Walter of Foraker for winning the raffle for the flatiron griddle. Walter drove to the event in his 1958 Chevy, but had friends who drove a van to transport the griddle to his home.
