SALEM — The 15th Salem Super Cruise scheduled for the weekend of June 6-9 next year will do so without the Mahoning Valley Corvettes as a partner.

In a letter to Mayor John Berlin, the club president, Mike Sodomora, said that with “regrets” the club “will not be able to take on next year’s Super Cruise.”

Sodomora said the club “struggled with this decision but realized that we have too many commitments to do them all justice.”

Berlin credited the club with doing a “great job with Judy and Sam Sicilia coordinating it” and if somebody is interested in stepping in to contact Service Safety Director Ken Kenst (330-332-4241).

“The Super Cruise has raised plenty of money for charity,” Berlin said, adding, “the city is prepared to do what it always has with police, electric, water, and sanitation.

“We’re pretty much able to do that for anyone who wants to come forward and do the judging and things like that.”

Berlin said all the vendors want to return.

The Super Cruise, with the main staging area in the municipal parking lot in the 500 block of East Pershing Street, is a four-day, award-winning festival of street rods, hot rods, chrome and glitter and is the largest ongoing event in city history.

Last year’s Super Cruise attracted major sponsors with the Mahoning Valley Corvettes spearheading the promotion, along with Youngstown’s 21WFMJ as the official television station for the event.

Also part of the sponsorship mix were the Flynn Auto Group and Kufleitner Auto Group.

The Flynn Auto Group includes Donnell Ford in Salem, and Performance Trucks located in New Waterford.

Berlin said next year, his administration would be in it’s eighth year with Kenst managing the cruise.

Many observers of the event said having the city manage it is a “hand-in-glove fit” through its ability to marshal utilities, traffic control and safety through city hall.

The event, which is free to the public, also brings out large, diverse crowds during the four-day run and in the past has attracted appearances by the Goodyear Blimp.

The Super Cruise has retained the Second Food Harvest in Youngstown as its primary charitable beneficiary.

Sodomora concluded his letter to Berlin saying, “The club and its members thoroughly enjoyed getting to know the city and the warmth and friendliness of it people.

“Everyone made us feel welcome and appreciated.”

lshields@salemnews.net