Cruise under way
Salem Mayor John Berlin, as with the last three Salem Super Cruises, gives the command for drivers to “Start Your Engines” to officially begin the 14th Annual Salem Super Cruise Thursday night. The East Pershing Street municipal parking lot was overflowing with hot rods, street rods, and custom cruisers along with this row of gleaming Corvettes. For the first time, the Mahoning Valley Corvette Club has partnered with the city of Salem in organizing and promoting Salem’s Super Cruise along with Youngstown’s WFMJ Channel 21. More photos, A2. (Salem News photos by Larry Shield
Salem Mayor John Berlin, as with the last three Salem Super Cruises, gives the command for drivers to “Start Your Engines” to officially begin the 14th Annual Salem Super Cruise Thursday night. The East Pershing Street municipal parking lot was overflowing with hot rods, street rods, and custom cruisers along with this row of gleaming Corvettes. For the first time, the Mahoning Valley Corvette Club has partnered with the city of Salem in organizing and promoting Salem’s Super Cruise along with Youngstown’s WFMJ Channel 21. More photos, A2. (Salem News photos by Larry Shield
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SALEM -- The 14th Salem Super Cruise is under way and got off to a roaring start when Mayor John Berlin issued the command to drivers, "Start Your Engines" at 7 p.m. sharp Thursday.
Suddenly all the planning, organizing and arranging by the city, the Mahoning Valley Corvettes, Youngstown television's 21WFMJ, auto cross and car show organizers and the Second Harvest Food Bank of the Mahoning Valley, came together.
Surrounded by hot rods, show cars and street cruisers, Berlin said, "Everyone's been very complimentary and appreciative. All the car owners are looking forward to a great weekend."
Berlin took the microphone and said, "In Salem this weekend we're cruisin' for a cause, the Second Harvest Food Bank. We're glad you came to Salem to see all the classic cars that their owners have put a lot of hard work into restoring.
"We have many other attractions for the public to see. We have bands, food vendors, and all our downtown businesses will be open to the public.
"In our 14th year, our goal has been to showcase our community in a positive way. We hope visitors and residents will have an enjoyable experience."
Berlin thanked the Mahoning Valley Corvette Club for its hard work, Sam and Judy Sicilia and Youngstown television WFMJ Channel 21 for "promoting our cruise to its viewing public."
He also thanked past promoters and organizers like Gene and Judy Johnson who retired this year, and Jim Bonfert who saved the Super Cruise when it was basically dead in the water years ago.
Bonfert convinced the Wolford administration to involve the city in backing the event and, with an almost hand-in-glove fit, the city has successfully managed it since.
Bonfert was 75 when he died in March of 2016.
And, Berlin also recalled when the Super Cruise began, almost as an addendum to an event at Quaker City Motorsports Park years ago when the cruise was referred to as an "After Party."
Berlin said, "I hope anyone coming to our event has a memorable experience. This is not the after party, this is the party."
For more information go to salemsupercruise.com to see all the events. lshields@salemnews.net