Downtown District Car Show Drives Into City
By Robin Vinci at September 26, 2023 | 7:30 pm | Print
If you walked around the Central Park area last Saturday, chances are you were able to see a few cars that have never been shown before as The Downtown District held its Seventh Annual Car Show.
“I have never been to New Britain before, but I had heard about the show,” said John Nerkowski of Wallingford who owns a 1962 Oldsmobile Starfire in original condition. “I’ve gone to shows for 10 years and never saw another car like it.”
Kathy and Joe Femia said their Replica of a 1955 Porsche Speedster is like one raced by James Dean. The type of car was also in the movies “Top Gun”, “Doc Hollywood” and “48 Hours”
“This is the first year we have been here and it is very nice,” said Joe Femia.
“I like New Britain. I was born in New Britain and lived all my life here and like to show my car,” said Anthony Farone who is called the Beetle. “I do a lot of work on it. It gets old and a lot of things go. It’s a gorgeous show. There are a lot of friendly people here.”
Jim Sanders Jr. brought his 1965 Pontiac Tempest to this show for the first time.
“It was given to me five years ago and three years ago I got it running,” said Sanders. “This spring I got the body work done and now it is at its first show.”
Bob Story of Story Bros. brought three cars including a 1936 Auburn Speedster, a Chevy Silverado and a 1966 Chevy.
Members of the Hardware City Lakers John Henninger and Paul Mangiafico also brought cars. This is only the second show in which each has gone.
Henniger brought his restored 1932 Chevy and Mangiafico had a 1936 Ford Coupe with a rumble seat.
“Once again this year, through the generosity of our sponsors, we were able to raise awareness of and showcase New Britain’s Downtown’s many destinations like the New Britain Industrial Museum, Trinity on Main, the Hole in the Wall Theater, the New Britain Children’s Museum and the New Britain Museum of American Art,” said Gerry Amodio, Downtown District Director. “This event, which was started by my predecessor Don Courtemanche, has grown in size and attendance each of the seven years. We are most proud of our relationship with the New Britain Explorers Youth Organization, this group of young adults works hand in hand throughout the planning process, and on show day they come out in full force to help coordinate and run the event. This year we are happy to announce that we were able to raise over $1,600.00 for them!”
This year the district partnered with E.C. Goodwin Tech which was represented by their culinary, hairdressing & cosmetics, HVAC, plumbing departments, the Robotics Team, and the Girls Volleyball Team.
“This school which is truly the original ‘magnet school’ has been graduating the finest trade apprentices for decades and we’re happy to partner with them through our relationship with Chris Lynch, its Guidance Director,” said Amodio. “The partnership with Constitution State Car Club continues to make this a signature event on the car show circuit, with the 24 trophies we award to the packed full “goodie bags” that the exhibitors receive.”
Another added feature this year was the dancing group “Dancin’ in The Street” which performed before the spectators in front of and in cooperation with our good friend and DJ Tony Curcio of Music Box Productions. Also this year food vendors included local partners Negritas, Miss Washington’s Diner, Subway, Chinatown Express, Liberty Pizza, Mae Kong Tai Restaurant, Leaves & Pages, Capital Lunch, New China, Peppino’s Pizzeria, El Malecon, Cheng’s Restaurant, Sushi & Hibachi Buffet, McDonalds and Taco Bell we were offering food from the New Britain Masons, Papa’s Trolley, Ricky D’s Rib Shack, Kenny’s Food Wagon, Whatz Up Dog, JJ Hotdog & Burger.
There were several crafters, and the Rotarians sold water and prepared snacks.
“Thanks to some other worldly help the weather held out throughout the day, though we did have to move up the presentations of the awards just a little due to impending rain clouds,” said Amodio. “This year we had our first Annual Students Award, chosen by a group of high school students; it was presented to Bob Story’s Stutz Bearcat convertible replica.”
The overall winner of the “Mayor’s Choice Award” went to Fred & Gloria Krel which was a ’56 yellow & black Chevy Convertible. The Krel’s are natives of New Britain and participate each year. Fred restored the car from a rusted frame up to show car condition. It was a real crowd pleaser! Other awardees included a ’69 Mustang owned by Ken & Mary Sansone; a very cool, and questionably street legal, fully blown purple and grey ’33 Willys Gasser owned by Bob Trueworthy; a mint tan on tan ’66 Pontiac GTO owned by Frank & Mary Divito; a real classic cruiser ’51 Cadillac owned by Bill Farrell; an exotic red ’89 Ferrari 308GTS owned by Bob Nathanson; a classic muscle car in original condition, an orange ’83 Dodge Charger owned by Mitch Lichatz; and a very sleek grey ’57 Mercury sedan owned by Paul Deschenes.
The District is an independent Business Improvement District (a “BID”) that exists solely by the payment of a special tax on the member property owners and small amounts that are raised through normal operations, and for the sole purpose to make the Center Core of the City a better place to work, live and play.
“We present events, host and run the Visitors Center, and lobby on behalf of the property owners and the City on issues that make New Britain a quality City,” said Amodio. “We send out a great big ‘Thank You’ to all the sponsors, exhibitors and participants and we are already meeting to schedule next year’s event.”
