AUSTINTOWN — Spring is here and that means the start of the cruise and show season for those who are passionate about the automobile.

The Mahoning Valley Olde Car Club will begin its season with a kickoff cruise 5 to 8 p.m. Tuesday at Wedgewood Pizza, 1622 S. Raccoon Road in Austintown.

Following the kickoff date, the weekly cruise will continue at DeBartolo Commons at the Southern Park Mall every Tuesday through September.

The MVOCC draws members from all over the tri-county area and eastern Pennsylvania. It boasts a membership of more than 200. Since it formed in the late 1970s, it has held cruises and put on an annual car show, using the proceeds to help children who have medical needs.

“In 1979, there was a young fellow named Freddie, whose face looked like it had melted,” said club member Rich Posivak of Youngstown. “We held a car show and raised the funds for him to get surgery to reconstruct his face.”

Posivak said the car club helped him three times as doctors moved up his eye socket and gave him an artificial ear. Freddie was 6 at the time, and went on to attend school in Denmark, earning two degrees.

“His story is still going strong,” Posivak said.

That was the first of many stories of children who were in need of medical care — were battling life-threatening illnesses — that the club helped.

DONATIONS

The club continues to choose a child every year to receive the proceeds from the cruises and the annual car show, and supports Hospice of the Valley. In the past 10 years alone, the club has donated more than $228,000 to recipients and hospice.

The car cruises started in the front parking lot of the former Kmart store in Boardman on U.S. Route 224. That car cruise was there for roughly eight years, according to Posivak, then was moved to the Austintown Senior Center for five years, and one year at the Austintown Plaza. This year it moves back to Boardman and will take place at the commons on the south end of the mall.

Fred Ross, MVOCC cruise treasurer, said the cruises are a great place to see a wide variety of makes, models and altered automobiles.

“We don’t have a lot of street rods in the club,” Ross said.

Posivak said a cruise can be filled with beautiful stock automobiles and someone will pull in with a rusted-half primed hot rod and everyone’s head will turn.

“They are called rat rods, and are supposed to carry that look,” he said. “It is almost like an art form.”

Both men agreed the DeBartolo Commons weekly cruise will be fun for the club and visitors — and will continue the fundraising efforts to help children.

HELPING SOFIA

This year’s recipient is Sofia Angiuli-Kale, 6, daughter of Stephanie and Rodney Kale of New Waterford. She was diagnosed with leukodystrophy in 2020 and epilepsy in 2019.

According to information the club received, leukodystrophy is a progressive, terminal, neurodegenerative disease. This combination of diseases robs the girl of her ability to walk, talk and swallow, making her wheelchair dependent. The proceeds from this year’s cruise and show will go toward giving Sofia an accessible bedroom and bathroom.

While helping the children is a big part of the MVOCC, there are other benefits to membership.

Ross said the club often holds tours during which members can caravan to interesting places around the area. On May 14, the club is planning to tour the War Vet Museum in Canfield.

“When we do tours, some members go modern,” Ross said. “Going modern” means driving the everyday car and leaving the collector car at home. When the club plans tours, going modern is what happens when rain is in the forecast.

Rain is one thing members don’t want when it is time for the annual Cars in the Park car show. That show is always in August at Boardman Park, off Route 224. This year it will be 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Aug. 7 and will be the 43rd annual event. The show is held rain or shine.

At the August show, the MVOCC averages some 400 cars that include classics, street rods, hot rods and pretty much anything on wheels.

“You can really see the love for the automobile at this event,” Posivak said.

The child recipient is also in attendance and the family receives the proceeds from the cruises and show.

RAFFLE

Ross said the club also will hold a raffle this year to raise additional funds. He said tickets will be available at the cruises to win a laptop computer or a real traffic signal light.

“I obtained the traffic light from the city of Akron,” Ross said. “It is a full-size light. Most auto enthusiasts would not go out and buy one, but if they win one, they will put it up in their garage.” He said one fellow got one and rigged it to turn on when his garage door went up.

The drawing for the signal and computer will be held 6 p.m. at the Sept. 6 cruise. The winner must be present and have the winning ticket stub to claim the prize.

“It is winner’s choice on the first drawing,” Ross said. “Then we will wait 15 minutes and if no one claims the prizes, we will draw again, every five minutes until the prizes are gone.”

The rain date will be 6 p.m. Sept. 13.

While the MVOCC has a large membership, the club is open to any car enthusiasts. Posivak said anyone can visit the club’s website at www.mvocc.com and go to “about us,” then scroll to the bottom of the page where an electronic membership form can be downloaded.

“We are always looking for new members,” Posivak said. “Joining a car club can be a big plus, even for people in the finance and advertising industries. You don’t need a car to join, just a love for the automobile.”