Bryan Fichter of Butler cleans his red 1995 Chevrolet Corvette on Sunday, June 4, at ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township during the Wheels of Steel car cruise fundraiser for the Butler YMCA. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
SLIPERY ROCK TWP — Bryan Fichter of Butler doesn’t take his 1995 Chevrolet Corvette out very often, but he will when the opportunity presents itself.
He said he will sometimes drive him to the Butler YMCA where he and his wife, Jerry Fichter, exercise regularly through their memberships. On Sunday, June 4, the two cruised to ARMCO Park for a car cruise fundraiser benefiting the Family YMCA of Butler County.
“It is a good cause; we always want to help out at the Y,” Jerry Fichter said. “I’ll take a lot of the classes, he’ll go to work out.”
Sunday was the third annual Wheels of Steel Car Cruise at ARMCO Park, which is a partnership event between the Butler YMCA and the Butler Rodfathers.
The Rodfathers are a group of vintage car collectors and appreciators led by its president, John Malinski, who said the group not only enjoys opportunities to display their cars, but also opportunities to generate donations to local organizations.
“There’s a lot of family-oriented people that pull it together,” Malinski said. “This is mainly what our group does; we do a Cruise-A-Palooza, at the end of the year we give to eight charities”.
Sunday’s event, which ran from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., was free for car owners and the public to attend. Christina Dreher, director of development for the Butler YMCA, said the organization expected to see about 250 cars entered in the show and as many as 1,000 spectators.
The event had basket raffles and 50/50 raffles, but Dreher said the main fundraising came through sponsorships.
“In the past we’ve raised about $4,000; this year we raised about $8,000,” Dreher said. “This year we practically doubled our income. It raises money, but it also connects us to the community.”
Malinski said he and the other members of the Rodfathers, including his brother, Gary Malinski, were glad to have an excuse to show off their vehicles.
Gary Malinski brought his 1972 Dodge Charger to the cruise, which he said he’s had for about 45 years. The Malinskis spent the day talking to car enthusiasts in the community, which John Malinski said is a large group in Butler County.
“People love to see the cars,” John Malinski said. “A lot of them have grown up around these cars.”
Jerry and Bryan Fichter took a few laps around the makeshift grass parking lot before returning to their Corvette to share information about it with onlookers. Bryan explained that keeping a vintage car in good condition means not taking it out very often, but he relishes the opportunities when he does get to drive it.
“It took some cleaning and a lot of elbow grease,” said Bryan Fichter, to keep the Corvette in good shape. “We haven’t been on many cruises by car, but this was a great time to come.”
Gary Malinski, a member of the Butler Rodfathers, stands Sunday, June 4, in his 1972 Dodge Charger at the Wheels of Steel car cruise at ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
John Malinski, president of the Butler Rodfathers, stands with his 1973 Ford Mustang Sunday, June 4, at the Wheels of Steel car cruise at ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
More than 200 cars came out Sunday afternoon, June 4, for the Wheels of Steel car cruise at ARMCO Park in Slippery Rock Township. Shane Potter/Butler Eagle
