Car Cruise in South Park highlights Labor Day weekend enjoyable

Jim Gastgeb’s fascination with the auto started as a youth when he accompanied his father on journeys to the native dealership to purchase a brand new automobile for the household.

“Back then it was either a four-door Chevy Impala or a station wagon,” mentioned Gastgeb, of Bethel Park. “I would always be glancing over at the Camaros and Corvettes.”

While the “more practical” Bud Gastgeb at all times bought an acceptable sedan for his household of 5, his son by no means forgot these adventures.

“They were special moments that he and I shared,” Gastgeb mentioned. “They stayed with me.”

So did Gastgeb’s craving for cool vehicles.

Today, as an grownup in his late 50s, Gastgeb has a group of Firebirds to associate with his 1978 silver anniversary version Corvette, traditional Dodge Challenger and 1980 Pontiac Trans-Am that’s modeled after the one used within the traditional movie “Smokey and the Bandit.”

“That’s my favorite,” he mentioned. “I don’t have a Camaro though,” he admitted.

Rest assured there will probably be a lot for Gastgeb and others to view when the fifteenth annual Rev ‘Em Up For Kids Car Cruise rolls into South Park over Labor Day weekend.

Sponsored by Pasta Too and benefiting the UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation, the occasion runs from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 6 alongside Corrigan Drive. The rain date is Sept. 7.

“The sun doesn’t need to be out but it needs to be dry,” Gastgeb mentioned. “As long as it’s dry, we are good to go.”

Rev ‘Em Up For Kids is so popular, he added, that it’s a vacation spot automobile cruise. “People circle the date and plan accordingly.”

For the second 12 months in a row, the occasion will probably be staged on the highway, inflicting the closure of Corrigan Drive between Brownsville Road and the intersection with Maple Spring/McConkey roads within the park.

“That portion of the park is easy to close off and easy to detour around. So people can get out and about. From that perspective, things went smoothly,” Gastgeb mentioned.

He added that in lots of different communities exterior of the Pittsburgh area, automobile cruises usually are held on the primary drag on the town.

“It creates a certain vibe,” he mentioned. “It was neat to have cars parked on the road. The cruisers just loved that. So we are excited to continue that.”

The automobile cruise continues to develop.

Last 12 months, greater than 4,000 spectators attended and a few 1,100 vehicles participated.

“We like to say we have something for everyone. The whole family,” he added. “We are always looking at ways to enhance the show and we have expanded that with different vendors and activities.”

Ancillary occasions that includes distributors and actions for kids will probably be held within the corresponding parking tons and grassy fields within the park.

The Kids Zone facilities across the Black & Gold playground situated between the fairgrounds and recreation protect. There will probably be a meals court docket. In addition to cruise merchandise, spectators should buy objects for his or her pets in addition to jewellery, candles and different objects.

“We had a banner year last year,” Gastgeb mentioned. “Everything fell into place. So we’d love to match that. Anything over that would be tremendous.”

Entry price is $10 per present automobile.

Spectator admission is free however money donations will probably be accepted.

All proceeds from the automobile cruise will probably be donated to the UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation.

“We were able to raise $25,000 last year, which was our most ever,” Gastgeb mentioned. “We’d love to do a little better this year. Ten percent more would be a good year for us.”

Call the Car Cruise Hotline at 412-833-4280 for extra particulars concerning the occasion.

Things to know earlier than you go

There are 3 ways for present autos to enter the automobile cruise venue:

Gate #1 Maples Spring/McConkey at Corrigan(at site visitors gentle) 2323 Corrigan Road, South Park, Pa.

Gate #2 Brownsville Road at Corrigan(Fairgrounds) 1801 Brownsville Road, South Park, Pa.

Gate #3 Brownsville Road at Nurse’s Lane Grove(Near Sunny Slope Hill)

Note: Corrigan Drive is not going to be closed till 9:30am. Therefore there isn’t a cause to reach earlier than then

Show hours are 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Admission is free to spectators however money donations will probably be accepted.

Fee for present autos is $10.

Proceeds profit UPMC Children’s Hospital Foundation

Spectator parking is clearly marked and obtainable in 17 groves all through Maples Springs Road, Brownsville Rd, Children Playground and all the general public parking tons by higher Fairgrounds.

Restroom and Port-o-Johns positioned all through Corrigan Drive and on the constructing within the Gold n Gold Playground Parking lot off Corrigan Drive.