An upcoming car show on May 31 to benefit The Brightside Project will feature a piece of Chrysler racing history in Charlie and Denise Caldwell’s 1967 Plymouth RO23 Super Stock Car which was the actual Ferris Motors race car. (Submitted photo courtesy Gene Johnson)
SALEM — An upcoming car show will serve as a reunion for the old Arby’s car cruise, with all proceeds benefiting The Brightside Project.
The show is set for May 31, from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Brightside Project at 1909 N. Ellsworth Ave., with a rain date set for June 14. Registration for the show will begin at 8 a.m. and have a cost of $5, with the first 100 participants receiving a dash plaque. Trophies will be awarded at noon, and there will be cruising until 5 p.m.
The event will also feature a pancake and sausage breakfast from 8 a.m. through noon for a donation of $5, door prizes, a Chinese auction, a 50/50 raffle, and a tire raffle for a certificate for $700 of a set of four Firestone or Bridgestone tires courtesy of Firestone Complete Auto Care, all set to musical favorites from the 1950s and 60s. Raffle tickets are $5 each and can be purchased the day of the event, or in advance by calling The Brightside Project at 234-320-4005.
Organizer Gene Johnson, who organized the Arby’s Car Cruise for years, said that Brightside Project Board of Directors Member Micheal Greenamyer’s father used to help him with the Arby’s Car Cruise, and that Greenamyer asked if they could organize a reunion show as a fundraiser last November.
“I said we sure can, and hopefully we’ll be able to raise some money for them,” said Johnson.
Johnson said that the show is set to have over 250 cars in attendance and will feature a rare piece of Chrysler racing history on display in Charlie and Denise Caldwell’s 1967 Plymouth RO23 Super Stock Car which was the actual Ferris Motors race car. Plymouth only ever produced 55 RO23’s, of which only 17 were four speed cars. Charlie and Denise purchased the car from its original owner in Illinois and spent seven years restoring it to its original racing condition, winning a Concourse Gold at the MCNCN Car Show in Chicago with 994 points out 1000.
“Everything is original from the paints to the nuts and bolts, and it’s been authenticated by the Chrysler Corporation as a 100% original vehicle,” said Johnson.
For additional information or any questions call Johnson at 330-277-8193.
