Don and Linda Zullinger had the opportunity to go to a National Street Rod Association National event the week after our Grace Community Car Show. I asked Don and Linda to write about that experience. Below is their story.
ELLIE’S JOURNEY
By Don & Linda Zullinger
First, we should explain who “Ellie” is. Ellie is our 1937 Ford 5-Window Coupe Street Rod. Ellie is named after the First Lady of the United States in 1937, Eleanor Roosevelt.
This fall we took Ellie on her first long journey to Burlington, Vermont. We were taking her to a National Street Rod Association National meet.
We arrived in Burlington on Thursday Sept. 13th. The meet was the 14th, 15th and 16th at the Champlain Valley Exposition Center.
On Friday the 14th we found a nice parking space on the fairgrounds. There were 1,370 cars registered. These included street rods of all makes, models, designs, colors and classic cars were allowed up thru 1987. Friday was get to know your neighbor & other NSRA members and their rides.
Saturday is the day to shine the car in hopes of being picked by a NSRA Official, or one of 18 NSRA representatives from the Northeast Division of Street Rod Representatives. There were also picks by owners or sponsors of approx. 20 national companies who help sponsor the meet.
On Saturday afternoon we were approached by Mr. Jedehah Greeke. He was the New Hampshire representative for NSRA. He asked questions of our street rod, left and returned with his family to review the car, left again and return with another representative from another state to get his opinion. He then informed us that he was picking our “Ellie” as his favorite of the show. How exciting to be one of approx. 48 cars out of 1,300 cars. We completed all the paper work and he sent a photographer by to shoot photos of the car. Hopefully Ellie will get her photo in the NSRA national magazine called Street Scenes.
Sunday was the big day. All picks were assigned a parking spot in the circle of winners. At 1:00 PM the entire fairgrounds had gathered in the grandstands for the presentation of the awards along with drawings for special prizes. The circle of winners were then directed to drive before the audience for the presentation of your award and photos. It was truly and honor and we know Ellie smiled for the cameras.
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Staff Report on page A-5 Living; Friday, May 22, 2015
Auction
Custom table sale to benefit church
Chambersburg - The Grace Community Car Show team, which hosts a fundraising car show the second Saturday in September at Grace Brethren Church, 315 South Edwards Avenue, is accepting bids on a custom steel table featuring air brushed motorcycle design by Kei Greene.
Five local businesses worked together to produce the table, which stands 42 inches high and is 42 inches in diameter.
All materials and labor were donated, with money received from the sale to benefit the Grace Brethren Church's playground project for its daycare program.
The table is on display through September 7 at M & S Harley Davidson, 160 Falling Spring Road.
To submit a bid, email Pastor John at johngbc@comcast.net Include your first and last name, bid amount in dollars, mailing address, and phone number. Bidders will receive periodic updates.
Bidding will continue at a live auction September 12 at the Grace Community Car Show.
For more information, call Bayer at 658-3816.
Staff Report on page A-5 Living; Friday, May 22, 2015
Auction
Custom table sale to benefit church
Chambersburg - The Grace Community Car Show team, which hosts a fundraising car show the second Saturday in September at Grace Brethren Church, 315 South Edwards Avenue, is accepting bids on a custom steel table featuring air brushed motorcycle design by Kei Greene.
Five local businesses worked together to produce the table, which stands 42 inches high and is 42 inches in diameter.
All materials and labor were donated, with money received from the sale to benefit the Grace Brethren Church's playground project for its daycare program.
The table is on display through September 7 at M & S Harley Davidson, 160 Falling Spring Road.
To submit a bid, email Pastor John at johngbc@comcast.net Include your first and last name, bid amount in dollars, mailing address, and phone number. Bidders will receive periodic updates.
Bidding will continue at a live auction September 12 at the Grace Community Car Show.
For more information, call Bayer at 658-3816.
GRACE BRETHREN CHURCH
SHOW BRINGS A SURPRISE TO RETIRING YMCA LEADER Dave Matthews presented with gift from church, car show friends Author: Lauren Cappuccio Date: September 14, 2014 Publication: Public Opinion (Chambersburg, PA) Page: A01 - Front Page of the Sunday Public Opinion newpaper lcappuccio@publicopinionnews. com @LCappuccioPO on Twitter CHAMBERSBURG >> Along with the prizes for cars at Grace Brethren Church's annual car show, a special prize was given to the Chambersburg YMCA's outgoing director, Dave Matthews. Matthews, who was working on a 1961 Corvette, was shocked Saturday when he was presented with a day planner constructed from the vehicle's old connecting rods that needed to be replaced. It also has the years he served at the YMCA stamped into it. "This is surprising," he said, "Thank you to everyone who worked on this." While Larry Mellott, who rebuilt the engine, was working on overhauling it, he gave the connecting rods to John Bayer, pastor of the church. Bayer and Jerry Funk, who make the other trophies for the annual event, created the one-of-a-kind piece for Matthews. Mathews, who is retiring as executive director after 42 years, said that he began working on his corvette in October. "I've always been interested in Corvettes," he said, "I really became interested after I had a science teacher with a Corvette in high school that turned my life around." And it wasn't the only prize he took home Saturday. He also won second place in the Corvette's 1972 to Present category with his 2001 Corvette, and won the Children's Choice Award. At the event, Bayer read a statement written by Alan Smith, executive director of the YMCA in Waynesboro. Smith had nothing but good things to say about Matthews, stating that he "was quickly surrounded" by those who cared after Smith started as a member of the YMCA family back in 1979. "Dave leaves behind the Y in great shape," Bayer read. Due to the rain, the attendance was smaller than usual, 68 registered cars compared to last year's 119, according to Bayer, but all money raised will go toward their project of creating a playground on the church grounds. He said that there are future plans as well for their annual car show that involve the whole family. "Further down the road, we are looking at allowing children and parents together, allowing them to help design future trophies," he said. This year's Best in Show sent to Tim and Judy Ridgley from Fayetteville who brought in a 1957 Chevy Bel Air. |
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9-11-17, 2014 Public Opinion's Weekender
OVER-THE-TOP CAR SHOW
Grace Brethren to host OVER-THE-TOP show of wheels Author: Debby Heishman Date: September 11, 2014 Publication: Public Opinion's Weekender (Chambersburg, PA) Page: Front Page & page 3 of the Public Opinion Weekender newpaper dheishma@publicopinionnews.com @DebbyHeishmanPO on Twitter Chambersburg Original hand-crafted trophies are just one of the reasons Grace Brethren Church pastor John Bayer gets excited about the congregations upcoming car show September 13. The trophy designs gained attention from organizers of a huge car show in Mesa, California, and they email him to ask if they could copy his ideas for the quirky trophies made from auto parts. The parts were welded by Chambersburg welder Jerry Funk and Kei Greene, Fayetteville, added airbrushed designs to each one. There's even a Children's Choice Award, designed by children who attend church at Grace Brethren at 315 South Edwards Avenue. Bayer gets excited about cars, but he's also excited about what the second annual car show will help fund - something for children. The church plans a larger playground area for use by three outside groups that use the church for their child-related programs - United Cerebral Palsy's Peachtree Program for preschoolers, Joy-El's Released Time Bible education program, and Child Evangelism Fellowship's Good News Club. Right now, a postage stamp-sized play area has a few playground components, but it's nothing compared to what is to come. "Phase One is to start next spring (2015)," said Bayer of the $20,000 piece of playground equipment that will be a 30-foot-by-30-foot play unit. We have 25 to 35 preschoolers here at one time. We are willing to invest in children and their lives." Outside the church, Bayer used hand motions to help visualize the space the unit will take up. Then, not missing a beat, he walked the perimeter of the church, motioning the spaces that he expects to be buzzing with activity on Saturday from 9 AM to 3 PM. Here, right out front, will be the welcome center, with tables full of information on all kinds of activities for children available at the church. Next will be a story center and farther out, an open space for parachute games. A bus camouflaged as a Western Maryland train engine, will offer train rides to adults and children throughout the neighborhood. All across the lawn, vehicles of all models, makes and years will be lined up for critiquing by 17 judges. To the rear will be the food pit, with pulled pork, hot dogs, and chicken corn soup for sale. They are planning for 800 lunches, Bayer said. Up on the hillside and across the lawn will be parking - two neighbors have agreed to allow parking. And that is just outdoors. Inside, vendors, will fill a room and there will be impressive items for a silent auction. Bayer's special auction item is a NASCAR table that will look mighty fine inside somebody's man cave. It, too, was crafted from parts of cars, with a race car tire and rim as a base. Bayer plans to have five such tables next year. The pastor said he could do none of this without all the local business support. From 24 the first year to 59 this year, his business neighbors have supported the show with enthusiasm. By keeping them involved throughout the show, he said, "I'm looking for ways to give these businesses some business," he said. To view the details of Grace Brethren's car show, visit www.carshowlink.com Click on September icon on the left and scroll down to the show. For information, contact Bayer at johngbc@comcast.net or 717-658-3816. |
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Classic Car Show to raise funds for playground

Date August 1, 2013
by Amber South @AESouthPO
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com
Fast cars from eras past will help a Chambersburg church build a playground for children of the present and future.
About 60 vehicles have registered so far for the Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show scheduled for noon Saturday (August 3) at 315 South Edwards Avenue, said Pastor John Bayer Jr. He anticipates actual participation to be triple that.
Every first, second and third place winner in each of 12 classes will get a custom trophy built from vehicle parts. The grandest of them all is the Best of Show trophy, built from a Harley Davidson muffler and cylinder.
The car-part trophy idea came from a little boy at church who loves the movie "CARS," Bayer said.
"He thought why not have a Piston Cup," he said, referring to the prize for the movie's big race.
Kids at the car show may even get an idea of what it is like to race a car, as the owner of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro drag racing car plans to let kids sit in the driver's seat, Bayer said.
Kids will be the big winners of the car show. Proceeds will go toward the construction of a playground on the church property that any child from the community will be able to use, said Bayer.
Many of the children who will use the playground may come from three children's groups that use the church as a meeting place: Peach Tree Kids Preschool, a program from Cerebral Palsy that puts disabled children with able-bodied children to promote connections; Child Evangelism Fellowship, a Waynesboro program that hosts bible released time for elementary students at the church; and Camp Joy-El, a Greencastle organization that also offers Bible released time at the church.
Bayer's parents, John Sr. and Kathy Bayer, left the seed money to get the playground started; she passed away two years ago and he died exactly 25 months before. The car show will honor their memories, in addition to carrying on their support for children's ministry.
For Bayer, the car show is a way to practice his love of cars. He grew up in a body shop with his dad and was always around cars, he said. That hobby also ran on the women's side of the family; Bayer said his elderly mother loved riding in a yellow Mustang Shelby GT 500.
The community has really helped Bayer host the car show. He said he has been shocked by the community's generosity, as nearly all necessities have been donated including all the parts for the 37 trophies.
The car show is open to all years, makes and models. Classes are Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle,, Mopar, Corvette, Street Rods, Imports, Classics, Antiques, trucks (2 WD), trucks (4WD), and motorcycles.
Registration is at 9 AM to 12 PM, and the main event is noon to 3 PM followed by the trophy presentation. The cost of $15 includes a free meal. Food will be available to purchase
For information, contact Bayer at 658-3816 or johngbc@comcast.net.
by Amber South @AESouthPO
Amber South can be reached at asouth@publicopinionnews.com
Fast cars from eras past will help a Chambersburg church build a playground for children of the present and future.
About 60 vehicles have registered so far for the Car, Truck and Motorcycle Show scheduled for noon Saturday (August 3) at 315 South Edwards Avenue, said Pastor John Bayer Jr. He anticipates actual participation to be triple that.
Every first, second and third place winner in each of 12 classes will get a custom trophy built from vehicle parts. The grandest of them all is the Best of Show trophy, built from a Harley Davidson muffler and cylinder.
The car-part trophy idea came from a little boy at church who loves the movie "CARS," Bayer said.
"He thought why not have a Piston Cup," he said, referring to the prize for the movie's big race.
Kids at the car show may even get an idea of what it is like to race a car, as the owner of a 1969 Chevrolet Camaro drag racing car plans to let kids sit in the driver's seat, Bayer said.
Kids will be the big winners of the car show. Proceeds will go toward the construction of a playground on the church property that any child from the community will be able to use, said Bayer.
Many of the children who will use the playground may come from three children's groups that use the church as a meeting place: Peach Tree Kids Preschool, a program from Cerebral Palsy that puts disabled children with able-bodied children to promote connections; Child Evangelism Fellowship, a Waynesboro program that hosts bible released time for elementary students at the church; and Camp Joy-El, a Greencastle organization that also offers Bible released time at the church.
Bayer's parents, John Sr. and Kathy Bayer, left the seed money to get the playground started; she passed away two years ago and he died exactly 25 months before. The car show will honor their memories, in addition to carrying on their support for children's ministry.
For Bayer, the car show is a way to practice his love of cars. He grew up in a body shop with his dad and was always around cars, he said. That hobby also ran on the women's side of the family; Bayer said his elderly mother loved riding in a yellow Mustang Shelby GT 500.
The community has really helped Bayer host the car show. He said he has been shocked by the community's generosity, as nearly all necessities have been donated including all the parts for the 37 trophies.
The car show is open to all years, makes and models. Classes are Mustang, Camaro, Chevelle,, Mopar, Corvette, Street Rods, Imports, Classics, Antiques, trucks (2 WD), trucks (4WD), and motorcycles.
Registration is at 9 AM to 12 PM, and the main event is noon to 3 PM followed by the trophy presentation. The cost of $15 includes a free meal. Food will be available to purchase
For information, contact Bayer at 658-3816 or johngbc@comcast.net.