Super Cruise in Medina sees record high in classic cars

Photos by Ginny Kropf: People move into Main Street to welcome Terry Buchwald as Elvis, as he arrives on his motorcycle for Wednesday’s Super Cruise in Medina. This was the 16th year Buchwald has been performed at the event.

MEDINA – Medina’s Super Cruise on Wednesday night was one for the record books.

Good weather, 325 entries – some first-timers, entertainment by the popular Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald and a crowd of thousands made for a very successful evening, to end this year’s weekly cruise-ins in Medina.

Summer cruise-ins on Friday nights have been a tradition in Medina for more than 30 years, having been started by the late David Green, Donna Bushover and former Medinan Donna Mruczek. For many years the season has ended with a Super Cruise on Main Street the last Wednesday in August. Buchwald has been an added feature for about 15 years.

Friends Pete Redding and Karen Schultz brought their Thunderbirds to Medina’s Super Cruise Wednesday night. His on the left is a 2010 and hers is a 2002.

In 2024, after Green retired as organizer of the event, local entrepreneur Rollin Hellner stepped in to keep the tradition going. The weekly cruise-ins were moved to the parking lot of the Medina Senior Center, with the final Super Cruise staying on Main Street.

Hellner initiated a few changes in the events this year, such as opening them up to other vehicles besides classical cars.

“Personally, I’d like to see anything that has an engine,” said Hellner, who is an avid collector with more than 40 vehicles.

Wednesday’s Super Cruise included motorcycles, a “really cool” Brockway semi and two exotic Vipers.

Mike and Janice Wagner of Pendleton brought a 1972 Chevy C10, which they’ve owned for nine years. When they got it from Charlotte, N.C. it was in parts, Janice said.

“He did the restoration,” said Janice of husband Mike. “He drives it to breakfast mornings, and one time a guy following him was irate because he was going so slow. When Mike pulled into the restaurant the guy followed him and walked up to the truck and pounded it with his fist, denting the molding.

Mike and Janice Wagner of Pendleton proudly show off their 1972 Chevy C10 at Medina’s cruise-in on Main Street Saturday night.

When Mike retired from Harrison Radiator at age 56, he started collecting cars, Janice said. At one time he had 13 Corvettes, but then got interested in trucks.

The Wagners regularly go to Hoover’s Dairy in Sanborn to their cruise-ins, but Olcott is their favorite one, Janice said.

“This will be Olcott’s last year, unless somebody steps up to take it over,” she said.

Another cruiser was Bill Wellington of Lyndonville, who showed a 1933 Ford 3-window coupe, which he bought after he saw it at a car dealer’s seven years ago.

“This is my first classic car,” Wellington said. “I redid the motor and probably spend $3,000 a year on it.”

Joe and Kim Colosi of Lockport brought an impressive pair of Vipers to Super Cruise on Wednesday night. The 2010 Snakeskin Green car is No. 28 of 31 built. The one in the trailer is a 2017 final edition Viper GTS.

Joe and Kim Colosi of Lockport raised eyebrows with their display of two Vipers. They occupied a prime spot at the four corners of Main and Center streets with their pickup towing a trailer with elevator carrying their Vipers.

“This is the only show we’ve attended this year,” Kim said. “We like this area. It has turned out nice.”

She said Joe knows everything about every car, but especially likes Vipers.

“He got his first one in 2001, then we got a Lamborghini, before going back to Vipers,” Kim said.

Their 2010 Snakeskin Green Viper is No. 28 of only 31 built. A 2017 Viper GTS is a final edition model.

Hellner said another first-time entry came from Syracuse, the farthest anyone has traveled, he thought.

“I love it that the stores were open late, taking advantage of the thousands of people,” Hellner said. “And the restaurants were packed.”

Vehicles were judged in a number of categories, with the Colosi’s  2017 Viper named Best of Show, and a 1937 Ford Roadster owned by Rich Colonna named Best Custom Car.

“My only hope is Dave Green is looking down and smiling,” Hellner said.

Bill Wellington of Lyndonville stands next to his 1933 Ford 3-window coupe on Medina’s Main Street during Super Cruise Wednesday night.