Medina classic car shows could move to senior center lot on West Avenue

Photo by Tom Rivers: Rollin Hellner, left, and Tom Snyder speak with the Village Board on Monday to discuss moving the Friday evening classic car shows from the Canal Basin to the senior center parking lot.

By Ginny Kropf and Tom Rivers

MEDINA – A new team has stepped up to run the cruise-in nights in Medina, which typically bring in 80 to 100 classic cars.

Rollin Hellner and Tom Snyder presented an expanded lineup for the events, with many themed shows from the opening day of May 31 to the season-ending event on Aug. 30. They also want to shift the cruise-ins from the Canal Basin to the senior center parking lot on West Avenue.

They also are proposing the biggest cruise in of the season, the Super Cruise, be held on a Friday. That event has been on a Wednesday with more than 200 cars and special entertainment from Elvis impersonator Terry Buchwald.

Hellner said he and Snyder are trying to build on the success from long-time organizer David Green, who stepped down from the role at the end of last season.

“It’s already great,” Hellner said. “People love it.”

Hellner owns The Walsh across from the senior center. He said classic car owners are welcome to use the bathrooms at The Walsh. The restaurant and bar also could provide an overflow lot if the senior center gets maxed out.

Moving up to the senior center would free up parking spaces at the Canal Basin and on Main Street on Friday evenings. Some of the business owners have said the car shows draw a crowd, but have a downside in consuming many parking spots.

“This should ease some of the pressure on Main Street,” Hellner said about the shift to the senior center.

One of the classic car enthusiasts, John Pratt, told the Village Board the car owners like the ambiance by the Canal Basin, being by the water of the Erie Canal and sitting under the trees for shade.

Village Board members said they want to consider the change in location for the car show. Board members said they expect to make a decision during the next meeting on March 25.

Jason Watts, the DPW superintendent, said the Super Cruise on a Friday on a busy Main Street would be tough for the community if that street is closed to traffic. He suggested the car show shift a street away to West Avenue if it’s on a Friday.

Village Trustee Tim Elliott said having the show on Main Street makes it a better destination for the car owners and enthusiasts. He would like the car show to stay on Main Street as a once-a-year event.

The board said they appreciate Hellner and Snyder for taking the reins for the car show this year.

“Thank you for stepping up and taking this on,” said Deputy Mayor Marguerite Sherman. “A lot of people have been worried about it.”

Green, who organized the shows for nearly three decades, is glad the shows will go on, even with some uncertainty right now about the location. He coordinated the shows, starting 28 years ago with Donna Bushover and Donna Mruczek.

“I will still come to cruise nights, but I’m 81 now and it was time to let it go,” Green said. “I couldn’t have done it without all the help I had. It was a lot of work – a lot of walking that night and a lot of time spent going around and getting sponsors for door prizes and the DJ.”

The proceeds from 50/50 tickets went to the Orleans County United Way, which carried insurance for the cruise-ins.

Both Hellner and Snyder own vintage cars. They said Medina has one of the best-attended cruise-ins in the area.

“I’m happy to be involved with cruise nights,” Snyder said. “I remember back when they started and I don’t want to see them go away.”