Hot Rods Roll Into B.L.D's

If you are looking for something to do on Wednesday nights, head to B.L.D.'s Restaurant in Lake Ronkonkoma for Hot Rod Night.  Manager Jonathan Tavares began hosting the event in the restaurant's parking lot last year. 

It began with a group of longtime customers who often attended to car shows all over Long Island.  Tavares asked if they wanted to participate in a Hot Rod Night and with that, the event was born.  

The turnout each week varies; the core group of guys who originated Hot Rod Night come every week Tavares said.  

"Typically we get anywhere from 10-25 cars," he said. "the most I've ever counted so far was 27."

He added that the guys helped spread the word about Hot Rod Night by passing out fliers at car shows around the Island and by word of mouth.  

Not long after they began Hot Rod Night, the owner of Action Performance on Hawkins Avenue (who is also a longtime patron of B.L.D.'s) spoke to Tavares and offered to host a weekly drawing: anyone who brings a hot rod and is present is eligible to win a $50 gift card to Action Performance.  In addition to a gift card raffle, Tavares also offers a 10 percent discount to dine at B.L.D.'s for anyone who brings a car.

Tavares is hoping to draw more crowds and more cars as the warmer months approach. 

"A lot of people just passing by stop to take a look at the cars," he said. "They come hang out a little bit and usually stop in and grab a bite to eat."

Charlie Seibert, a lifetime resident of Lake Ronkonkoma, is one of the men from the core group of people that helped Tavares start up Hot Rod Night.  Seibert brought his yellow 1934 Ford Hot Rod with him this week.  He also has a 1941 Willy's Pick Up and is currently working on building a Cobra with a Chevy motor. 

Seibert said that he and many of the other guys attend shows a few days during the week and on the weekends all around Long Island and New Jersey.  He has been showing cars since 1990. Seibert explained that he got laid off from Grummen in July of 1971 and started traveling to different races to compete as a driver. That summer he lived off his winnings to pay the bills.

"I grew up around cars," he said. "When I was 5 years old my father started bringing me to races and eventually to car shows." 

Currently he attends car shows that sometimes bring as many as 3000-4000 cars.

"I've been coming here for years, back when it used to be Pancake Cottage," he said. "It's really great, families come and bring their kids and look at the cars and go.  I'm hoping this summer brings a lot more people. We just need to really get the word out that we're here."