Car Show Highlights Classic Autos, Career Services Campus

Classic car enthusiasts, families, curious onlookers and others made their way to the SWBOCES Center for Career Services May 21 to enjoy the annual Car Show, sponsored by the Rock ‘n’ Rods Car Club of Yonkers.

The event featured over 100 cars, including classic and vintage autos, as well as hot rods and muscle cars.

Some of them included a 1972 Oldsmobile 442, owned by White Plains resident Joe Somereve; a 1929 Fort Model A Roadster, owned by Joe Zotti, a contributor to Connecticut Cruise News; a 1955 two-door Chevy, owned by Ray Maggi of Valhalla; a 1958 Chevrolet Impala, owned by Kevin Kingsland of Valhalla and a 1917 Ford Model T Town Car, owned by Mark Romano of upstate New York.

Two BOCES graduates were also among the competitors. They included 2015 alum Michael McCrain and Nick Debraz, who graduated in 2016.

Jason Amoriello, a student in the Collision Technician class, was there with his refurbished 1986 BMW 520E.

Over 20 trophies were handed out at the end of the day, including the Student Choice Award.

Many students and staff volunteered throughout the day, with staffers offering to cook and serve up burgers and hot dogs, among other duties.

Students from the Emergency Medical Services Program were busy promoting an upcoming campus blood drive on May 31, while others in the TV/Video Production Program were seen roaming the campus taking video footage of the all-day event.

Students from the Emergency Protective Services Program volunteered for a fun donut-eating contest. Organized by instructor Ray Sulla, participants were presented with plates of donuts, made earlier that day by students in the Culinary Arts Program, and expected to eat as many as possible.

Wolfing down the tasty treats, interrupted by gulps of water, was no easy feat. Pelham High School junior Amar Alfalahi was declared the winner.

Other activities included a jaws of life simulation from the White Plains Fire Department as well as entertainment from Elvis tribute artist Randy Mancini.

An Open House was also planned to coincide with the auto display. Visitors were encouraged to ask about the many career and technical programs available on campus, including its Engineering/Green Technologies cluster, which includes the Automotive Technician and Collision Technician programs.

Jack Sarancino of the Rock ‘n’ Rods Car Club said the organization is more than happy to collaborate each year with the Center.

“The Rock ‘n’ Rods is a great organization with a great group of guys who have classic cars, and what we like about this group of guys is that they build the cars themselves,” explained Mr. Sarancino.

“That’s what we want to see in America today,” he added. “People just want to write checks, but here is an organization that teaches our young people to use their hands and to get a job. BOCES gives them the opportunity to learn a trade and that’s a great thing.”