Car lovers to go antiquing

SWAMPSCOTTBy Cyrus MoultonThe Daily ItemRecreation Director Danielle Strauss said she didn’t know where to start when it was suggested the town hold an antique car show this fall. But she didn’t have to go far from Town Hall.”Selectman Rich Malagrifa is definitely going to be there, I’ve got to call (Town Moderator) Joe Markarian because I know he has a classic car, and Doug Dubin, who’s on the planning board, he’s got four or something,” Strauss said.The first Town of Swampscott Monument Avenue Car Show is scheduled for Sunday, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Prizes will be awarded for the best pre-1950s and best post-1950s car, in addition to the best in show, and the people’s choice, Strauss said. Students from Clarke and Hadley elementary schools will offer food for sale, and DJ Greg – a fixture on the classic car scene, according to Strauss – will be spinning 1950s and 1960s tunes. The goal is to attract classic car owners, fans, and curious residents down to Linscott Park to, well ?”You just park your car and stand around and talk with people, or walk around and look at cars,” explained Markarian. “If that’s what you’re into, then it’s interesting.”But once you get them going – the owners, not the cars – you hear all kinds of stories and memories.”People love to talk about their cars,” Marnie McDonald, who joins Malagrifa in taking a 1968 Ford Fairlane – aka “boat” – and a 1973 Datsun 240Z to the Cruisin’ to the Tree nights at Liberty Tree Mall in the summer.McDonald said that she got the Datsun as a reminder of her dad’s old 1972 Datsun that she drove to high school. “Oh, I was so cool then,” she joked.Markarian has had his 1970 Dodge Challenger convertible on the road for 37 years.”Cars are usually divided between drivers and show cars,” explained Markarian. “Mine is a driver – it’s got flaws.”Although driving it presents challenges.”The thing about these cars is that they just feel really different than contemporary cars,” said Markarian. “You go 80 miles an hour, it’s shaking, it’s rattling; there’s no power steering, no power brakes, it’s really a no frills car n it’s a hard car to handle.”They are also, very clearly, from a different time.”In the old days, of course, the bigger the engine the better,” Markarian said. “I bought (the Dodge) during the gas crisis and traded in my ’69 GTO because I thought it was a smaller engine.”The Dodge has a 318 5.2-liter engine, Markarian said. “I bet it gets 10 miles per gallon,” he added.Now the challenge is getting the word out. While there are many car clubs in the area, word-of-mouth seems to be the best method of getting commitments from participants. McDonald noted that part of the fun of going to the cruising nights was that a different set of cars showed up each time.”I guess the way this kind of works is people just show up – you never know how many you’re going to get,” said Strauss.Plus, who really wants to stay parked on what could be one of the last days to drive before winter?Especially when you’re supposed to get a ticket for parking on Monument Avenue.”Yes, there’s no parking allowed,” Strauss acknowledged, laughing. “But we’re closing it off – so I guess we can park there for the day.”QUICK FACTS:The Town of Swampscott Monument Avenue Car Show will be held on Sunday, Oct. 23 n with a rain date of Sunday, Oct. 30, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.Participating cars can park on Monument Avenue in front of Town Hall and Linscott Park.For more information or to register your car, call the Swampscott Recreation Department at 781-596-8854 or email [email protected].