At 16, he’s the youngest winner of Cruiser of the Month
From the youngest to the oldest, and the fastest to the slowest, last month’s Roamin’ Oldies cruise-in, held May 7 in Apollo Beach, truly had something to offer every brand of car enthusiast.
Sixteen-year-old Austin Smallwood was hands-down the center of attention with his 1942 Ford Opera Coupe, voted Cruiser of the Month for May, making the Valrico teenager the youngest winner in the club’s recent history.
Smallwood originally found his non-running street-rod about a year and a half ago, and used the money he had earned from mowing lawns all summer to buy it, along with some help from his parents.
After his car purchase, the teenager decided to join the Roamin’ Oldies car club (most of whose members are his grandparents’ age), for help and advice.
“My school doesn’t offer classes in mechanics,” said Smallwood, who is a student at Durant High School in Valrico. “I learned a lot from my grandpa and dad, but I needed to know more.”
Turning to the pool of knowledge he found in the Roamin’ Oldies, Smallwood was able to completely rebuild the engine of the old Ford, and now proudly drives it to school and around town as his primary (and only) car.
When asked if the girls in his school like riding in the old coupe, he shook his head and grinned. “Nah, it doesn’t have air-conditioning.”
Under the skin, the running gear is all Chevrolet, with a small-block V8 and automatic transmission, mounted on a 1957 Chevy chassis. The club members, Smallwood said, “have all been nice as can be, trying to help me out and give me ideas on how to improve my car.”
He plans to continue his education in car restoration on his new project, a ’53 Chevy pickup, on which he hopes to perfect his welding skills to combat the effect of years of neglect.
The Roamin’ Oldies Car Club is a group of locals who enjoy getting together to share the fun of fixing, restoring and showing off their vehicles. Each month they host a cruise-in at the Winn-Dixie shopping center on U.S. 41 in Apollo Beach, where 75-100 of the area’s finest antique and collectible cars are displayed, accompanied by classic oldies music played by DJ Joey Ferrante. Spectators vote for their favorite entrant, and the winner is named Cruiser of the Month.
Also displayed at this month’s show was the oldest vintage car of the day, a 1930 Model A Ford driven by 85-year-old Jerry Kirker.
“It will still run 45 mph, downhill with a strong tailwind,” joked Kirker, who said he started buying and selling cars at the ripe young age of 12.
In contrast to Kirker’s vehicle was the newest and fastest car of the night, a 700-horsepower Dodge Challenger Hellcat, driven by Paul Carlsen from Bradenton. Capable of attaining speeds of up to 200 mph, the Hellcat is one of the fastest production cars made today, said Carlsen. The car can retail for as much as $128,000 and comes standard with two sets of keys, one for the 700 hp, and a valet key that operates at 500 hp, presumably to prevent the temptation of taking a high-speed “joyride.”
The Roamin’ Oldies members share not only a passion for classic cars but also ideas and information on where to buy parts and how to gain mechanical skills.
Headed up by President Joe Ferrante, the club membership consists of about 50 dues-paying members, and many other area enthusiasts who regularly participate in their events.
Meetings are held at Denny’s Restaurant in Sun City Center the first Monday of each month.
The cruise-in, held free-of- charge on the first Thursday of each month, attracts car lovers from Sun City Center, Ruskin, Riverview, Wimauma and as far away as Bradenton, eager to view the factory-correct antiques, street-rods, race cars, and “works-in-progress” displayed at the show.
In addition to supplying cars for parades, weddings, festivals, and other special events, The Roamin’ Oldies club likes to help the community by donating funds to local charities. Each year they conduct two benefit shows to raise funds for giving.
“We try to choose a charity that we know will directly aid the needy,” said organizer Helen Ferrante. “This year we donated $400, plus bags of Christmas toys and baby supplies to The Lord’s Lighthouse Mission. We know our donations went straight to the people who needed them.”
The club also participates in charity events benefiting military veterans, unwed mothers and local nursing homes.
Roamin’ Oldies is sponsored by Thompson’s Auto Parts and The Florida Railroad Museum. For more information, email Paul Courter at Pcour58516@aol.com or call Joe Ferrante at 813-382-6699.