Car cruise drives fundraising for Butler YMCA

SLIPPERY ROCK TWP — Bryan Fichter, of Butler, doesn't take his 1995 Chevrolet Corvette out very often, but he will when the opportunity presents itself.

He said he will sometimes drive it to the Butler YMCA where he and his wife, Jerry Fichter, exercise regularly through their memberships. On Sunday, June 4, the two took a cruise up to ARMCO Park for a car cruise fundraiser that benefited the Butler County Family YMCA.

"It's a good cause; we always want to help the Y," Jerry Fichter said. "I’ll do a lot of the classes, he’ll go and work out."

Sunday was the third annual Wheels of Steel car cruise at ARMCO Park, which is a collaboration event between the Butler YMCA and the Butler Rodfathers.

The Rodfathers is a group of vintage car collectors and appreciators headed up by its president, John Malinski, who said the group not only enjoys opportunities to show off their cars, but also chances to drive donations to local organizations.

"It's a lot of family-oriented people putting this together," Malinski said. "That's mainly what our group does; we do a Cruise-A-Palooza, at the end of the year we give to eight charities."

Attendance to the event Sunday, which took place from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., was free for car owners and the audience. Christina Dreher, director of development for the Butler YMCA, said the organization expected to see about 250 cars entered into the show, and up to 1,000 spectators.

The event had basket raffles and 50/50 drawings, but Dreher said the main fundraising was done through sponsorships.

"In the past we've raised around $4,000 — this year we have raised about $8,000," Dreher said. "We have pretty much doubled our income this year. It raises money, but also connects us with the community."

Malinski said he and the other members of the Rodfathers, including his brother, Gary Malinski, were happy to have an excuse to show off their vehicles.

Gary Malinski brought his 1972 Dodge Charger to the cruise, which he said he has had for around 45 years. The Malinskis spent the day speaking with the car-lovers of the community, which John Malinski said is a large group in Butler County.

"People just love to see the cars," John Malinski said. "A lot of them have grown up around these cars."

Jerry and Bryan Fichter took a few laps around the makeshift grassy parking lot before returning to their Corvette to share information about it with curious comers. Bryan explained that keeping a vintage car in good condition means not taking it out very often, but he enjoys the opportunities when he does get to drive it.

"It took some cleaning and a lot of elbow grease," Bryan Fichter said, of keeping the Corvette in good shape. "We haven't been to a lot of car cruises but this was a good one to come to."