close

Rev ’Em Up for Kids car cruise benefits Bethel Park Recreation

By Harry Funk 3 min read
article image -

That intoxicating new-car smell is something Jim Gastgeb learned to appreciate early.

“I remember going to the dealership at a very, very young age with my dad when it was time to pick out the family car,” the Bethel Park resident said. “It was a family tradition.”

With his lifelong appreciation of automobiles thus established and his ensuing collecting of vintage vehicles, Gastgeb is a natural to serve as director of the annual Rev ‘Em Up for Kids Mega Car Cruise. The July 30 event at the South Park Fairgrounds benefits Bethel Park at large, he said: “whatever the community needs from a recreational perspective.”

Gastgeb, who is president of the Bethel Park Board of Parks, Recreation and Leisure Services, explained that Rev ‘Em Up for Kids is in no way limited to cars of certain years, makes or models.

“Our motto has always been, if you love it, bring it,” he said.

Probably the oldest cars at the cruise will be the collection of Model A Fords that their owners faithfully have brought to the event, now in its seventh year. The successors to the landmark Model T were built from 1927 to 1931.

At the other end of the age scale are the latest variations on the muscle cars that emerged in the ’60s, including Chevrolet’s Corvette and Camaro, and Dodge’s Charger.

As for Gastgeb, he’s a Pontiac guy who laments General Motors’ decision to ax the make in 2009, after 83 years. His cars include a ’67 LeMans, ’72 GTO and ’80 Firebird Trans Am, as seen driven by Burt Reynolds in “Smokey and the Bandit II.”

While those who attend the car cruise are able to take a look at all kinds of interesting vehicles, they also are able to help Bethel Park improve recreational facilities throughout the municipality. For example, a beneficiary has been the Park Avenue Field, next to the Bethel Park Community Center, which has received a new scoreboard, press box and playing surface over the past five years.

As for the youngsters who attend Rev ‘Em Up for Kids, they’ll have plenty to do in an extensive “kids’ zone” when they want to take a break from looking at cars with Mom and Dad, who will be happy because everyone age 17 and under gets into the event for free.

“We like to say there’s something for the whole family,” Gastgeb said. And that includes the family members who enjoy listening to music being able to catch a performance by oldies specialists Johnny Angel and the Halos.

Gastgeb credits the cruise’s main sponsor, Bethel Park’s Pasta Too, and the restaurant’s car-enthusiast owner for coming up big.

“Without Ray Piacquadio, this show can’t go on,” he said. “He gets behind it like I’ve never seen a sponsor get behind anything.”

Rev ‘Em Up for Kids is from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 30 at the South Park Fairgrounds, rain or shine. Admission for adults is $5.

CUSTOMER LOGIN

If you have an account and are registered for online access, sign in with your email address and password below.

NEW CUSTOMERS/UNREGISTERED ACCOUNTS

Never been a subscriber and want to subscribe, click the Subscribe button below.

Starting at $/week.

Subscribe Today